Global Manufacturer
Change Communications · Several hundred employees · Multi-function · Bilingual
Situation
A major operational restructuring required coordinated messaging across multiple functions and two languages. The internal communications team had the intent but not the capacity or the change methodology to sequence the rollout. Managers were expected to cascade the change to their teams without toolkits, preparation, or consistent messaging.
Approach
Built the full change communications package — change narrative, leadership memos, manager cascade toolkits with key messages, sample phrasing, anticipated Q&A, and do/don't examples. Aligned the internal and external versions of the story so employees and the public heard the same change.
Outcome
Managers delivered the change messaging consistently across functions. The cascade toolkit eliminated the improvised, off-message conversations that typically derail operational change announcements.
"Our managers had never been given the words before. The toolkit meant they didn't have to guess."
— HR Director
Takeaway Managers don't resist delivering change messages. They resist delivering them without preparation.