The Power of a Monthly Newsletter

Inspired by Will Larson’s approach to 5–15s, I set a goal for myself a little over a year ago: to initiate a recurring newsletter aimed at offering a glimpse into the ongoing progress and contributions of my team within our organization.

As I reflect on the last year, the value of this simple communication tool has extended far beyond my initial expectations. With that said, I wanted to share my experience of the benefits that one might expect from incorporating a monthly newsletter into your leadership strategy.

This article is intended to share my experiences on the potential impact that a recurring newsletter can have, based on the positive changes I’ve witnessed firsthand. Additionally, I’ll provide practical advice and insights drawn from my experience to help you kickstart your own newsletter journey.

Promoting Continuous Team Advocacy

Sharing individual and team achievements has the ability to motivate and inspire. Recognizing the hard work of your team boosts morale and encourages a culture of recognition, growth and excellence.

Seeing their efforts highlighted, team members feel valued and connected to the organization’s mission, motivating them to advocate for the company both internally and externally. This not only enhances team spirit but also extends the organization’s reach and reputation.

Using newsletters to recognize and communicate success and value of your team fosters a culture of acknowledgement and extends the reach of your team across the organization.

Organizational Alignment and Cohesion

Newsletters present the opportunity to improve alignment and cohesion not only within a team, but across other teams in the organization. By selecting content that reflects organizational goals and values, it ensures everyone is on the same page, working towards shared objectives.

Moreover, the newsletter offers a platform for communicating evolving standards and best practices. It can be used as a tool that bridges gaps across teams, ensuring that updates, goals, and achievements are shared widely. This not only keeps team members informed but also facilitates a collaborative environment, improving the organization’s overall efficiency and effectiveness.

Stakeholder Engagement and Trust

Delivering regular updates on project progress and directions keeps stakeholders informed and aligned with the team’s goals and timelines. Consistency in both the delivery and content of the newsletter is key. Regular updates ensures stakeholders remain engaged and informed, reducing the chances of misunderstandings and misaligned expectations.

A newsletter has the ability to clearly explain what the team can do and when, helping everyone understand expectations clearly. This clear communication is key to building and maintaining trust as well as making sure everyone is working towards the same goals.

Creating Collaborative Opportunities Across Teams

By highlighting various projects and initiatives, the newsletter reveals common goals and challenges faced across the organization. It becomes a simple means where shared interests between teams are brought to light, fostering unexpected collaborative opportunities.

This exposure often results in surprising discoveries of mutual interests, even among teams that traditionally might not interact. Such discoveries encourage cross-departmental collaborations, enabling teams to pool resources and expertise to tackle common problems more effectively.

Generating Hype and Interest

Highlighting ongoing work and early achievements can stimulate interest and enthusiasm not just within the team but also among external stakeholders.

Providing early insights into projects invites early feedback, which has the opportunity in some cases to validate the direction of the project or spark discussions that lead to improved approaches.

Getting Started

After a year of crafting these newsletters, I’ve gathered some insights that would have been invaluable at the outset.

Here are some key takeaways that might help you embark on this journey more smoothly:

Expect the Format to Evolve

Initially, I was fixated on finding the perfect format, the right amount of detail, and the balance between team achievements and individual contributions. Looking back, I wish I’d known how much it would evolve based on feedback and other factors.

Instead of aiming for perfection from the start, it’s more effective to begin with a simple format and allow it to grow and change organically.

Start With a Monthly Cadence

At first, I committed to a weekly schedule, which was manageable for about six to seven months. But over time, the effort to maintain this frequency without compromising on quality became overwhelming. Shifting to a monthly cadence relieved this stress and allowed for richer, more thoughtful content without detracting from my other responsibilities.

I suggest starting monthly and only increasing frequency if you’re confident it won’t compromise the quality or your well-being.

Continuously Collect Feedback

Incorporating a mechanism for feedback, like a survey link in each newsletter, has proven to be immensely beneficial. It might seem daunting at first, but the insights gained from reader feedback are invaluable for refining and improving the content. This continuous loop of feedback ensures that the newsletter remains relevant and valuable to its audience.

While a survey is one approach, any method that encourages and simplifies reader responses can be beneficial.

Please share your journey with me, whether you’re just beginning with newsletters or already seeing their benefits!