Stuck in a Communications Rut? How a Communications Assessment Can Help

Too many emails.

Too many meetings.

Too many Zooms.

Too much noise

Too low engagement.

Too little comms strategy.

If this describes the state of communications at your org, then a communications assessment might be in order. Pausing to implement a few simple qualitative and quantitative listening tools can help reach the right audiences with the right message at the right time.

Strong communication is essential for any organization to thrive, but information overload, email fatigue and a lack of direction can hinder your best intentions.

At Rhudy & Co., we’ve partnered with Fortune 500 companies, government agencies and global nonprofits to conduct custom communications assessments. These projects reveal what’s working well and what’s getting in the way both internally and externally. Most importantly, this approach is about communicating smarter and clearer.

Whether it’s a full-scale review of your internal communications or a focused look at your website or social media content, an assessment gives you a snapshot of where things stand and a practical roadmap for where to go next.

You can tackle a communications assessment with the help of a communications partner like us, or you can assemble a small team inside your organization. Either way, the process is structured, intentional, and built to deliver insight.

What’s Involved in a Communications Assessment

A communications assessment typically happens over three to six months and includes four key phases:

1. Gathering Insights: Using tools like surveys, interviews and research to understand the current state.

2. Analyzing Feedback: Spotting patterns, strengths, gaps and pain points.

3. Developing Recommendations: Outlining what to start, stop or strengthen.

4. Creating a Strategic Plan: Building a step-by-step plan to move forward.

We use both qualitative and quantitative methods to dig into how your audiences engage with your messages, channels. We also work to build leadership buy-in along the way.

What You’ll Uncover

A completed assessment often includes:

• Survey and interview results, both qualitative and quantitative

• A SWOT or similar snapshot of strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats

• Prioritized recommendations with a clear timeline for action

• A summary of where you are now and a vision for where you want to go

• Insights and best practices from similar organizations

Before You Begin: Five Questions to Ask

1. Have we done a communications assessment before? (If not, it’s probably time.)

2. What exactly do we want to assess? Internal comms, external messaging, one platform, or one audience?

3. Will we handle it internally or bring in a partner?

4. What questions do we want to ask?

5. Who should we speak with to get a full picture of our communications?

A communications assessment isn’t just about reflection. It’s about listening and setting direction. It can help anyone tasked with communications to stop guessing and start making confident decisions based on real insights.

If you’re ready to take a fresh look at how your organization communicates, we’re here to help.

Contact us for a free guide packed with tips for conducting a communications assessment.