A couple of things have happened to me in the last few days that have got me thinking about the information we hold – and what we do with it.
Recently, I was fortunate to be able to take my daughter to Wembley to watch our team play in – and win – a Cup Final. As we came out of the tube station, everything was well signposted and information given was clear: “This Match is Sold Out”, Gates A-G ←”, Gates H-N →” “This is a No Smoking Stadium” etc. Anything that you could want to know was clear.
On the other hand, one job I have at the moment is as an executor for an elderly lady in church who recently passed away. Looking through her house, finding important information is proving a nightmare – there is paperwork everywhere we look – even under the beds – and she appears to have not thrown anything out for years, we found a house insurance policy from 1992! Trying to find details of her assets and liabilities is not straightforward, and because she had mentioned a Bank several years ago that she thought she had an account in, we have now discovered she still has accounts there with several thousand pounds in!
The first situation made things far easier than the second, and it got me thinking about the information that we have thrown at us from numerous places every day – and more importantly our organisation’s use of information.
Do people know where to find the information they need – customers, staff and volunteers? Is it clear where they need to look or who they need to ask? Is it well hidden so that people need to look carefully for it before they can find it? How easily available do we make important information?
Once obtained, how clear is the information that we are providing? Can people understand it easily? Does it tell them what it needs to tell them? Is it succinct and to the point or is it wrapped up in waffle?
What about the information that we send to important bodies like the Charity Commission? Potential grant funders? Donors and supporters? Do we tell them enough and put our points across carefully and with clarity?
As I said – information is everywhere, the world revolves around data (and money!) – we need ours to be clear, available, easily readable. Perhaps you need to have a look at your organisation, how it communicates with people – both inside and out, what it communicates and how clearly you are getting your message out. Are we using the plethora of social media outlets that available – facebook, twitter, linkedin, google+ are all ones that I am trying to improve my understanding of to try to get my messages out, and there are bound to be others too.
Please think carefully – if people have to look too much, they will give up. Provide the information that you want others to have about your organisation, make it clear and jargonfree and easily available – that’s what will make people keep coming back to you for your services – or to serve in your projects!