Who’s listening to your not-for-profit story?
To tell your not-for-profit’s story effectively you need to be clear about the audiences you want to reach and what is important to them
Take time to understand your colleagues
If you are making assumptions about your colleagues’ meanings and motivations, either consciously or not, chances are that the communication between you is not working very well. And while this isn’t great in any situation, it can be particularly problematic during a global pandemic (or any other time of pressure and uncertainty). Listen up A … Read more
How to avoid misunderstandings in times of uncertainty
One piece of communication can send many messages, some of which may not be immediately obvious to the person sending it. This is particularly true in situations of uncertainty, where your people are worried about the future. They may even be actively looking for hidden meaning behind your words. So as communicators we need to … Read more
Your perception is your reality
One day some time ago when my daughter was much younger, we were discussing colours on the school run – to be more precise, we were discussing the colours of the autumn leaves that we kicked through on our way to the playground. Soggy weather had really highlighted the bright colours of the leaves and … Read more
5 thoughts for person-centred communication
I have attended some fantastic events this week. Yesterday I chaired an internal communications panel for the CIPR Not-for-profit group, where questions covered a wide range of topics, from using core purpose to motivate people during lockdown to the importance of ongoing discussions about structural racism. Today I attended one of Dawn Newton’s Charity Meetups, … Read more
20 questions to sort the basics for your internal comms
Although internal communications practice looks different at individual organisations, there are basic elements that everyone needs to consider.
3 comms articles I have enjoyed this week
My original plan for the blog this week was to share a list of my top 10 articles about communications in difficult times. But with client deadlines, a bank holiday weekend and several meetings connected to my trustee role, my time and head space for reading blogs and articles has been reduced recently. So I … Read more
6 tips for communicating in uncertain times
In these times of uncertainty, it can be tricky to know how to play it with your communications. On the one hand, you don’t want to cause worry by seeming like you don’t really know what’s going on. On the other hand, taking a firm position on something that could change again at any minute … Read more
Guest post: Communication habits for life not just global pandemics
This month I’m delighted to be joined by internal communication specialist, Victoria Winter, who shares her tips for the communication habits that will stand you in good stead now and long into the future. Ronan Keating, the great philosopher, once said: ‘You say it best, when you say nothing at all’. Then again, Ronan Keating … Read more
Internal communication – is it a magic answer?
The last few months have given internal communicators many opportunities to demonstrate the importance of the work that they do. They have supported their organisations to rapidly change the way they work and to connect with employees in unimaginable circumstances. This is a good thing for our profession. However… It’s an interesting point that once … Read more