How to best approach IT and other colleagues

In order to do their jobs well, communicators must work with and get information from a number of other departments. Here’s how

Berlitz, for those of you who may not be aware, is a system for quickly and easily learning to speak another language.

Through the years, I have determined that a “corporate” version of Berlitz would be tremendously helpful to my success as a communicator. Unfortunately, the Berlitz organization has not seen fit to develop this service, so I have created my own.

When trying to cross the “interdepartmental chasm,” there are key questions for each area you need to be prepared to answer if you are to successfully navigate the terrain. If you are prepared for these questions as you approach these neighboring department colleagues, you may find the trip a bit smoother.

Here, then, are my five basic “Berlitz for communicators” categories:

Senior executives and/or the President: “How much will it cost? What’s the ROI?”