As the saying goes, communication is key to success. Follow this advice to ensure that colleagues are really getting your messages.

• Simple and direct. Avoid wordy sentences, formal language, and jargon. Use bite-sized messages and plain, approachable language. Don’t hide your message in a long introduction—get to the point and keep it brief. Be specific and direct about what you want your audience to know and do and why they should care.
• Know your audience. Reach out to colleagues to understand their needs and preferences. The better you understand their perspectives, the more effectively you can tailor your message. Also, don’t underestimate the power of “what’s in it for me” to motivate your audience.
• Don’t be afraid of repetition. You’ve conveyed your message and checked it off the list—only to realize later your colleagues didn’t seem to grasp it. Repetition is your friend here. When you feel like you’ve said the same thing too much, that’s probably when the message is sinking in. A good rule of thumb is a message should be conveyed five times.

For more advice, read “3 Tips for Crystal Clear Internal Communications.”