This Not That: 3 Phrase Swaps to Elevate Internal Comms
Word choice matters. As someone working in internal communication (IC), this isn’t news to you. Consider for a moment the words you’re using in conversations about IC. Here are three common phrases used by communication leaders, along with their upgraded alternatives for better outcomes.
Before: “How else can I be helpful?”
After: “Does everyone have a clear understanding of next steps?”
Why this works: The original question sounds like we’re just offering assistance. As IC professionals, we’re more than just helpers. We’re strategic partners, advisors, and collaborators. The revised version sounds more confident while also highlighting our ability to bring clarity to complex concepts. It paints a picture of us being proactive and organized, which is key in the IC world.
Before: “Yes, we can send that as an email.”
After: “While email may be the way to go with this message, let’s explore this a bit further first. Could you tell me more about your objectives for this?”
Why this works: While being a yes-person can quickly win you favor with internal stakeholders, it doesn’t exactly scream “strategic genius” when it comes to top-notch IC. The revised version shows how to dig deeper, asking the right questions to really understand what success means for the internal client. Armed with that understanding, you’re ready to recommend the best approach to achieve those results. And yes, you may need to toss out a gentle “no,” complete with a reason and a recommendation.
Before: “Would you like this news to be an email, intranet article, or a post on our internal social media?”
After: “Thank you for bringing this company news to my attention. Based on our target audience, timeline, and objectives, I’ve developed an internal communication plan for this. Can I walk you through it?”
Why this works: As an IC professional, you should never be reliant on your internal clients to create their own communication plan. That’s literally your job. You have expertise and insight that they don’t have. As the revised version shows, you can demonstrate your expertise by creating a campaign taking into account the audience, timeline, and objectives.
By swapping a few key phrases with more assured, strategic alternatives, you can further demonstrate your expertise as an IC pro. Remember, you possess skills that few (if any) others do in your organization. Don’t be afraid to leverage them.
