The comms blog

What’s the point? Make your comms worthwhile

I regularly have conversations with potential new clients who are struggling to find the time to communicate effectively. They usually have a small team with limited comms experience and they need someone to help them get their messages out effectively. Although I haven’t yet found a way to manufacture more time (that would be a … Read more

It’s all in the timing

There are many areas of life where timing is all important. Communication is one of them. This is something that anyone who has ever had to talk to their boss about a difficult project knows very well. Or if you’ve had to persuade a 2-year-old to put their socks on! Cycles of work Working in … Read more

Carrying out an internal comms audit

Over the summer I am sharing examples of some of the projects I’ve been involved with over the years. I love the variety of clients I am lucky enough to work with and the ways in which I can help them communicate better in order to achieve their objectives. If you are taking the summer … Read more

4 tips for summer communication

The summer can be a funny time for organisational communication in most workplaces. At any given time, many colleagues will be away on holiday and those who are in the office may find themselves covering more work than usual. For some teams, such as the admissions teams at universities for example, the summer is the … Read more

Guest blog: What to do when leaders don’t listen

This month, internal communications consultant, Martin Flegg, shares his advice for getting your voice heard by the leaders in your organisation. If you like what he has to say, you might also like to join him and many other internal communicators at the ‘Changing the Conversation’ conference – details at the end of his piece. … Read more

An exercise in audience understanding

Effective communication is based on audience understanding. To build connections, communicate messages and listen to others, you need to understand them. With this knowledge you can plan communications that are meaningful and move towards achieving your organisation’s objectives. Put yourself in their shoes When I run my communications planning workshops, I often set attendees an … Read more

How effective communication solves problems #1

I believe that effective communication solves problems by motivating people to take actions. But which problems? And which actions? To help my readers understand where communication can support them and their organisation, I have written a series of blog posts covering different problems you can solve by communicating well. This week I am looking at … Read more

Who needs internal comms?

I love my job. I believe wholeheartedly in the difference that effective communication makes to organisations, how it solves problems and supports achievement of plans and goals. As a result, I’m always willing to talk to others about what I do, whether at networking meetings, co-working offices or even at the pub with friends. (Oh … Read more

Mental health and the internal communicator

This week is Mental Health Awareness Week. It is fantastic that conversations about this important area of wellbeing are becoming more and more open. With increasing recognition of the impact of our mental wellbeing on all areas of our lives, our workplace communication has an even greater significance. We would not be able – or … Read more