​Local government risks aren't always predictable or preventable. But when poor communication is added to the mix? They escalate. But it doesn't have to be that way.

By integrating strategies like clear procedures, regular training and risk culture, you can maximise awareness and minimise confusion. So that when a risk does arise, your staff know who's responsible and how to act swiftly.

Connecting policies and procedures with action

You should have detailed risk management policies and procedures. But if your people don't understand them – or worse, don't know about them – where's the value in a piece of paper?

A helpful analogy to illustrate this dynamic is to picture your organisation as a single entity with:

• Head: the strategies, policies and procedures developed by your leadership teams –and the commitment they show.
• Hands: your staff who are qualified to carry out the work on the ground.
• Heart: your culture and how you communicate, connecting the head with the hands.

When that heart of your organisation is nurtured and valued, your people will be invested in your broader processes.

Risk management won't be some abstract chore that complicates their job. They'll see the value in procedures – because they'll know that resolving it early will make their lives easier in the long term.

Causes of ineffective communication

If poor communication is all too familiar, two common causes to examine and address are:

Internal silos: Too often, one arm of a local government will introduce a change but fail to engage other stakeholders who benefit from a consultation. For example, your finance team might change a payroll process to be more efficient. But in doing so, they may expose your IT department to new fraud risks because they didn't collaborate beyond their silo.

Engagement channels: It's tempting to send important information via email. But details can be ignored, skimmed or deleted. In-person meetings might take more time in the short term, they foster richer comprehension in the long term – so your people can recall crucial details when the time arises.

Whatever the cause, poor communication can undermine your risk management processes and fester into severe symptoms, such as:

• Undefined responsibility – leading to misunderstandings and confusion
• Sluggish response times and overlooked early-stage risks
• Delayed or unmet objectives – resulting in poor outcomes for council and communities
• Costly financial, reputation and legal ramifications

Improving communication

To improve your risk communications consider the following:

1. Prepare clear policies and procedures: Create clear policies and procedures written in plain English

2. Review your induction and training program: New staff need to know what to do when issues surface. Even existing staff will benefit from in-person refresher training every six months.

3. Share regular and consistent updates: When risks are identified communicate consistently so everyone is clear on responsibilities and next actions.

4. Promote positive risk culture: Support and encourage staff to speak up when they identify risks.

For support and advice on improving your risk communication contact the LGIS risk team or your regional risk coordinator.