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Finish the Year Strong

Writer's picture: Debbie BradenDebbie Braden

















Finish the Year Strong: Strategic Steps for Communicators


As the year winds down, you may be tempted to slow down, but December isn’t about coasting—it’s about positioning yourself for a strong start to 2025. Here are three actionable steps from my recent video to help you close out the year like a pro:


1️⃣ Refresh Outdated Resources: Templates, FAQs, and other materials that feel outdated or misaligned with your company’s current goals are inefficiencies waiting to be fixed. Take a fresh look and ask: Does this resource truly connect, inspire, and value our people?


2️⃣ Celebrate Your 2024 Heroes: Recognition matters. Go beyond quick mentions and create storytelling moments that illustrate how key contributors made an impact this year. This reinforces organizational values and inspires a culture of appreciation.


3️⃣ Prepare a Strategic Alignment Kit for Leaders: Help leaders connect their vision for 2025 with employees in a meaningful way. Include audience-specific talking points, key 2025 business goals, and human-centered narratives that build trust and connection.


3 Additional Strategic Ideas for 2025


Here are three more ways to position yourself—and your organization—for success in the new year:


1. Future-Focused Messaging

Go beyond the standard “CEO vision” email. Personalize communications by employee persona (e.g., leaders, frontline workers, new hires). Include the 2025 vision, key goals, and most importantly, explain how their roles contribute to success. Add a mix of formats like videos, infographics, or quotes from leaders across the organization to make the message engaging and relatable.


2. 2025 "What to Expect" Toolkit

Create a one-stop resource that prepares employees for the year ahead. Include:

  • A calendar of major events (town halls, performance reviews, company milestones, and cultural events).

  • 2025 company goals and how employees’ work aligns with them.

  • Key HR deadlines like benefits enrollment or professional development programs.

  • Guidance on how employees can participate in and contribute to upcoming initiatives.


Make this toolkit easy to access on your intranet or share it as an interactive PDF. Bonus: tie the toolkit to onboarding materials for new hires to help them feel prepared and engaged from the start.


3. Communications Channel Audit

Evaluate how well your current channels (email, intranet, Slack, newsletters) are serving your goals. Identify which are driving engagement and where improvements are needed. Ask questions like:

  • Are messages reaching the right audiences?

  • Are some platforms underutilized or oversaturated?

  • Is the content resonating with employees based on engagement data?


If you don’t have the time or feel unsure how to navigate a full audit, Star Thrower

Communication can step in to help. We specialize in crafting effective strategies to align communication channels with your business goals.


The Bottom Line

Strategic communicators don’t just share information—they shape experiences and build trust. Use these steps to end the year strong and set your team up for success in 2025.


Want help achieving these goals? Reach out to Star Thrower Communication, and let’s make 2025 your most strategic year yet.


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