Lessons on the River
Share
Back in my wild and crazy youth, my friends and I used to take an annual weekend canoe trip down the Wisconsin River. For those of you unfamiliar with that part of the world, the Wisconsin is a 10,000 year old, 430 mile waterway (we did about 25 or 30 miles) originating in the northern part of the state near the border of the Upper Penninsula of Michigan. This isn’t whitewater rafting. It’s a relaxing way to hang with your pals and commune with nature along a winding expanse that once was a superhighway for Native Americans. Our backpacks included flip flops, t-shirts, cut-offs and a couple of bottles of Jack Daniels for merry making around the campfire.

Our third annual trip provided more adventure than we planned. As old pros, we knew everything we needed to know. When we got out of our canoes end of the day and walked into the woods to set up camp, the mosquitoes were the size of birds. There wasn’t enough bug spray in all of Wisconsin to keep from being eaten alive. So we decamped and went over to a great big sand bar in the middle of the river. We pitched our tents, had some dinner and enjoyed a few drinks. Well, maybe more than a few.

In the middle of the night we awoke to a spectacular thunderstorm. The heavens opened up; rain poured down, the wind whipped our flimsy tents. As the night wore on, water seeped underneath and threatened to wash us away. We briefly considered abandoning our post but thought we’d really be taking our lives in our hands if we got into our canoes and paddled. So, with no option but to tough it out, we slept fitfully and awoke with our faces in puddles. It’s a wonder no one drowned.

For years I’ve told that story, wondering what it was about, aside from youthful indiscretion. I now know it’s perfectly analogous to the incompleteness of business planning, without a communications plan to go along. So many business plans are launched down the river with people figuring they’ll improvise. They wake up in a downpour and realize their camps are about to wash away.

Take one client working on a big change management initiative. They bought the right software and systems and have the expertise to implement; they just weren’t sure how they were going to get the businesses to go along. If they head down the river without figuring out how to communicate and win buy-in from the businesses, they’ll be on the sand bar before they know it. We’re developing a communications plan to make sure they mitigate this risk. We’ll be helping them message and communicate with the stakeholders.

The lesson is you’ll enjoy the trip and avoid the disasters if you anticipate and prepare your communication plan. Thoughtfully mapping out when and how you’ll be in touch with stakeholders and influencers, preparing messages in advance and delivering them with confidence will keep you comfortable and dry.

PS: I’ve never taken another sip of Jack Daniels.