The Ultimate Guide to Strategic Communication Reviews

Let’s be honest: when you hear the word “review,” your brain might immediately conjure up images of soul-sapping PowerPoints, endless meetings, and someone chirping, “Let’s take this offline!”

But a Strategic Communication Review isn’t just another box-ticking exercise. Or at least it shouldn’t be. Done right, it’s a game-changer.

Think of it as giving your communication function the kind of deep, restorative therapy it deserves.

It’s a way to figure out what’s working, what isn’t, and what’s quietly sabotaging your efforts behind the scenes.

​Whether your team is running like a fine-tuned orchestra or feels more like a pub band that’s forgotten the setlist, a review can transform chaos into clarity.

What Is a Strategic Communication Review?

​In simple terms, a Strategic Communication Review is a comprehensive evaluation of your communication function.

It’s like an MOT for your team, tools, and processes, but instead of looking at tyre tread and brake pads, we’re talking about workflows, messaging, and how well you’re connecting with your audiences (both internal and external).

It’s a deep dive into the nuts and bolts of your communication efforts, with the ultimate goal of making your team more aligned, efficient, and impactful.

And no, it’s not just about finding flaws. A review also celebrates what’s working well and identifies opportunities to do more of it.

​The hard truth however is that many organisations realise they need a review and reboot of their team when things have gone beyond a few early signs and the rot has set in. Communications is quite a visible function – if it’s not working, it’s relatively easy to see BUT the causes of that disfunction…including the senior leadership culpability in it, are often harder to attribute let alone accept. 

Why Does a Strategic Communications Review Work?

A Strategic Communication Review should be a root and branch review. It should dig into the root causes, providing practical, actionable insights that drive real change.

Framed well, i.e. as a way to understand what works, what doesn’t and how to work together to improve, it shouldn’t be a scary prospect for the team.

​Here’s why it’s so effective:

1. It provides clarity
   A review strips back the noise and gets to the heart of what’s working and what isn’t. It should be honest, a bit uncomfortable, but ultimately transformational.
2. It aligns teams
   Misaligned messaging is like a wonky shopping trolley: no matter how hard you push, it keeps veering off course. A review brings everyone back onto the same page, from leadership to frontline teams. And trust us, the performers on your team know something is wrong and they want it fixed…this is something for them to lean into for the betterment of their own working life.
3. It streamlines processes
   Ever feel like your team spends more time on admin or on executing orders than on enabling and strategic communications? A review helps identify inefficiencies, so you can focus on delivering real impact instead of wrestling with bottlenecks.
4. It builds confidence
   When your stakeholders see a polished, aligned, and strategic communication function, their confidence in your team soars. And let’s face it, who doesn’t love a bit of well-earned recognition?

What Does It Involve?

A great Strategic Communication Review should be tailored to your organisation’s specific needs, but here’s what the process usually looks like:

1. Capacity and capability audit
Are your team’s size, structure, and skills up to the job? If not, a review will highlight gaps and recommend ways to unlock your team’s full potential. This can look at an operating model or just work to undercover the best way to structure for success and what training needs are urgent.

2. Process and workflow review
Think of this as spring cleaning for your operations. From mapping workflows to eliminating bottlenecks, it’s all about making your processes work smarter, not harder.

3. Messaging and content evaluation
This step ensures your messaging is clear, consistent, and aligned with your organisational goals. If your content feels more “meh” than “wow,” this is where you’ll fix it.

4. Stakeholder feedback
What do your team think of communications in the organisation? What do your audiences really think of the communications offer? A review gathers honest insights from stakeholders (brace yourself!) to help you build stronger, more meaningful relationships.

5. Technology audit
Tech tools are great but you can’t automate a bad process. Are your tools helping or hindering? A review identifies whether your tech is pulling its weight - or if it’s time for an upgrade.

​6. Cultural analysis
Your team’s dynamics play a huge role in communication success. A review dives into morale, collaboration, and trust to strengthen your foundations.

What Results Can You Expect?

So, what’s in it for you? Here’s what a Strategic Communication Review delivers:

• A clear roadmap - You’ll walk away with a practical, step-by-step plan to improve your communication function. No jargon, no fluff - just actionable recommendations.
• Quick wins - Many reviews uncover easy-to-implement changes that can deliver immediate impact. Think “low-hanging fruit,” but less cliché.
• Stronger teams - A more aligned, confident, and motivated communication team that knows its value and delivers on it.
• Increased stakeholder trust - When your messaging is clear and consistent, trust and engagement grow organically.

Why Now Is the Time

Here’s the thing: if you know something is wrong and need a change, an external and independent review is the way to get the intel to move forward. A review can be a restorative and renewing process.

The longer communication problems fester, the bigger they get. Small inefficiencies snowball. Stakeholders lose patience. And your team? They burn out.

​A Strategic Communication Review is a vital step to remedy any existing problems and get your team working well again.