(aka how to not kill your colleagues) We all have them. The people you dread going to a meeting with. That guy who you would rather poke your eyes out with a fork than discuss his project. The woman who…
Happy first birthday Elm Communications
It’s been one year. One whole year, since I started Elm Communications. What a ride! Twelve months ago, I didn’t really know what to expect. I didn’t know where to start. I definitely didn’t know if I would get any…
Stop engaging those that yell the loudest
Increasingly in government communications teams, we are delivering stakeholder engagement. This isn’t new, we have always had a role in engaging with the media, Minister’s offices and creating content for the general public. More recently, our skills in analysis, strategy…
Things to remember when communicating Government change
Yesterday, we saw the first round of changes from the returning Morrison Government. For those that missed it, the Prime Minister announced his Ministery and some fairly big changes to the structure of the public service. Before starting Elm Communications,…
How Labor lost the unloseable election
In an election that was supposed to be a shoo-in for Labor many were shocked on Saturday night when the coalition won a ”miracle victory”. Like many I spent yesterday reading about what went wrong and how the polls had…
What I learnt from my trip to Cuba
One of my passions is traveling. I have been to almost 70 countries. It’s an addiction, I start planning my next holiday while I am on my current one. I love the thrill of discovery, seeing new things, learning about…
Communicating as a leader
I have had a few clients say to me lately “I am terrible at communicating. I am just not great at it.” They are experts in their field. Experienced, knowledgeable and at the senior level of their government agencies. The…
There is nothing more frustrating than being undervalued
One of the biggest challenges working in communications, and in many other corporate service areas, is feeling undervalued. In government, often there is a perception that our professional advice and services are seen as less important.
Why it is better to respond than react.
I am sure we have all felt irritated, annoyed or angry while at work… it has probably already happened to you today. We all handle these situations in different ways. Deciding if you respond or react to a situation can…
Back to basics – social media content
Some days maintaining one (or more) social media channels can feel overwhelming. Posting fresh, new content, responding to comments, watching your feed for mentions, answering private messages. It can feel like a never ending spiral, especially if it’s not your…