This week marks Elm’s third birthday. Three years! Where does the time go? When I started in 2018, I just wanted a bit of a break out of the public service. I wanted to try something different. I gave myself…
When to say yes and when to say no
Saying no is something I have always been bad at. I just say yes. Yes to new projects. Yes to social activities. To coffees, lunches or wines with clients. My name is Melanie, and I don’t know how to say…
Why you need to make friends at work (even when you’re the boss)
Early in my career, I made some great friends at work. People who I still speak to regularly after 20 years. People with who I have shared big moments with marriage, babies, breakups, deaths. Then when I became a manager,…
Building respect in the communications profession
There is often a lack of respect or trust for communications professionals. Often our advice is dismissed or discounted as not as important as an economist, policy officer or project manager. I have been asked more times than I can…
Why you need to work somewhere that matters
If we learnt anything from the last year, it’s that connections can be made regardless of our geographical location. The people we work with and what we do together matters. When you can’t travel, can’t leave the house, when all…
Communicating our value to an organisation
Last week, I joined the IABC Converge conference with communications peers from the Asia Pacific, Europe, Middle East and Africa. The two day, fully virtual conference had speakers from around the world sharing their insights into the latest and greatest…
Strategy sins and channel challenges
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…
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…