World-Class Communications Capabilities
A unique approach to strategic planning for
your communications function
When your team’s most value-adding capabilities
align to what matters most for the business — you make the most impact.
We’ve developed an interactive, collaborative approach to strategic planning for the corporate communications function that engages the whole team in identifying which world-class communications capabilities to prioritize – and which to de-prioritize – to help drive the business forward.
When your team’s most value-adding capabilities align to what matters most for the business — you make the most impact.
We’ve developed an interactive, collaborative approach to strategic planning for the corporate communications function that engages the whole team in identifying which world-class communications capabilities to prioritize – and which to de-prioritize – to help drive the business forward.
3 Steps to Build a World-Class Communication Function
Step 1
Get grounded in what matters most for your business
- Engage your organization’s leaders to help you and your team gain a clear understanding of the business priorities
Step 2
Align on your team’s most significant opportunities to contribute to the business
- Engage your team in assessing where communications can have the greatest impact and be recognized as a strategic business partner
Step 3
Identify which communications capabilities are needed to deliver on those opportunities, and take action
- Explore distinct capabilities of industry-leading communications organizations by thoughtfully sorting the Blue Beyond World-Class Communications Capabilities Cards™
- Align with confidence around the “value drivers” and “differentiators” that can positively impact your business, and the “distractors” that won’t
- Engage your team in a dialogue around how to build on your most essential capabilities and chart a focused path forward in your strategic communications planning
The Exercise
Given the unique opportunities for your communications function to contribute to your business’ specific goals, which capabilities will be most critical for your function to develop? The Blue Beyond World-Class Communications Capabilities Cards will help you and your team align on a strategic path forward. The cards define 46 distinct capabilities of industry-leading communications organizations. Engage your team to sort the capabilities cards into four categories:
1. Distractors
Capabilities that deliver minimal benefit and take focus away from what matters most to your business.
2. Table Stakes
Capabilities that are necessary and provide foundational support but have limited value in advancing the company’s strategy.
3. Value Drivers
Capabilities that will effectively position you to help the organization achieve its business goals.
4. Differentiators
Capabilities that could be game-changers in helping you contribute to the achievement of business goals.
