I’m excited to share my top takeaways from a recent experience that I had volunteering with Form the Future, an organisation that connects employers with young people.

I’ve been speaking to school children about my work in organisational change and coaching and how I got into it, to help them get an insight into potential careers they otherwise may have never heard of. Standing in front of a room full of teenagers was a great reminder of how good communication can drive understanding and engagement. I had to make sure I connected with the audience – with very different priorities and focus to the leaders I work with – to make sure my message was understood.

To stand out for all the right reasons, I had to practice exactly what I preach to clients and think, test, and learn.

Here are my top four tips for making your communications stand out:

• Think about your audience: this is crucial. When describing your work or message, use language that your audience will understand. Avoid jargon or technical terms that may go over their head. Remember, the key is to communicate in a way that your audience relates to.

• Plan ahead: before communicating your message, be clear about what you want to say and what you want your audience to take away from it. This will help you stay focused and make sure that you’re getting your key messages across.

• Be sensibly different: it’s always good to stand out, but don’t do it at the expense of relevance or appropriateness. Avoid putting fun or whacky ideas into your messaging if it doesn’t make sense in the context of your message. Instead, focus on being clear and straightforward, and your message will naturally stand out.

• Ask for feedback: always be open to feedback, especially if you’re communicating with a new audience. It’s important to know what works and what doesn’t so that you can improve your approach in the future. And don’t be afraid to ask for feedback from anyone – whether it’s school children or leadership teams.

Effective communication is key to driving understanding and engagement. By thinking about your audience, planning ahead, being sensibly different, and asking for feedback, your message will stand out for all the right reasons.

Jo Twiselton is a Redefining Communications collective partner, who works as a change, communication consultant and leadership coach. She works with leaders and teams across the tech, transport, healthcare, media and services industries, helping to minimise organisation disruption in times of change, create clarity and build a positive experience for everyone involved. 

Jo is a qualified executive and wellbeing coach, working with leaders and managers who want to be at their best to lead well during times of upheaval.

This blog is based on her article, How do you communicate a message that really stands out?