You need to be able to explain what is changing, and importantly, why. When people can understand why you have made a certain decision, they are much more likely to accept it. And don’t forget to include how change will impact your audience. In some cases, there will be a large impact, and in others it may not be felt. But keeping your audience’s experience in mind is the most important part of planning for effective change management.

What do you want to say to the audience that will be affected by this change? How can you increase their confidence in your team and your plan? What are the calls to action you have for this audience? Having a succinct message that will land with your audience will speak volumes.

Chances are, there are multiple ways you can communicate with your audience. Email, chat, meetings, memos, even posters around the office, it’s important to maximize every channel available to you in order to communicate this change. Remember, not everyone consumes information in the same way, so make sure you choose the channels that your audience will see.

Depending on the magnitude of the change, you’ll be wanting to plan far in advance. And you might not want to communicate everything related to the change all at once. Planning for change management over weeks, months, and even more will help you create an optimal change management experience for your audience.