The PolicyViz Podcast

Engage, Elevate, Communicate: Davina Stanley on Crafting Clear Business Messages

Mar 5, 2025

Davina Stanley, a communication expert and owner of Clarity First, shares her insights on crafting clear messages in business. She discusses the transformative power of structured messaging, highlighting how it builds trust and streamlines decision-making. Davina recounts her unique journey from teaching kindergarten to consulting at McKinsey, using her experience to emphasize the importance of audience understanding. She also touches on the evolving role of AI in communication, stressing that clarity remains essential amidst technological advancements.

39:54

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Episode guests

Davina Stanley

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Episode notes

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Quick takeaways

Structured messaging through techniques like message mapping enhances clarity, reducing miscommunication and fostering trust in professional environments.

Careful preparation and understanding audience needs are essential for effective communication, as they help articulate key messages and improve decision-making.

Deep dives

Strategic Communication Frameworks

A strategic approach to communication, including careful preparation and outlining, is crucial for effective messaging. Before drafting documents, it's important to consider the desired outcome of communication, such as whether it's to inform, persuade, or seek approval from stakeholders. This approach counters the common tendency to dive straight into creating presentations or reports without a clear framework. By taking time to plan, individuals can prevent miscommunication and ensure that their messages resonate with their audience.

Intro

3min

From Classroom to Corporate: A Journey in Communication

5min

Mastering Business Communication

16min

Building Trust through Effective Communication

9min

Navigating Communication Challenges in Technical Fields

3min

The Evolving Role of AI in Communication

4min

In this episode of the PolicyViz Podcast, I chat with communication expert Davina Stanley about the power of clear and structured messaging in business communication. Davina shares insights from her books Engage and Elevate, discussing how leaders and teams can improve their communication efficiency through message mapping. She explains how a well-structured message can reduce back-and-forth revisions, build trust, and lead to faster decision-making. Drawing from her diverse career—from teaching kindergarten in Australia to working at McKinsey—Davina emphasizes the importance of outlining, visual hierarchy, and strategic thinking in crafting compelling business messages. Whether it's an email, a presentation, or a major proposal, she reveals how clarity in communication can transform workplace productivity and leadership effectiveness.

Keywords: business communication, message mapping, clarity, leadership, structured messaging, workplace productivity, presentations, effective writing, trust in communication, decision-making, corporate communication, professional development, consulting, strategic messaging

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Email: jon@policyviz.com