Create an Internal Communications Plan

Through this project, we aim to create:

- A clear analysis of our current communication practices (including tools, content, frequency, and roles) with well-defined problems to solve
- A tool-independent “target state” that outlines how internal communication should function across the organization
- A structured set of guidelines, templates, and best practices to support consistent communication
- Recommendations for optimizing how we use our existing tools (and potential changes, if needed)
- A high-level implementation plan and supporting materials (e.g., training resources) to enable adoption

Ultimately, we want a cohesive, easy-to-use communications framework that clarifies roles, processes, and channels—helping us communicate more effectively without increasing noise.

Effective internal communication is essential to delivering on OBT’s mission of expanding access to employment and career pathways.

As a growing organization, our ability to align staff, share information clearly, and coordinate across teams directly impacts how well we serve job seekers and partners. When communication is inconsistent or unclear, it can lead to missed information, duplicated efforts, or inefficiencies that ultimately affect program delivery.

By strengthening our internal communications framework, this project will:

- Improve alignment across teams and departments
- Ensure staff have the information they need to do their jobs effectively
- Reduce confusion and information overload
- Enable more efficient collaboration and decision-making

In turn, this will allow our team to operate more cohesively and focus more energy on delivering high-quality programs and support to the communities we serve.

We will set this project up for success by ensuring the volunteer has strong access, alignment, and support throughout the engagement.

Specifically, we will:

- Assign a dedicated project lead who will serve as the primary point of contact and coordinate internally
- Provide access to our current communication tools, examples, and documentation
- Facilitate conversations with leadership (including co-CEOs), managers, and staff to ensure the volunteer can gather diverse perspectives
- Clearly define project goals, scope, and milestones at kickoff
- Ensure timely feedback and decision-making to keep the project moving forward
- Prioritize leadership alignment on the “target state” to ensure recommendations are actionable and adopted

We also recognize that implementation is just as important as design. We will actively partner with the volunteer to ensure that recommendations are practical, tailored to our organizational culture, and feasible to roll out across teams.