Communication Frameworks for Managers
Choose the right channel, structure, and tone for institutional communication.
Learning objectives
- 1.Select appropriate channels for different message types
- 2.Structure written communication for busy senior readers
- 3.Adapt communication for multilingual and multicultural teams
Managing communication flows
Managers are communication hubs. Information from above must be translated into actionable clarity for staff — not forwarded blindly. Information from below must be synthesised for directors — not dumped wholesale. Filtering is not censorship; it is a service if done transparently.
- Downward: context, decision, implication for the team, space for questions
- Upward: headline, recommendation, risk, decision needed (if any)
- Lateral: shared interest, explicit ask, reciprocity awareness
Writing for decision-makers
Commission notes and briefings follow conventions: executive summary first, background second, options third, recommendation last (or first if culture demands). One page beats five. Bullet points beat prose walls. Annex heavy detail.
Every paragraph should answer: why should the reader care right now? If it doesn't, cut or move to an annex.
Multilingual reality
Working languages vary by meeting and document. Ensure non-native speakers can contribute: circulate materials in advance, avoid idioms, summarise orally after complex points, and never equate accent or hesitation with competence. Simultaneous interpretation is a tool — use briefings to align before high-stakes multilingual meetings.
Key takeaways
- ★Translate and synthesise — don't merely relay messages
- ★Structure writing for scanners: headline, logic, recommendation
- ★Inclusive communication is a management duty in multilingual teams