Planning changes to executive compensation?
Don't communicate old school

In today's era of highly scrutinized executive compensation, many companies are re-examining their executive pay plans to ensure they are closely tied to company performance. If you're making changes to your executive communication plan, there are ways to ensure your communication is clear, transparent, and most importantly, in line with the times.

In the 1990s you would have . . .		In 2010 you should . . .
Relied on compensation experts to design the new plan, then rolled it out with your fingers crossed.		Test the changes with your customers—the executives who use the plan. One of our favorite focus group questions is, "If this change were implemented, what questions would you have about it?" This helps us gain insight into executives' reactions, as well as frame messages that address their most pressing needs.
Printed a brochure detailing the new plan and mailed it to executive's homes.	Communicate in small, face-to-face meetings and host an online discussion thread. These channels promote dialogue, where executives can ask questions and gain clarity.
Created several generic charts showing how changes could impact a typical executive.	Design an online calculator that allows executives to review their personal data and understand how changes will affect them in multiple scenarios.

Get managers talking with employees about ethics:
Alison Davis tells you how in Public Relations Tactics article

How can you make sure that employees understand ethics and take appropriate action when needed? According to Alison Davis, CEO of Davis & Company, and John Guenther, managing director at The Bank of New York Mellon, managers play a critical role in making ethics information meaningful to employees. Alison and John discuss what they learned when they built a program to help managers communicate with their teams about compliance and ethics. LEARN MORE