GovComms: The Future of Government Communication

On this episode of the GovComms Podcast, contentgroup CEO David Pembroke speaks to Agile Delivery Adviser and Digital Delivery Transformation expert, Sonia Irwin. Sonia has worked in Canberra for over 25 years and is currently working with the Department of Agriculture, Water and Resources as well as directing her very own practice, Redgrass Communications. In this conversation Sonia discusses the role that Agile Delivery plays in Communications and explains to David how it is different from strategic communications. She explains that being ‘Agile’ is all about keeping a flexible mindset and rebranding yourself or your organisation. Sonia also shares her view on company vision and mission statements, and what steps you should take to create not only a good, but effective one. Your vision should be an ‘elevator’ that helps bring those in your organisation to where you want them to be. Using her insights gained from user testing and research, Sonia also speaks to her love of IT, however acknowledges that people can sometimes get lost with it, particularly when it becomes a bit intense with tools such as coding. As a result, she tells us the important role she plays in translating ‘tech speak’ to publics, and how she goes about doing so. In the episode, Sonia also shares her advice to government communicators at a time where the industry is going through rapid change due to the result of the COVID-19 pandemic. David and Sonia finish off their conversation looking into the future, discussing what Sonia hopes to achieve in her career in the next few months. To get in contact with Sonia, contact her on LinkedIn. To learn more about Agile Delivery, visit either Sonia’s company website, Redgrass Communications or the IABC Discussed in this episode: What is Agile Delivery and how can it assist you in communications. How the communications landscape is changing in regard to ICT. The importance of an effective company vision and mission statement. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On this episode of the GovComms Podcast, contentgroup CEO David Pembroke speaks to communications coach, mentor and speaker, Chris Huet. Chris is based here in the Nation’s Capital where he works as a Communications Coach for Understood Consulting Services and a Speaker Coach for TEDxCanberra. As well as this, Chris has also led a fighter jet squadron and performed his very own poetry on stages across the globe. Taking all his skills and experiences into account, in this podcast Chris speaks to David about how people should communicate from ‘the COCKPIT’, a terminology her gained from his time in the air force. Chris explains the importance of reflection and how people, particularly those in business, don’t take enough time to reflect on their meetings, conversations or days in general, and how this is potentially damaging to them. He shares with David tips on how to fix this and how to fit reflection into your everyday schedule. Further breaking down his COCKPIT terminology, Chris talks about the importance of being considered and consistent in your communications message.  He explains the role that emotion plays in messaging and why we must utilize it in order for our messaging to be successful. Chris finishes off the terminology by describing how to use trust and how to build it for the long term in order to bring all of the steps of COCKPIT together. Trust is the key to communication and is what Chris believes will unlock the full potential of any communication plan or strategy. David and Chris finish off the episode by discussing some quick tips for speaking in front of crowd, such as an ‘iron man’ posture, and how to project your voice. To get in contact with Chris for tips on your own communications, engage with him on LinkedIn or contact him through Understood Consulting Services website. Discussed in this episode: How the COCKPIT terminology will assist you in communications. The importance that trust and relationships play in maintaining strong communications with stakeholders. Why communication skills are vital for every career, not just someone who works in comms. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Cognitive psychologist Barbara Tversky discusses the importance of gestures in communication, highlighting how they aid in understanding and memory recall. She explores the challenges of virtual communication during the COVID-19 pandemic and the need for effective changes in video conferencing platforms. The podcast also delves into the role of movement and space in cognition, emphasizing the power of visual communication in government roles for improved citizen understanding.

On this episode of the GovComms Podcast, contentgroup CEO David Pembroke speaks to the Founder and President of the Gen Z Identity Lab, Anya Dua. Living in Miami Florida, Anya is the youngest guest to have ever joined us on the podcast. At just 15 Anya has appeared in The New York Times and Forbes, sharing her views on an array of political and social issues that the world faces. She is determined to change how the media views her generation and works hard to educate, inspire and empower her peers. In this podcast, Anya discusses the purpose and mission of the Gen Z Identity Lab. She also shares her thoughts on how Generation Z is viewed by the rest of the world and explains why they should be an integral part of government communications. From an idea in year 8, to the business it is now, Anya shares her story of how the Gen Z Identity Lab came to be and what the important research that the Lab conducts on Generation Z, means for government communications. Anya also touches on how the political landscape has changed globally and as a result their generation cares about and is involved more than ever in politics, and what this will mean for the future. David asks Anya what Generation Z can bring to the political table. Anya explains that no one understands Generation Z, like Generation Z, meaning that their role in a business can help create messages that target the audience best, especially when it comes to creating content for social media. Finally, we end the episode with an important message from Anya, to decision makers from around the world, on what you can do to help make their generation be heard. Discussed in this episode: What the Gen Z Identity Lab is and why it is important to the world of government communications. Why Generation Z care more about politics than they ever have before. How decision makers can utilize this generation to create more targeted messages to their audience. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On this episode of the GovComms Podcast, contentgroup CEO David Pembroke speaks to the Principal Advisor to Proximity, Kerri Hartland. Before joining Proximity, Kerri was the Secretary of the Department of Employment, Skills, Small and Family Business. Throughout her thirty-year APS career, Kerri was also the Deputy Director General of the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation (ASIO). In this podcast, Kerri discusses her new role in government consulting at Proximity. She gives her thoughts on the evolving role of consultants in the public sector. Kerri explains how her background and skills as a journalist and a communications professional translated into her role as the Secretary of a major government department in Australia. Kerri reveals what it is like being a Secretary in the Australian Public Service (APS), shining a light on the job of some of the most important people in government. What skills are needed to become a Secretary? What is it like briefing a government minister? How do you get a Secretary’s attention? Kerri discusses what she enjoyed most about her career in the APS, including what her favourite roles were. She reflects on what she did well as Secretary, and what she could have done better. She gives some advice on how public servants should interact with department heads, and how communications professionals can get their foot in the door of a Secretary’s office. Kerri and David examine the changing media landscape in Australia, and what this means for government and communications professionals. They also discuss the coming COVID-19 vaccination campaign, and what communications professionals and APS leadership should know about the road ahead. Discussed in this episode: What it is like working as the Secretary of a major government department in the APS. The skills of a journalist, and their relevance to a career in the public service. The career of Kerri Hartland, a journalist and communications professional who ascended to the highest rungs of the public service ladder. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On this special episode of GovComms, contentgroup CEO David Pembroke speaks to listening expert Oscar Trimboli. Oscar Trimboli is the host of the award-winning podcast Deep Listening and is also the Author of Deep Listening: Impact Beyond Words. He is considered one of Australia’s foremost experts on the topic of interpersonal listening. He is also a consultant to organisations such as Google, Qantas, News Corp, PayPal and TripAdvisor. As a consultant, Oscar helps executive teams perfect their listening skills to the benefit of their customers and employees. In this episode, Oscar discusses the importance of interpersonal listening. He explains how improved listening skills can lead to a more positive and collaborative workplace. Oscar also explains the five levels of listening and how to improve each of these in order to reap their rewards. Oscar goes on to talk about the listening skills required to be a great leader and gives advice for government communicators about how they can improve their practice by advancing their listening techniques. This interview is a recording from the 2020 GovComms Festival, which featured hundreds of speakers from around the world. To view more content from the GovComms Festival, please visit the GovComms Institute website. Discussed in this episode: The five levels of listening and how to unlock them. The importance of listening within government, and how government communicators can improve their listening skills to the benefit of citizens. Practical advice on how to become a better listener. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On this episode of GovComms, contentgroup CEO David Pembroke speaks to Howard Parry-Husbands about how systems thinking can be used to solve complex problems. Howard is the CEO of Pollinate, one of Australia’s consulting and market research leaders in the world of branding, innovation and communications. In his spare time, he is studying a Masters in Systems Thinking and Forestry at the Australian National University. Howard and David discuss the definition of systems thinking, which Howard believes is: the recognition that everything is related to everything else. This means that a solution to one problem can inadvertently create another problem. In order to use systems thinking to solve these complex issues, Howard explains how we first must understand the key parts of the complex system which we are working with. He explains this using the Murrray Darling Basin as an example. Howard believes that humans are bad at understanding complexity, and better at understanding cause and effect. Therefore, we need to use metaphors, visuals and storytelling to communicate your complex message to the public. As an example, Howard compares how the COVID-19 pandemic was dealt with in Australia, New Zealand and the US. Howard believes that this comparison highlights the effects of what happens when systems thinking is put in place, compared to when it’s not. Howard also gives his opinion on the single-message strategy, and how it is incompatible with an understanding of systems thinking. According to Howard, governments regularly make the mistake of giving one message to multiple audiences (the single-message strategy). Discussed in this episode: What is systems thinking, and how can it be used by communications professionals? The benefits of understanding systems thinking from a policy perspective. What is the single-message strategy, and why do governments need to stop using it? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On this episode of GovComms, contentgroup CEO David Pembroke speaks to Shey Dimon about the role that government communicators need to play in communicating cyber security messages. Shey is the Marketing and Communications Manager at Penten, an Australian cyber technology company based in Canberra. Shey has over a decade’s worth of experience working in communications in and around government. In the past she worked for the Head of Australian Defence in Washington DC, as well as the Marketing and Communication Manager at BMT. Shey and David discuss the best resources that communicators can use to understand the world of cyber security. Shey explains the value the government’s official cyber security strategy document that was released in August last year. Shey runs through some tips that everyone can use to minimise their chance of being the victim of cyber security attacks in the future. Shey explains why it is important to tell someone immediately if you have experienced a cyber-attack, whether it is in the workplace or at home. Shey states that government workplaces need quarterly updates about what they should do to avoid cyber-attacks, as well as information on recent attacks that may have happened nearby. To make things interesting, Shey recommends using other companies who have been breached by a cyber-attack as a case-study that you give to employees for them to learn from. This podcast also explores the work of the company that Shey works for, Penten. In 2020, Penten created technology to all those who work in Defence to communicate both securely and flexibly. These technologies allow Defence staff to work from home, which in the past was seen as a near impossible scenario. Shey also discusses her opinion on Artificial Intelligence (AI), and how AI can be used as an offensive and defensive tool. Shey believes that AI is something that Australians should not be scared of. For more information about Penten: https://www.penten.com/ Discussed in this episode: What communications professionals need to know about cyber technology. How we can all shield ourselves against the threat of cyber-attacks, in the workplace and at home. The work and achievements of Australian cyber-technology company, Penten. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On this episode of GovComms, contentgroup CEO David Pembroke speaks to Zora Artis and Wayne Aspland about their recently-released research that is now available on the GovComms Institute. Zora Artis is the CEO of Artis Advisory and an alignment strategist with almost three decades of experience working with government, private, and non-profit sectors. Wayne Aspland is the Principal at The Content Factory. He has more than fifteen years of experience in corporate, leadership and internal communications. In this podcast, Zora and Wayne discuss their recent study: The Road to Alignment. The pair firstly discuss the definition of alignment, which they believe as being all about unity. This study is a follow-up to their 2018 study into strategic alignment, which found that many organisations struggled with their alignment strategies, and that this was because people either didn’t know how to align or they were not committed to it. Since writing this paper they realised that COVID-19 has caused some organisations to be more aligned and others to be less. Working remotely has played a role in this, as well as other variables that were present before the pandemic hit such as having ill-defined values. Zora and Wayne have created a four-step strategy: one VISION, one STORY, one TEAM and one VOICE. The pair discuss this strategy step-by-step in this podcast episode, explaining that these steps involve gaining support from an organisation’s executive team, creating a narrative about your organisation that resonates with your staff, and working together with them to ensure that this narrative is communicated by the staff correctly and effectively with each other and the public. Zora and Wayne show that communications done well can act as a fundamental enabler for alignment. To read Zora and Wayne’s latest paper visit: https://contentgroup.com.au/govcomms-institute/ To find out more about alignment visit: The Content Factory: http://www.thecontentfactory.com.au/ Artis Advisory: https://www.artisadvisory.com/ Discussed in this episode: What is alignment, and why is it important? How has COVID-19 impacted the level of alignment in organisations? What role do communications professionals have to play in improving alignment? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this special episode of the GovComms Podcast, contentgroup CEO David Pembroke speaks to Donnie Nelson, the General Manager of the Dallas Mavericks basketball team which competes in the NBA. This podcast is a recording of a session from the 2020 GovComms Festival. To see even more content from the GovComms Festival, please visit the GovComms Institute website. Over the coming months, we will be uploading all of the content from the Festival to the website, so stay tuned! In this episode of the podcast, David and Donnie discuss the secrets to bringing a team together and sustaining high performance over a period of time. Donnie explains why he thinks the secret to leadership is understanding the ‘human business’. Donnie is one of the most successful and respected General Managers in basketball. He brought together the Mavericks team that won the NBA championship in 2011. David and Donnie also discuss how the Dallas Mavericks have been able to bring together people from a wide array of backgrounds. They discuss how to unite a diverse group of people around a common goal. Donnie explains that a commitment to winning an NBA championship is the first, second and third most important quality in a player. Donnie claims that too many people in basketball are ‘blinded by talent’, and that not enough focus on motivation, drive, integrity and teamwork skills. Donnie explains how he managed to get everyone in the Dallas Mavericks organization, from the owner Mark Cuban down to the ball boys, united behind a common goal. Donnie also discusses the importance of listening, communication and patience in the development of high-performing teams. Discussed in this episode: How Donnie Nelson uses communication and listening practices to get the best out of elite athletes competing in one of the biggest sports in the world. The Dallas Maverick’s victory in the 2011 NBA Championship. How the Dallas Mavericks have been able to unite a team, and an organization, around a common goal, and how non-sporting teams can implement those same techniques. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.