Is “the media” an audience or a channel? How do you target “the general public”? And other strategic communications challenges. If you work in communications, it is easy to be lazy when writing a communications strategy or plan. You get into bad habits, you never really learnt the basics, or at some point, you just gave up trying (no one reads them anyway, right?). It’s no excuse. If you want to deliver effective communications, you need to create a proper strategy. It is time to get on my strategy high horse and share some of my most popular gripes when…
Strategy sins and channel challenges
April 11, 2021
Next steps in your communications career
Last Thursday, I had the pleasure of participating in a panel discussion for IABC Canberra with Justine O’Brien from the Australian Academy of Technology & Engineering and Jaimee Thorpe from Hays Recruitment. We talked to communications professionals about what was…
Communications operating model: How to structure your communication team
It is the ultimate conundrum in communications – Do we have the right operating model? It is an issue that comes up for communications teams every few years. Is there another way to offer our services? How is everyone else…
The habit of writing
Today is my 100th article. For three years, I have been regularly writing about communications, being a communications professional and team leadership. I remember how hesitant I was before I posted the first one. Why would anyone care what I…
Back to basics: My lessons from working with the Cook Islands Government
Over the past few months, I have been doing some work with the Cook Islands Government. Working on the community consultation for the national economic strategy was a fantastic experience. I don’t often share details about the projects I am…
What is news?
Last week, Facebook blocked all news in Australia in response to the Government’s News Media Bargaining Code. The result was that not only were news organisations like ABC and The Canberra Times Facebook pages blocked but others like the Bureau…
Keeping up team morale
It’s a month into 2021 and let’s be honest the world is not looking that much better. We just passed 100 million cases of COVID worldwide. The UK and Europe are in the strictest lockdown they have had, and Melbourne…
A 2021 challenge: personal development
I didn’t realise how important it was to do personal development until I had to pay for it myself. When working in government I took it for granted (I see that now) that I could do a course or attend…
What 2020 taught me about authenticity
I have been reflecting a lot about what I learnt during 2020. In some ways it was a tough year, business was quiet for a while, I saw less people, and I was concerned (like many people) about the unknown.…
How to be a great leader: Advice for new managers
It finally happened. You have been an APS staff member for years, and you finally got the promotion you have been waiting for. You finally made it! OR maybe you weren’t expecting it. Your boss left, and you got asked…
Why you should start the year with a planning day
How do you start the working year? Do you just jump straight back in and pick up where you left off? Everyone in the team slowly ramps back up to the same pace, doing the same things as last year.…