Introduction
As an employer you are responsible for communicating with TPS members about the scheme, so that they have the information they need to adequately plan for their retirement and to use the benefits and flexibilities the scheme offers while at work.
This part of your Employers’ Toolkit aims to give you guidance and suggestions on how to communicate well with your TPS members, what messages to get across to them and how, and why investing in communications makes good business sense.
Good communications are vital. They can:
- Improve relationships and teamwork.
- Improve performance, productivity and motivation.
- Encourage an open, creative environment.
- Save you money by improving workforce retention.
So how do you ensure effective communications?
Plan first
- Plan all your communication activities in advance.
- If you communicate in more than one way i.e. face to face, e-mail, print ensure all messages are consistent and complementary.
- Know how each communication activity fits into your overall plan.
Understand your audience
- Know your audience – remember one size does not fit all.
- Think about what will interest them and what the best, most appropriate, communication channels are for them.
- Ensure they know why they are being communicated to.
Use of language
- Use plain English and avoid jargon at all times.
- If you have to use jargon translate it (see jargon buster).
Getting your message across
- Be clear and focused about what you are going to say.
- Stick to your key messages.
- Where possible illustrate your points using the case studies and presentational materials provided in this Toolkit.
- Provide hard copy information for people to take away and/or a link to the TP website for more information.
- At the end sum up, clarify, restate your key messages and check people have understood.
- Ask for feedback and use it to inform future communications work.
- Evaluate your work – did you achieve your target outcomes?
- If not, why not? Learn lessons for the future.