Communication Review and Approval
Who signs off on what, and by when. A structure that stops last-minute message chaos.
Aim
To provide structure and accountability for the review, alignment and timely approval of communication plans and message content during complex transformations. This template ensures key components are vetted and approved with enough lead time to support a coordinated, consistent rollout across the organization.
Results
A formalised process for communication alignment and sign-off across enterprise, division and workstream levels.
Reduced last-minute changes or confusion caused by misaligned messages or unapproved content.
Smoother rollout of communications that are accurate, timely and connected to overall strategy.
Increased confidence among leaders and communication teams that messaging is coordinated and consistent.
A record of approvals that can be referenced to ensure clarity and accountability.
Pro Tips
Use it when stakes or complexity are high. This tool is most useful in large-scale transformations with multiple communication channels and contributors.
Clarify approval roles and timelines upfront. Avoid delays by specifying who approves what, and by when — include escalation paths if timing slips.
Integrate with programme governance. Tie comms approval checkpoints into the broader transformation calendar or milestone plan.
Balance control with agility. Ensure consistency, but avoid over-engineering — streamline when speed and context allow.
Archive approvals for reference. Maintain a simple log of what was approved, when and by whom to support alignment and accountability over time.
What typically gets reviewed and approved
Key message themes — aligned to vision, objectives and stakeholder impact.
Enterprise-wide communications — core messages that affect the full organization.
Division-level communications — tailored content based on business unit or geography.
Workstream-level messaging — specific to functional or initiative-driven updates.
Communication plans — overall sequencing, channels and timing by audience.
Workstream communication plans — embedded communication activities within broader plans.