Leading Change

The importance of communication in leading a successful change effort cannot be overestimated.  I find myself pondering that element while participating in a major change initiative at work.  It is difficult, in our busy day-to-day world, to remember that others are not mind-readers - there is not instantaneous knowledge transfer.  Therefore, what you know is not necessarily known to others.  So how do you, as a leader, remember to communicate to the broader audience? How many of us build a formal communication element into our planning process that enables us to segregate people into communication audience categories and follow up diligently throughout the change?  Based on my experience this is a key element of employee dissatisfaction, when done poorly.  And what a shame, because so many initiatives might be more successful had effective communication happened in a timely manner.