Less Chatter, More Matter: The Communications Podcast

In this week's episode, we’re going to start to tackle a really big segment of comms - crisis communication. Look, there’s a reason I can run a two-day training course on this topic, because there is a LOT to think about! But don’t worry, we’ll break it down into a few smaller topics over the course of this series.In this episode, we’re going to start with the three key principles of crisis communication. These are the principles that, no matter how little prepared your organisation is, will help guide your communication when a crisis occurs.Here’s thing thing - it’s not a matter of if, but when a crisis will come to your doorstep. It’s a given. I don’t want to scare you - it does appear there’s a lot that can go wrong, because there is! But if you’re aware of the risks and you’re well prepared, then you can confidently navigate a crisis when it does happen.I'll also briefly cover the difference between an issue and a crisis, what a crisis can actually look like, and the over-arching goal of crisis communication you should be working toward.To get your hands on the crisis communication framework, subscribe to my FREE 12-month comms toolkit here.Also, as I mention in the episode, if you're keen to beta test my new crisis comms bootcamp, pop your name down here.Say hi!Follow me on LinkedInFind out what I'm up to InstagramCheck out my websiteAsk a question

So you’ve made the decision you’re going to try going out on your own - or even just testing the waters with a side hustle first. That’s awesome! It’s a courageous but exciting decision to make. But where to start? How do you even start a business?In today's episode, I'm going to share a few things you can do now to get ready - whether you're considering freelancing, consulting, or building a team. And these are what I deem the ‘fun’ things! They’re certainly more fun than some of the other bits and pieces you have to do - but we’ll cover those in another episode because they’re also super important, and things I wish I’d known before I kicked things off.If you haven’t already, I encourage you to head to my website - go to heymelcomms.training/freebies - and download my two checklists: Five fun things and five boring things you should consider before starting you business. This episode will give more details on what's in those lists, so you can follow along at home!Say hi!Follow me on LinkedInFind out what I'm up to InstagramCheck out my websiteAsk a question

We’ve all been there - you get a long email or message in a message app and you just don’t read it. Why? It’s not interesting or relevant, doesn’t look enticing to read, doesn’t grip you in the first couple of lines, or you just don’t have the time.All of these reasons and more are perfectly valid for ignoring the long, boring message.As comms pros, we need to be aware of how our audience takes in information. If you’re not going to read a long boring message, why would they?! And yet, we continue to see long boring messages being written by comms people, or people responsible for communicating. But, all is not lost. Today I’m going to share some top tips for formatting your written communication to give it a better chance of being read, even when it’s boring. AND these are tips you can apply to other people’s writing with hopefully very little resistance.You can also read a blog post on this very topic on our website here.Say hi!Follow me on LinkedInFind out what I'm up to InstagramCheck out my websiteAsk a question

In today’s episode we’re going to be delving into the world of tailoring your communications. As you’ve probably picked up by now from me banging on about it, all of our comms should start with ‘who’ … not ‘why, what, how’ etc. Your audience is absolutely key to nailing your communication objectives.The challenge we have is there’s no one-size-fits-all approach. We are communicating with humans, not robots. Humans … well we’re a little weird! We’re basically squishy, fleshy balls with emotions. But every single one of us is different, down to a molecular level. You will not find anyone else on this planet, past present or future, who is exactly like you. That’s how special you are!But it’s also a good reminder - why are we just assuming that everyone will consume information the same way, when no two people are alike?Tailoring your communication is really key to getting people to actually hear it. Adapting your communication style to suit the needs of your team is also a key element of leadership communication skills. In my experience, it’s not something that comes naturally to leaders or to comms pros either.To help you understand your own communication style - and the styles of others - take this quick quiz. You'll find out not only what your preferred style is, but also how to communicate better with others with different styles, and how to share with others what you need in order for comms to be successful.If you want to build on this a little, check out my Communicating Better, Together workshop! This is a workshop for teams where we delve into communication personality types, as well as understanding how people respond to change and to feedback, so you and your team can communicate better, together, and get results! Check it out here.Say hi!Follow me on LinkedInFind out what I'm up to InstagramCheck out my websiteAsk a question

It's the number-one thing I've been asked to write or help with in my 20-plus years in communications - a comms plan!In this episode I give you the 101 on how to write a solid communication plan. While the complexity of a plan might change depending on the context, the key elements remain the same. This is a good, juicy episode for those of you who are new to comms and want to learn the skill of writing a communication plan, or if you just need a bit of a refresher.So get ready to take some notes and learn exactly what goes into my comms plans! If you or your team need more support, I offer one-hour masterclasses on this topic, complete with templates and live Q&A, all via Zoom. So if you want to book one of those in, please get in touch!Say hi!Follow me on LinkedInFind out what I'm up to InstagramCheck out my websiteAsk a question

Measurement ... sounds boring and hard, but it's so necessary for comms pros! It helps you continuously learn, improve and ideate, and helps you demonstrate the value you add for your business or client.So how do you measure the effectiveness of your communication in a way that shows value, and gives you value too?In this episode I'll share my three top tips for measuring your comms, and give you a few ideas to try.Subscribers to my FREE 12-month Comms Toolkit will receive a measurement framework in their inboxes this month (March 2023), so this is the perfect episode for you! If you haven't subscribed and would like a copy of the framework - and get your hands on the tools we've already shared - then sign up here.Say hi!Follow me on LinkedInFind out what I'm up to InstagramCheck out my websiteAsk a question

As promised in episode one, this podcast will be a mixture of comms tips and stories from a small business owner! In this episode, I'll answer a question I get asked often: How did you start your business?The answer ... it's more a story of why! I'll give you the background to how I came to 'do my own thing', and some of my top tips for things you should do to get ready for the transition.Get my checklists - the top five fun things and the top five boring things to consider before you start your business - here.Say hi!Follow me on LinkedInFind out what I'm up to InstagramCheck out my websiteAsk a question

If you're writing comms plans (or you think you might be asked to write a comms plan at some point), then this episode is for you!We're sticking with a 'comms foundations' theme, and I'm going to share with you the three outcomes every comms plan you write should have. I'm also going to take you through the key questions you should ask when taking the brief that will inform your comms plan ... and they're so simple, but SO effective! It'll help you ensure you're developing less chatter, more matter in your comms plans.Say hi!Follow me on LinkedInFind out what I'm up to InstagramCheck out my websiteAsk a question

Welcome to the first episode of Less Chatter, More Matter, the podcast where I talk all things comms and business ownership!In this introductory episode I'm going to give you the 101 on corporate communication - where it's come from, and where it is now. If you're only just dipping your toes in the waters of comms, or you're thinking about it as a career, I'll give you the low down on what it looks like and all the avenues you can specialise in!I'm also going to share my number-one tip for effective communication - and it is so simple, it might surprise you!As this is the first episode, I'd love your questions and feedback! DM me or email at hello@heymelcomms.training.1mHZSCeWBfJ8xor44v7zSay hi!Follow me on LinkedInFind out what I'm up to InstagramCheck out my websiteAsk a question