How to pressure-test your communications strategy before you present it, and why simplicity wins.
Let’s be honest: even the best strategies sometimes get lost in translation.
When you’re leading a complex initiative, it’s easy for a clear plan to get buried under layers of goals, PowerPoint decks, and overlapping priorities.
But the most effective strategies? They’re the ones your team can repeat without notes.
This quick 5-point “slide test” helps you know when a strategy is truly clear, and when it might need another pass before rollout.
1. It’s focused on goals, not outcomes
Most plans include a long list of objectives. But what actually changes when those goals succeed?
✅ Ask: What’s different when this strategy works?
If your answer takes more than one sentence, the strategy might still be in draft mode.
👉 Proof point: McKinsey data shows that 70% of transformations fall short of their goals, often due to a lack of outcome clarity that makes execution harder to align.
2. It’s written for leadership, not people
We’ve all seen beautifully structured strategies that work great in the boardroom, but leave delivery teams scratching their heads.
✅ Test: Could a frontline employee explain this plan in plain language?
If not, consider how to bring it back to ground level.
👉 Proof point: Gallup reports that only 22% of employees strongly agree their leadership has a clear direction. That’s not a failure of vision — it’s a clarity opportunity.
Related read:
📌 5 Hidden Gaps That Quietly Kill Great Comms Strategies
A closer look at the subtle breakdowns that can weaken even the best strategic plans. A great companion read if you’re building out change communications.
3. It’s overloaded with tactics
Tactics matter. But when a strategy is trying to do everything, it risks doing nothing well.
✅ Try this: Prioritize the 3–5 actions that move the needle.
If your slide looks like a to-do list, ask yourself: what’s the actual focus here?
4. It’s missing a narrative
Great strategies tell a story, not just about what we’re doing, but why it matters and how we’ll get there.
✅ Check the story arc:
Where we are → Where we’re going → How we’ll get there
If the slides feel disconnected, your audience will feel the same.
5. It’s hard to repeat
If your team can’t describe the strategy in 30 seconds, it’s not ready, no matter how strong the logic.
✅ Test it live.
Ask 3 people from different teams to explain the strategy back to you. If the message doesn’t come through, revisit the framing.
👉 Proof point: Prosci’s research shows that change initiatives with strong, consistent messaging are 6x more likely to succeed than those without.
Before you present your next strategy…
Ask yourself:
- Can I explain it in one slide?
- Would it still make sense if our logo wasn’t on it?
- Could someone new to the team understand what this means for them?
If not, simplify until it sings.
Best practices for strategy clarity
✅ Start with outcomes, not activities
✅ Keep one message per slide
✅ Connect every goal to purpose and progress
✅ Write for people, not approvals
✅ Test it out loud
Final thought: Clarity isn’t just a communications task — it’s a strategic advantage
In complex organizations, clarity accelerates alignment. It helps busy people focus on what really matters, without second-guessing or constant clarification.
Save this article for your next planning session — and try the one-slide test.
It just might make your next big strategy land better, faster, and with less friction.
✦ About Ana Magana
Ana Magana is a strategic communications and change management consultant based in Calgary, Alberta. She helps organizations communicate with clarity and purpose.