Less Chatter, More Matter: The Communications Podcast

#173 The public speaking and media interview comms skills everyone needs (ft. Theresa Miller)

Thu, 04 Jun 2026 05:00:00 +1000

Whether it's a media interview, conference presentation, town hall meeting or leadership briefing, there comes a point in most careers when you need to speak with confidence under pressure.

... but what happens when the questions become challenging, the audience feels intimidating or the nerves start to take over?

In this episode of the Less Chatter, More Matter podcast, we chat with media trainer, journalist and author Theresa Miller to explore what it takes to become an effective presenter and media spokesperson. Drawing on more than three decades of experience in journalism, broadcasting and media coaching, Theresa shares practical strategies for communicating clearly, confidently and authentically in high-pressure situations.

The conversation covers why preparation is critical, how to stay focused on your key messages, and the role plain English plays in helping audiences understand and connect with what you're saying. Theresa also discusses how to navigate difficult questions, avoid common presentation mistakes and use your voice, body language and storytelling skills to strengthen your message.

Listen to the podcast now to get the lowdown!

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#172 Pivoting as a communicator in an AI world

Thu, 28 May 2026 06:00:00 +1000

This episode of the Less Chatter, More Matter podcast has us uncovering what it means to be a communicator in an AI-driven world; plus, why the profession is entering a major period of transformation.

Communicators are being challenged to rethink where their value truly lies as AI takes over the practical, often menial, tasks of our everyday. BUT! The future of communication isn’t about producing more of this content faster, in fact it's more about becoming trusted strategic advisors who help organisations build trust, navigate uncertainty and strengthen human connection.

So, this episode helps map out this change with a new framework for the future communicator built around five evolving roles: reputation architects, risk and opportunity identifiers, stakeholder engagers, human connectors, and leadership coaches. We also look at the critical capabilities communicators need to develop to remain relevant, including adaptability, creativity, business acumen, strategic thinking and relationship building.

Get ready to learn all about how communicators can position themselves to lead in an increasingly complex, AI-influenced world.

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#171 Reputation as a business asset (ft. Bonnie Caver)

Thu, 21 May 2026 06:00:00 +1000

In this episode of the Less Chatter, More Matter podcast, we are joined by Bonnie Caver, founder and CEO of Reputation Lighthouse, to discuss why reputation should be viewed as one of the most valuable forms of business currency.

We explain the difference between reputation management and reputation architecture, sharing how communicators can help leaders intentionally build trust, strengthen culture, and protect corporate value. Bonnie also explores the growing impact of artificial intelligence on reputation, including how AI can amplify both positive and negative patterns across every stakeholder touchpoint.

But, we all love a quick run down... so, in this conversation you'll learn how to:

Position reputation as a strategic business asset
Apply the “Do, Say, Are” alignment model
Use pattern recognition to identify emerging risks
Understand the reputational implications of AI
Elevate your role from content creator to trusted advisor

Bonus points: Bonnie also shares her top advice for communication professionals who want to increase their influence and help organisations thrive in an increasingly complex and AI-driven world.

So, get listening now to get the inside scoop!

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#170 Why communication isn’t always the solution (and when comms should say no)

Thu, 14 May 2026 05:00:00 +1000

Communication is often seen as the solution to every problem in an organisation. Low engagement, unhappy teams, backlash to decisions and somehow, the default response is usually “let’s communicate more.”

... what if communication isn’t the fix?

In this episode of the Less Chatter, More Matter podcast, we explore the role of communicators as gatekeepers, and why that responsibility is critical to protecting both reputation and trust.

You’ll learn why not every issue can or should be solved with communication, how poor or reactive messaging can actually make things worse, and what effective gatekeeping looks like in practice. From governance and consistency through to challenging ideas and pushing back on stakeholders, this episode unpacks how communicators can move beyond being order takers and step into a more strategic role.

We also share practical ways to handle tricky situations, including how to say no without shutting people down, how to reframe conversations around audience needs, and how to speak the language of risk and reputation when dealing with senior leaders.

If you’ve ever been asked to “just send something out” to fix a deeper issue, this episode will give you the clarity and confidence to respond differently... and why you have to in order to avoid being an order taker in a comms role.

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#169 How psychological safety plays a role in comms (especially change comms) (ft. Dr. Samantha Rush)

Thu, 07 May 2026 05:00:00 +1000

Every day, we make around 35,000 decisions, of which most of them are fast, subconscious, and driven by emotion rather than logic. So what does that mean for how we communicate change?

In this episode of the Less Chatter, More Matter podcast, we sit down with Dr. Samantha Rush, a cognitive decision-making specialist, to unpack how decisions are really made, especially in complex, high-stakes environments.

Drawing on psychology, neuroscience, and her PhD research, Samantha explains why acceptability is the critical first step in any change. Before people adopt something new, they make a series of micro-decisions about whether it feels safe, what it means for them, and how it might impact their reputation or standing.

Together, we explore:

Why logic-heavy communication often falls short
The role of psychological safety in decision-making
How fear, uncertainty, and self-perception shape responses to change
Practical ways communicators can design messages that actually land
What influences whether leaders align to, and follow through on, decisions

This episode challenges traditional approaches to change communication and offers a more human, realistic lens on how people think, feel, and decide.

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#168 Communicating in uncertainty

Thu, 30 Apr 2026 05:00:00 +1000

"Oh, when things settle down" - this is an almost direct quote from every business, ever.

However, do things actually ever settle down anymore? We went from COVID to mass shutdowns, fuel crises to wars... we can pretty well assume that we’re living in a time of constant disruption. Not to mention the workplace shenanigans with AI.

So yes, organisations might continue to adapt, but the workplace is not a bubble. What’s happening in the world is showing up in how people think, feel, and perform at work.

In this episode of the Less Chatter, More Matter podcast, we're looking into all the ways uncertainty affects the human brain... plus why it often leads to stress, fatigue, and decision paralysis. More importantly, we then share five practical strategies to help communicators and leaders provide clarity, reduce friction, and support their people through ongoing change.

From acknowledging uncertainty (rather than avoiding it), to creating low-friction environments, reinforcing what’s stable, shifting mindsets toward adaptability, and amplifying the role of leaders.

If you’re a communicator, leader, or change professional, this episode will help you rethink how you show up, and how you support others, when certainty is in short supply.

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#167 5 things every advocacy communication strategy needs

Thu, 23 Apr 2026 05:00:00 +1000

When we think about change communication, it’s often within the walls of an organisation in things like new systems, strategies, or restructures. However, advocacy communication operates in a very different environment, where audiences are not captive, attention is limited, and influence must be earned.

In this episode of the Less Chatter, More Matter podcast, we explore advocacy as a form of change communication before we share the five essential elements that underpin effective advocacy strategies.

We also explore the importance of audience segmentation, the power of relatable storytelling, and the role of behavioural science in shaping effective campaigns.

Ultimately, this episode is one that can apply across any industry and any role, because we all end up having to work in an advocate position at some point! So, listen in now.

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#166 How to make your communications effective (ft. Lisa Partridge)

Thu, 16 Apr 2026 05:00:00 +1000

As AI continues to reshape the communication landscape, one thing remains unchanged: the need to put humans at the centre of how we communicate.

In this episode of Less Chatter, More Matter, we welcome back Lisa Partridge, learning designer, facilitator and founder of Six Comms, to explore what truly makes communication effective in today’s workplace.

On this episode, we unpack Lisa’s Six Cs framework: Connection, Curiosity, Compassion, Clarity, Customisation and Consistency. This practical model offers a powerful way to move beyond common communication myths, like assuming that sending a message equals understanding, or that more communication is always better.

Lisa shares how communicators and leaders can build trust, create meaningful connections, and tailor their approach to cut through the noise of modern work environments that compete with AI, too. This conversation will give you the tools to communicate with greater impact, and stay effective in a world driven now by AI.

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#165 Current and future trends in change and change comms (ft. Janine Ellison)

Thu, 09 Apr 2026 05:00:00 +1000

Change has always been part of working life, but right now, it feels different.

In this episode of the Less Chatter, More Matter podcast, we speak with Janine Ellison, experienced change leader and co-founder of Rethink Change, about how the profession is evolving and what that means for those working in it.

Drawing on insights from five years of Rethink Change conference data and hundreds of submissions from practitioners across Australia and New Zealand, Janine shares what’s shifted in the industry. From post-pandemic connection and community, to innovation and AI, to today’s pressing concern: the sheer volume and frequency of change.

We explore the paradox of the “invisible” change manager, the tension between go-live and true adoption, and why sustainable transformation depends on leadership ownership.

The conversation also tackles AI head-on, challenging change professionals to define their own partnership with emerging technology rather than passively waiting for direction.

Listen in now.

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#164 The evolution of internal communication (ft. Rachel Miller)

Thu, 02 Apr 2026 05:00:00 +1000

Internal communication has travelled a fascinating road over the past two decades from being overlooked or undervalued, to becoming mission-critical during the COVID pandemic. But as the spotlight intensified, so did the pressure.

In this episode of the Less Chatter, More Matter podcats, we're joined by Rachel Miller, founder of All Things IC, Fellow of the Institute of Internal Communication, and author of Internal Communication Strategy. With more than 20 years’ experience in internal communication, Rachel shares a candid and thoughtful perspective on where the profession stands today.

Together, they explore how COVID elevated the visibility of internal comms, the unintended consequences of “always on” communication, and why it may be time to reset the rhythm. Rachel unpacks some of the most persistent myths about internal communication, including the idea that it’s just about sending information, that it can’t be measured, or that it belongs to one team alone.

Rachel also explains her Miller Framework for building effective internal communication strategies, discusses the importance of accessible and inclusive communication, and offers practical advice for those looking to enter or grow within the profession.

Hear more on the evolution of internal comms.

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#163 How to find your public speaking confidence (ft. Sally Prosser)

Thu, 26 Mar 2026 05:00:00 +1000

For some people, standing on a stage feels like a nightmare. For others, it’s speaking up in a meeting or hearing their own voice played back that triggers discomfort. In this episode of the Less Chatter, More Matter podcast, we're joined by Sally Prosser, voice and public speaking coach, former broadcast journalist and author of Voiceprint to chat all things public speaking.

We explore the myths around public speaking, including the idea that it’s something separate from everyday communication. Sally explains how tone, breath and resonance influence credibility and trust, and why a well-delivered message can have more impact than perfectly chosen words. We also discuss the inner narratives people carry about their voice, the concept of “voice confrontation” when hearing yourself recorded, and how to prepare for spontaneous speaking moments without sounding scripted.

At the heart of the conversation is the idea of your voice print, a.k.a, the invisible mark you leave on others through the way you speak. This episode is a powerful reminder that confidence isn’t delivered overnight but it's something you can work on consistently to improve your speaking.

Learn more and listen in!

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#162 How to find a story that makes a message stick

Thu, 19 Mar 2026 05:00:00 +1000

In this episode of the Less Chatter, More Matter podcast, we explore why information alone isn’t enough to make workplace messages stick, and why storytelling is one of the most practical tools communicators and leaders can use.

In a world filled with slide decks, summaries and carefully crafted emails, clarity is often prioritised above all else but while people may understand a message in the moment, that doesn’t guarantee they will remember it. What tends to endure is not the information itself, but the meaning behind it. Storytelling is what transforms abstract ideas into something tangible and relatable.

This episode focuses on the first and most common stumbling block: finding the story. Rather than searching for something dramatic or extraordinary, we explain why the most effective workplace stories are usually simple and grounded in everyday experience.

The conversation also explores the power of positive examples when leading change, and why highlighting progress and possibility is often more motivating than leaning into fear or worst-case scenarios.

So, get listening and find your story.

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#161: Leader Communications - Part 5: Comms pet peeves (plus how to fix them) (ft. Prina Shah)

Thu, 12 Mar 2026 05:00:00 +1000

This is the grand finale of our five-part leadership series, and we’re finishing with honesty.

In this episode of Less Chatter, More Matter, we're once again joined by Prina Shah, host of Ways to Change the Workplace, to unpack the leadership communication habits that frustrate teams and quietly erode trust.

We explore the gap between broadcasting and true communication, the rise of professional ghosting, the myth that everything is urgent, and the impact of late-night pings on workplace culture. We even discuss jargon and passive voice, meeting overload, forwarding emails without framing, and the damage done when leaders fail to align their words and actions.

Throughout the conversation, we draw on behavioural science, change management and real-world corporate experience to explain why these patterns happen and how leaders can course-correct. Plus, we give you the lowdown on how they came to fruition to begin with.

Remembering that every behaviour sends a message showcases exactly why leadership communication isn’t just about what you say but what you reinforce through your actions every single day... so, use this episode to remember those actions can be fixed!

Listen in now.... and get in touch with your own pet peeves you want us to problem solve, too.

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#160 Leader Communications - Part 4: Leading through change (ft. Prina Shah)

Thu, 05 Mar 2026 05:00:00 +1000

Episode four of our five-part leadership series with Prina Shah explores one of the most critical skills modern leaders must develop: leading through change.

With organisations navigating constant transformation driven by technology, shifting employee expectations, restructures and new strategies, change is now continuous and leadership has never felt more complex.

In this episode, we unpack what change actually looks like in practice and why it’s far more than communication and training. We explore the five core elements of effective change, the importance of genuine consultation, and the evolving psychological contract between leaders and employees.

You’ll hear practical frameworks to help you understand how different people respond to change, how to reduce resistance through co-creation, and why trust must be built through transparent, timely and thoughtful communication.

We also chat about the risks of poor change management, and the critical differences between project management and change leadership alongside a plethora of other 'let me get on my high horse' activities.

So, if you’re responsible for leading restructures, strategy rollouts, system implementations or cultural shifts, we're offering grounded, practical insights to help you lead change with clarity, empathy and confidence.

Stay tuned for the grand finale of the series, where we get into our biggest leadership pet peeves and what to do about them.

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#159 Leader Communications - Part 3: Having tough conversations (ft. Prina Shah)

Thu, 26 Feb 2026 05:00:00 +1000

In part three of our five-part Leadership Communication series, we are joined again by Prina Shah, host of Ways to Change Your Workplace and author of Make Work Meaningful, for a deep and practical conversation about tough conversations.

We explore why so many of us avoid difficult discussions at work. We start with a fear of conflict and people-pleasing tendencies, and move through to the discomfort of delivering messages we may not fully agree with. We unpack the psychology behind avoidance, including the concept of cognitive dissonance and how leaders can move toward greater alignment and integrity.

The episode covers real-world workplace scenarios such as delivering bad news, responding to crises, addressing toxic behaviour, and navigating polarised views and misinformation. We also discuss how silence can unintentionally signal indifference or approval, why empathy must sit at the centre of any challenging conversation, and how leaders can create space for honest, respectful dialogue even when tensions are high.

Then, we give you the practical strategies for approaching difficult conversations with clarity and confidence, even when you cannot change the situation. At its core, this episode is a reminder that leadership is not about avoiding discomfort, but stepping into it with courage and clarity.

Listen in to get the lowdown.

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#158 AI is here, and this is what internal comms needs to know (and do) (ft. Dan Sodergren)

Thu, 19 Feb 2026 05:00:00 +1000

If you work in internal communications, you’ve probably wondered: is AI coming for my job?

In this thought-provoking episode of the Less Chatter, More Matter podcast, we speak with futurist, author and media commentator Dan Sodergren about what artificial intelligence really means for internal communicators and why this moment represents both risk and extraordinary opportunity.

Dan shares insights from more than two decades at the intersection of technology, workplace culture and human potential. From the rise of shadow AI to the dangers hidden inside poorly understood AI policies, he challenges communicators to think bigger, act braver and step into a more strategic role.

Together, they explore:

Why AI isn’t new — but its adoption curve is unprecedented
How internal comms could be amalgamated, evolved or elevated
The critical importance of training, trust and transparency
Why emotional intelligence will outlast artificial intelligence
And how communicators can move from content creators to culture architects

This episode is candid, energetic and at times confronting (with a tonne of insights, regardless) but ultimately, empowering. AI may automate the grunt work, but the human work, like the emotional intelligence, trust-building and change leadership are all more valuable than ever. That's where we come in.

Listen in to find out how.

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#157: Leader Communications - Part 2: Giving and receiving feedback (ft. Prina Shah)

Thu, 12 Feb 2026 05:00:00 +1000

In this second episode of this five-part series on people, change and leadership, we are joined again by Prina Shah to unpack one of the most emotionally loaded topics in the workplace: giving and receiving feedback.

Rather than treating feedback as a simple leadership skill, this episode explores the deeper dynamics at play. Why do leaders avoid tough conversations? Why do some people spiral when they hear constructive criticism while others lean in with curiosity? And how do poorly designed performance systems unintentionally create competition, defensiveness or even dishonest behaviour?

We examine the many forms feedback can take, from formal reviews to informal coaching moments, and challenge outdated approaches like the “feedback sandwich.” We share practical communication frameworks such as AIR and STAR-R, while also exploring the psychology behind feedback, including self-awareness, self-esteem, emotional processing and rejection sensitivity.

This episode blends practical tools with honest reflection, reminding leaders that feedback is not just about correcting performance but about understanding human behaviour, creating accountability and supporting genuine growth.

So, if you're keen to up your feedback skills, you should listen in!

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#156 Leader Communications - Part 1: Adapting your comms style (ft. Prina Shah)

Thu, 05 Feb 2026 05:00:00 +1000

One of the biggest myths in leadership is that once you get the title, people will automatically listen. They won’t, and it’s not because they’re difficult or disengaged but rather, because communication doesn’t work that way.

In the first episode of our brand new five-part series, we’re joined by leadership coach, author and podcast host Prina Shah to unpack one of the most overlooked leadership skills: adapting your communication style for your team.

Together, we explore why there is no such thing as a one-size-fits-all approach to communication, especially when you’re leading humans, not robots. We start with real-world examples from leadership journeys, including the challenges of new leaders, peer-to-leader transitions, managing people older than you, and why “that’s just how I communicate” is never a valid excuse.

You’ll hear practical strategies for understanding different communication preferences, using tools as guides (not labels), building trust through listening, and creating a shared “user manual” that helps teams work better together. The conversation also dives into context and why it’s critical for leaders to think of things like timing, environment and emotional load and why they matter just as much as the message itself.

So, get listening!

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#155 Topic in Ten: Four ways to manage technology change using communications

Thu, 29 Jan 2026 05:00:00 +1000

Technology change is no longer optional; it’s constant, accelerating, and deeply human. So, we’ve covered it in the final episode of the Topic in Ten five-part All Things People Change series.

We chat about one of the biggest drivers of organisational change: technology. From AI-enabled tools and retiring legacy systems to rapidly shifting skill requirements, technology change is reshaping how people work and how they feel about work.

With global AI investment surging and nearly three-quarters of employees reporting change fatigue, this episode focuses on the role communication plays in helping people adapt.

We share four practical, communication-led tips to improve adoption of new technology, including how to build digital confidence, shift the conversation from business benefits to user benefits, co-create change with employees, and reduce friction by making information easy to find and use.

This episode will specifically help you move beyond a “here’s the new system” approach, to communication that actually supports people through it.

Listen now.

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#154 Topic in Ten: Four ways to communicate policy or benefits changes

Thu, 22 Jan 2026 05:00:00 +1000

Too often, policy and benefits changes are treated as a tick-and-flick exercise. An automated email, a system checkbox, or a vague message telling people to “go look it up” is expected to do the job. However, that approach doesn’t lead to understanding, behaviour change, or reduced risk.

Which is why this short, punchy Topic in Ten episode is all about the practical ways you can communicate policy and benefits changes so they’re not just read, but genuinely understood and applied.

You’ll learn how to clearly show what’s changing and what’s staying the same, why simplicity in language and layout matters more than ever, how real-world scenarios bring policies to life, and why checking understanding goes beyond asking people to sign or click a box.

So, get listening to this week's Topic in Ten.

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#153 Topic in Ten: Communicating office moves and renovations in a way that works

Thu, 15 Jan 2026 05:00:00 +1000

Office moves and renovations often look simple on paper, but in reality, they’re people-heavy changes that can quickly become disruptive if communication isn’t handled well.

So, in this episode of the Less Chatter, More Matter podcast, we're doing another Topic in Ten with this week's focus on practical communication strategies to support organisations through an office move or major refurbishment.

This episode is part three of a five part People Change Series, exploring common change scenarios and how communication can best support people through them.

We run you through the basics of why people's feelings of displacement during a move can cause comms chaos, and how you can address it in a variety of different, innovative and new ways. So... get listening!

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#152 Topic in Ten: Restructures and people change communications

Thu, 08 Jan 2026 05:00:00 +1000

Restructures are one of the biggest and scariest people change scenarios organisations face, especially when roles are impacted and redundancies are on the table.

In this episode of the Less Chatter, More Matter podcast, we're doing another Topic in Ten - this time, we're unpacking restructures from a people change and communications perspective.

Drawing on extensive experience supporting large-scale restructures, we look at the typical phases, starting with raising awareness and managing rumours, moving through consultation and feedback, confirming the final structure, supporting redeployment and off-boarding, and finally embedding the new ways of working.

Along the way, we explore what employees are really worried about, the role leaders play in shaping the experience, and why empathy, clarity and timing matter more than perfect answers.

This episode is a practical guide for internal communicators, change practitioners, HR professionals and leaders who want to handle restructures in a way that supports people, protects trust and sets the organisation up for what comes next.

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#151 Topic in Ten: Enterprise agreements and people change communications

Thu, 01 Jan 2026 06:00:00 +1000

Welcome back to another Topic in Ten, and on this week's episode of the Less Chatter, More Matter podcast, we're chatting: Enterprise Agreements (EAs). EAs are one of the most common and complex people change scenarios in a workplace, and they require careful, consistent and well-planned communication.

In this episode, we unpack EAs (from an Australian perspective) and explain what communicators, HR professionals and leaders need to know.

We step through the full Enterprise Agreement lifecycle, including the initial notification, negotiations with unions and employee representatives, the voting process and the final outcome. Along the way, we share practical communication considerations, common risks, and tips for keeping information accessible, clear and fair for all employees.

This episode is particularly useful for anyone working in internal communications, change management, HR, industrial relations or leadership, especially those who are new to people-related change.

Stay tuned, because the next episode in the series will focus on restructures.

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#150 Your 2025 episode wrap up

Wed, 24 Dec 2025 05:00:00 +1000

As 2025 comes to a close, Episode 150 marks a major milestone and offers a moment of reflection on the ideas, conversations, and insights shared throughout the year from a tonne of our incredible poddy guests.

In this special wrap-up episode, we revisit some of the most powerful moments from conversations with guests across communication, change, leadership, and storytelling. Rather than introducing new material, this episode curates key lessons that are worth hearing again, especially as we head into a new year.

You’ll hear highlights on:

Why every interaction “leaves a trace” and how storytelling shapes reputation
What alignment really looks like in organisations — and what happens when it’s missing
The difference between hearing and listening, and why action matters
How humour and storytelling can transform safety and workplace communication
Practical ways to plan communication in change without underestimating the workload
Communicating effectively across cultures and contexts
Why organisations are now facing change apathy — not just change fatigue
How body language, events, and leadership behaviour communicate more than words

With over 15,300 downloads and listeners in 98 countries, this episode is also a heartfelt thank-you to the guests and the global audience who have supported the podcast throughout the year.

Whether you’re catching up, revisiting favourite moments, or setting intentions for 2026, this episode offers perspective, insight, and inspiration to carry forward... even into the new year ahead.

So, get listening, get some tips and if you're interested, find the links to the episodes you'll want to hear below.

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#149 How to talk about challenging times with your employees

Thu, 18 Dec 2025 05:00:00 +1000

In the wake of tragic events, silence from organisations can feel just as loud as saying the wrong thing.

In this episode of the Less Chatter, More Matter podcast, we explore five key things every business communicator should consider when responding to tragedy. From why ignoring the situation can damage trust, to when and how to pause planned content, we unpack what it really means to communicate with care when emotions are high.

The episode also looks at how organisations can help people channel their grief or shock into something meaningful, why the choice of channel and voice matters more than ever, and how leaders can avoid amplifying division by sticking to facts and shared values.

This is a practical, human-centred guide for communicators and leaders navigating difficult moments, where empathy, credibility and judgement matter most. Listen in now.

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#148 2025 in review … and what to expect in 2026

Thu, 11 Dec 2025 05:00:00 +1000

What a year! Filled with political upheaval and natural disasters all the way through to global protests, major elections and fast-moving technological change... you could say 2025 has been a whirlwind.

With so much happening around us and within our organisations, it’s no wonder many people feel overwhelmed as we approach the end of the year.

In this episode of the Less Chatter, More Matter podcast, we take a look back at the trends that shaped the comms and change landscape in 2025 and what they signal for 2026. We unpack what communicators and change professionals need to be paying attention to as we enter a new year, and what trends are arising from the craziness of 2025 and beyond.

In fact, consider this your roadmap to what’s coming next. No crystal ball required, just clear trends, practical insights and a chance to step into 2026 with clarity, capability and confidence. Get listening!

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#147 How to find, and tell, a story in the comms world (ft. David Pullan)

Thu, 04 Dec 2025 05:00:00 +1000

In a world overflowing with noise, leaders everywhere are searching for ways to make their messages land. Whether you’re communicating with employees, customers or entire organisations, the challenge is the same: how do you cut through?

In this episode of the Less Chatter, More Matter podcast, we are joined by actor-turned-corporate-communication expert David Pullan, co-founder of The Story Spotters and co-author of The DNA of Engagement and The Art of the Unignorable Email - both with his wife, Sarah Jane McKechnie. David has built a career helping leaders and teams harness the power of story; not just the stories they tell, but the stories they spot, listen for, trigger through their behaviour, and even the ones they tell themselves.

David shares why most people struggle not with storytelling, but with the crucial first step in finding ideas worth sharing. He breaks down his well-known DNA framework (Dream, Nightmare, Action), offering a practical way to engage people during change, and explains why vulnerability, co-creation and curiosity are essential leadership behaviours.

You’ll also hear how the second book tackles one of today’s biggest workplace challenges: creating emails people actually read. From practical structures like PRET, to the mindset shifts leaders need, this episode is full of simple, memorable techniques to elevate your communication and influence.

If you want your ideas to survive, thrive and stick in a busy world, this conversation is.... unignorable.

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#146 Looking to 2026 … what and how to plan

Thu, 27 Nov 2025 05:00:00 +1000

We’re officially entering the pointy end of the year and with the holiday slowdown approaching, there are only a few short weeks left to get your planning done for 2026. If you’re feeling overloaded now, that pressure won’t disappear next year unless you take time to reset, refocus and set your team up with clear goals and boundaries.

In this episode of the Less Chatter, More Matter podcast, we walk you through a practical, six-step approach to creating your 2026 communication plan. From aligning your goals with organisational strategy to defining deliverables, building capability, setting boundaries, celebrating wins and securing stakeholder buy-in, this is a roadmap to help any comms or change team plan with intention and impact.

We share tips for running an effective planning session, why external perspectives matter, and the simple mindset shift that turns a plan into a strategic tool. And for those who listen to the end, there’s a little surprise waiting to help you build your own plan even faster.... so, tune in and get ready to shape a calmer, clearer and more strategic 2026.

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#145 Strategy and values … how to build understanding

Thu, 20 Nov 2025 05:00:00 +1000

Clear strategic goals and meaningful values are essential for organisational success, but most employees can’t remember them, let alone apply them.

In this episode, we explore why strategy and values often fail to stick, and then, we share six practical, research-backed tactics to embed them effectively across your organisation.

You’ll learn how co-creation taps into ownership and social identity, why simplicity boosts recall, and how to break free from the broken communication cascade. We also unpack the importance of repetition, the power of making communication fun and easy, and why concrete, image-rich language dramatically increases understanding and adoption.

This episode will help you communicate strategy and values in ways that resonate, engage and drive real organisational performance. But most importantly: in a way that people can remember.

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#144 5 things that make change succeed or fail in an organisation

Thu, 13 Nov 2025 05:00:00 +1000

Here we see a Tale of Two Transformations... and with it, the large divide between experiences that became the catalyst for this episode's creation.

This divide: why a change can thrive in one organisation but collapse in another — even when they start with the same strategy, consultants, and goals?

In this episode of the Less Chatter, More Matter podcast, we explore five universal truths about what makes or breaks transformation. Through the stories of two very different organisations, Happiness Co and Sadness Co, we explore how leadership alignment, culture, capability, progress, and people can completely change the outcome of a transformation effort.

It’s a tale of what happens when change is driven with people, not at them, and what you can do to avoid becoming the tale of a failing change transformation. Listen in now!

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#143 5 big comms lessons from 5 big years in business

Thu, 06 Nov 2025 05:00:00 +1000

This week, we’re celebrating a big milestone! Five years in business and a brand new chapter with a brand new brand name (say that fast 10 times). We are now: Cuttlefish!

To celebrate, this episode is all about five of the biggest communication lessons we have learned along the way. These lessons apply whether you run your own consultancy or work in-house.

We chat about why it's important to find clarity in your value in order to stay visible and building meaningful two-way conversations. We touch on a whole lot more in this episode, and each of these are the practices that have helped us grow, evolve, and adapt (just like our new namesake, the cuttlefish).

So tune in to learn how to strengthen your communication impact, stay top of mind, and grow with purpose.

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#142 Strategic alignment: the role of comms and the impact on leadership (ft. Zora Artis)

Thu, 30 Oct 2025 05:00:00 +1000

What does it really mean to be aligned, and why is it so hard to achieve?

In this episode, Zora Artis joins us to unpack the concept of alignment: what it is, what it isn’t, and why so many organisations struggle to get it right. Zora explains that alignment isn’t actually about everyone agreeing, but rather, about creating shared meaning and direction so people can move together with purpose.

Yet despite leaders knowing how critical alignment is, research shows only around 14% of organisations are truly aligned. So, with this knowledge on board, we explore what causes “quiet misalignment” (the subtle drift between intention and execution) and, how leaders and communicators can close that gap through clarity, trust and honest dialogue.

Zora also shares how alignment connects with cohesion and commitment to create true organisational flow, and why communicators play a pivotal role in helping leaders bring strategy to life.

If you’ve ever felt like your team is “busy but not together,” this episode will give you the insight, and language, to fix it. So, get listening!

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#141 5 mistakes you might be making with your comms plan (and how to fix them)

Thu, 23 Oct 2025 05:00:00 +1000

Are you guilty of copy-and-pasting your comms plan each time? It may sound more efficient but when these habits become our norm, we risk repeating the same mistakes and missing the outcomes we actually want.

In this episode of the Less Chatter, More Matter podcast, we explore five common mistakes we see in communication plans, especially during times of internal change, and what to do instead.

We look into things like forgotten audience context and focusing too much on the business perspective, while sharing how to fix these things to make the biggest difference.

If your comms plan could use a refresh, this one’s for you!

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#140 Dyslexia Awareness Month and how to make your comms accessible (ft. Julie Mavlian)

Thu, 16 Oct 2025 05:00:00 +1000

What does it really mean to communicate inclusively and are we doing enough to make our messages accessible to everyone?

In this episode of Less Chatter, More Matter, we speak with Julie Malvian, co-founder of Code Read Dyslexia Network, Assistant Principal, and long-time advocate for children and adults with learning differences. Julie shares what dyslexia is (and what it’s not), how to spot the early signs, and why it’s often misunderstood; even in workplaces that pride themselves on inclusion.

She also breaks down practical ways communicators and leaders can make information easier to absorb, from using clear language and fonts to creating content in multiple formats. Whether you’re a professional communicator, a leader, or simply someone who wants to connect more effectively, this conversation is a reminder that good communication is inclusive communication and small changes can make a big difference.

Tune in this Dyslexia Awareness Month to learn how rethinking the way you write, design, and speak can help everyone feel more included and understood.

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#139 Disaster season and employee comms … how to prepare

Thu, 09 Oct 2025 05:00:00 +1000

If you're in Australia, then Spring has sprung... or whatever that quote usually is. Generally speaking, us Aussies get the first inklings of Spring through the wafts of breeze passing our heads as we get swooped by territorial magpies. However, Spring also marks the start of our disaster season with floods, cyclones, fires and heatwaves.

In this episode of the Less Chatter, More Matter podcast, we show you how communicators can strengthen internal readiness before disaster strikes. While many organisations focus heavily on external crisis communication, internal comms often gets overlooked and that can make a huge difference when things go wrong.

We share practical advice on preparing internal channels, establishing clear ownership and message responsibilities, and ensuring staff know where to go for accurate information. We also discuss how pre-season awareness campaigns can help build a sense of preparedness and care across the workplace.

When disaster hits, communication allows organisations to protect people, provide clarity, and keep teams connected when it matters most. So, listen in now!

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#138 How storytelling can save lives (ft. Stephen Harvey)

Thu, 02 Oct 2025 05:00:00 +1000

Every October, workplaces across Australia shine a spotlight on safety during Safe Work Month. Posters go up, toolbox talks are scheduled, and inboxes fill with reminders about procedures and policies. For many workers, the messages feel repetitive, predictable and sometimes irrelevant.

In this episode of the Less Chatter, More Matter podcast, we sit down with Stephen Harvey, a safety professional with more than 18 years’ experience across high-risk industries, to talk about how safety communication needs to change. Steve shares why traditional approaches (often legalistic, technical and dry) fail to connect with the very people they’re meant to protect.

Together, we explore practical ways to make safety comms stick, like weaving in humor and storytelling, and designing messages that feel human, relatable and timely. The conversation also looks at how organisational culture, leadership, and even the channels you choose play a role in whether safety communication is remembered, or ignored.

If you’ve ever felt trapped in the “tick-the-box” cycle of safety messaging, this episode offers fresh ideas to spark genuine engagement, shift behaviours and, ultimately, save lives.

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#137 Multi-lingual audience? Here’s how to communicate

Thu, 25 Sep 2025 05:00:00 +1000

Moving to a new country takes courage, especially when there may very well be different language barriers. However, it's worth wondering... what happens when your new workplace has communication you can't keep up with?

Even if it's not just a different language, there is a risk of misunderstandings, safety risks, and missed opportunities simply from cultural differences alone!

Which is what this episode of the Less Chatter, More Matter podcast explores. We focus on how internal communicators can break down language barriers so every employee feels safe and included.

We touch on plain English (no jargon!), visual tools and one-on-one conversations, and we give you six practical tactics that help messages land. We're here to make sure no one’s knowledge or experience gets lost in translation.

Listen in to break your language barriers down!

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#136 Let’s stop using ‘engagement’ as a measure of internal comms success

Thu, 18 Sep 2025 05:00:00 +1000

Engagement surveys are everywhere, and it’s tempting to use those scores as proof that your internal communications are working. In fact, a lot of people, and senior leaders, ask for exactly those scores to prove communication cut through. However, engagement isn’t just about comms because it’s shaped by leadership, culture, salaries, career development, values, and more.

So if engagement isn’t the right measure, what is? In this episode of the Less Chatter, More Matter podcast, we unpack why engagement shouldn’t be your go-to metric. Then, we tell you what should and seven practical measures that actually demonstrate the value of internal communication.

Th real kind of measures that will give you the data-backed and human-proven evidence you need to show senior management, and other employees, the internal comms impact on the business. If you agree that it’s time to move past vague scores and start measuring what really matters, you’ll want to listen in!

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#135 5 communication skills every leader needs to master

Thu, 11 Sep 2025 05:00:00 +1000

Stepping into leadership doesn’t magically equip someone with the ability to communicate well. Yet, so many organisations still assume it does. In fact, research shows that 82% of new leaders receive no formal training, which means many simply copy the habits of their past managers.

The result? Poor communication that trickles down and impacts whole teams.

Which is why this episode of the Less Chatter, More Matter podcast explores the five core communication skills that every new leader needs to master. From listening with intent and translating strategy into something meaningful, to adapting communication styles, navigating difficult conversations and telling stories that inspire, these are the skills that build trust, motivate people and create clarity.

If you’re new to leadership yourself or supporting others in their journey, you’ll walk away with practical ways to strengthen communication and avoid the common pitfalls. So get listening!

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#134 Change communications pet peeves, and how to fix them (ft. Gilbert Kruidenier)

Thu, 04 Sep 2025 12:00:00 +1000

Change and communication work can be challenging, with shifting priorities, tight deadlines, and complex approvals creating frustration.

Which is why on this episode of the Less Chatter, More Matter podcast, we sit down with Gilbert Kruidenier, organisational change expert, author, and volunteer firefighter, to explore common frustrations in change projects and practical ways to overcome them.

Gilbert shares insights from over 20 years of experience across industries including retail, government, aged care, and disability. He explains how to distinguish between change and communications roles, manage workloads, navigate approvals, and make messages clear, simple, and human.

The conversation also touches on lessons from Gilbert’s book Bad Change and strategies for improving the way change is communicated. Overall, we go over some of the mammoth pet peeves that all change and/or comms folks have, and how we can navigate them in a world where change is the new norm, and comms has to communicate about it.

This episode is ideal if you're in change or communications and want practical ideas to make your work more effective and impactful.

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#133 Overcoming the silos - how to build bridges through comms

Thu, 28 Aug 2025 05:00:00 +1000

Have you ever been halfway through a project only to discover priorities have shifted? Or chasing information from another team that never comes? Maybe you feel like no one really knows what your team does.

These are all symptoms of a siloed culture and while silos often start at the top, communicators can play a vital role in breaking them down.

In this episode, we share four practical strategies to help bridge the gaps that silos create; we chat about building a single source of truth to amplify more leadership voices, empowering employees to share updates, and holding the C-suite accountable.

So... if you're ready to get collaborating across your organisation, instead of yelling into the abyss - tune in to learn how communication can cut through silos, build trust, and keep people aligned.

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#132 Listening, and how it can change your internal comms (ft. Howard Krais)

Thu, 21 Aug 2025 05:00:00 +1000

When we think of internal communication, we often jump straight to emails, intranets, and town halls... but what about listening? How do we truly hear employees and act on what they share?

In this episode of the Less Chatter, More Matter podcast, we're joined by Howard Krais, co-founder of True Communications and co-author of Leading the Listening Organisation. With decades of experience in global change communications, Howard has pioneered research into how organisations listen and why it matters.

We dive into what makes a 'listening organisation,' the role leaders play in shaping culture, and how to move from hearing to truly listening. Howard also unpacks the barriers businesses face, how listening can become an early warning system for risks, and the surprising role AI might play in transforming how we listen.

If you’ve ever felt like your surveys disappear into a black hole, or wondered how to build a culture where employees feel heard, this episode will change how you think about internal comms.

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#131 Why emotions matter for your comms and how you can tap into them

Thu, 14 Aug 2025 05:00:00 +1000

Ever nailed a comms campaign, where you know it's clear, concise and beautifully targeted, only to find it falls flat in action?

The missing ingredient might be emotion. In this episode, we dive into the power of 'getting them in the feels' and why emotions are often the deciding factor in whether your audience engages, acts, or ignores your message entirely.

Drawing on fascinating research, we share four practical ways to tap into emotions: making your message relatable, priming your audience’s thinking, framing information effectively, and connecting with their sense of identity. So, if you're driving organisational change, inspiring donations, or motivating action, these insights will help you speak to both hearts and minds, and actually get results.

Listen in to this week's episode of the Less Chatter, More Matter podcast.

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#130 Storytelling to drive change for NFPs (ft. Gurpreet Bhatia)

Thu, 07 Aug 2025 05:00:00 +1000

In the crowded and competitive world of Not-For-Profits, how do you cut through the noise, move hearts, and inspire action?

In this powerful episode, we chat with Gurpreet Bhatia, Regional Communications Director for Asia at Heifer International, about the art and impact of storytelling in the nonprofit space. Gurpreet explains why storytelling is the soul of effective NFP communication and how real stories can drive funding, build connection, and spark meaningful transformation.

She shares her storytelling strategies, including a simple but powerful story arc, and talks through one incredible story of a woman whose life—and entire community—was transformed. The episode also explores the role of AI in comms, the importance of human-first language, and why empathy, dignity, and listening matter more than ever.

Whether you're in a lean comms team or just starting out in nonprofit storytelling, this episode will reignite your passion for the work we do.

Tune in now and learn how to tell stories that truly matter.

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#129 A change comms dilemma - what to communicate when there’s nothing to say

Thu, 31 Jul 2025 05:00:00 +1000

Change projects don’t always run smoothly. In fact, they often stall, slow down, or get tangled in roadblocks. So what happens when you’re expected to keep communicating about a project… but there’s nothing new to report?

In this episode of the Less Chatter, More Matter podcast, we explore the tricky territory of staying visible and valuable when change efforts are stuck in the slow lane.

You'll learn practical ways to communicate meaningfully, without creating noise or confusion, including how to tap into existing channels, tailor updates to specific audiences, offer behind-the-scenes insights, and maintain trust through transparency.

Even when you’re knee-deep in a stalled initiative or perhaps you're just looking to sharpen your change comms skills. This episode will help you strike the right balance between staying silent and oversharing, plus, what to talk about if you choose to speak up.

So, listen in and get the low down here.

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#128 Building connection through cross-cultural comms (ft. Tiffany English)

Thu, 24 Jul 2025 05:00:00 +1000

In a global workplace, communication isn't just about clarity. It's about cultural context, and how you manage this across borders.

In this episode of the Less Chatter, More Matter podcast, we are joined by cross-cultural communication expert Tiffany English, founder of Access Offshoring, to explore what it really takes to lead effectively across cultures. Tiffany shares a candid story from her own experience—when her collaborative leadership style wasn’t landing with her offshore team—and how it revealed a deeper cultural disconnect, not a performance issue.

Together, we unpack the often-overlooked assumptions we bring to leadership: how feedback should be given, how decisions are made, and how trust is built. You’ll learn why directness can feel disrespectful in some cultures, and why silence doesn’t always mean disengagement.

We chat about managing a dispersed team, why comms styles differ across cultures, and how to strengthen your cultural intelligence. We even cover some practical ways you can ask better questions, get better answers and navigate cross-cultural comms. In fact, this episode is packed with practical insights and small shifts that can make a big difference. So.. tune in now.

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#127 Communicating process and policy updates in a way that isn't boring

Thu, 17 Jul 2025 05:00:00 +1000

Not every message we share is exciting, but often, it’s the dull updates that matter most. In this episode of the Less Chatter, More Matter podcast, we dive into how we can turn dry topics like new policies, process changes, or compliance updates into messages that people actually notice, understand, and act on.

We explain why the temptation to send out an “FYI” isn’t enough and why failing to communicate the “boring stuff” well can create risks to operations, reputation, and even legal compliance. We share five practical ways to make sure critical information cuts through the noise, without overwhelming your audience.

You’ll also hear real examples (snake alerts at work, anyone?) and learn how legislation now recognises that poor communication can even pose a psychosocial risk in the workplace.

If you’ve ever struggled to get people to pay attention to policies, procedures, or other “dry” updates, this episode is your reminder that you can make the boring interesting and protect your business at the same time.

Tune in, take some notes, and find out how to turn your next dull update into something that sticks.

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#126 How to use storytelling more effectively in your comms (ft. Soundari Mukherjea)

Thu, 10 Jul 2025 05:00:00 +1000

When was the last time a slide deck inspired you to act? If your answer is “never,” then you know exactly why the conversation you're about to listen to, matters.

In this episode of the Less Chatter, More Matter podcast we chat with Soundari Mukherjea, a self-described Chief Everything Officer at Soundbytes11, who helps leaders and teams communicate with more purpose and impact through the power of storytelling.

Soundari shares her own journey of building a portfolio career across consulting, mentoring, and teaching, alongside why she believes storytelling is one of the most underused but powerful tools we have as communicators. Together, we explore how stories engage our brains in ways that bullet points and data alone never can, and how leaders can turn everyday moments into anecdotes that stick, persuade and build trust.

We dive into why storytelling doesn't need to be a Hollywood script, it can simply be about noticing the simple, relatable moments that help people connect with your message. Soundari brings practical ways you can use stories to break down silos, explain strategy and motivate change.

We also talk about the role of AI in storytelling, as you can expect, including how tools can help spark ideas and find fresh metaphors, plus why your authentic voice is what actually builds credibility and trust.

If you’re feeling stuck or hesitant about bringing storytelling into your work, this episode will give you real-life examples, practical tips and a nudge to start small and practise often.

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#125 Hiring and applying: top tips for comms jobs seekers and hirers

Thu, 03 Jul 2025 05:00:00 +1000

Are you a comms professional searching for your next role, or are you in an organisation trying to find the right communicator for your team? It can feel tough out there right now: talented people are struggling to stand out, and employers are missing out on great candidates because their job ads just don’t connect.

In this episode of Less Chatter, More Matter, we share three practical tips for comms job seekers, including how to write a resume that shows your true value (not just a list of tasks) and crafting an opening statement that sets you apart.

We also dive into three tips for hiring managers, which includes being clear about whether you need a strategist, an implementer or both. We touch on the importance of knowing the real market value of good comms talent and looking beyond just university degrees to find the right mix of skills.

If you want to land the right role, or attract the right people, this episode will help you communicate what matters.

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#124 Why body language matters for your comms, even online (ft. Shea Evans)

Thu, 26 Jun 2025 05:00:00 +1000

When it comes to communication, what you don’t say can be just as important as what you do.

In this episode of the Less Chatter, More Matter podcast, we sit down with speaking coach, performer, and strategist Shea Evans to unpack the often-overlooked power of body language, and how it can elevate your leadership, boost internal comms, and build stronger connections.

With more than two decades of experience across performance and business, Shea brings a unique lens to communication. Together, we explore why body language is critical in both in-person and virtual settings, how leaders can communicate more effectively with diverse teams, and why internal communication deserves as much care as external messaging.

You’ll hear practical tips for building trust through warmth and presence, navigating communication across cultures, and using body language more intentionally—whether you're in a town hall, Teams meeting, or cross-functional team discussion. Plus, we get some insights on the myths surrounding communication, why “start with who” should come before “start with why,” and the surprising psychology behind open palms and camera eye contact.

If you want your message to truly land, with clarity, confidence and connection—this is one episode you won’t want to miss.

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#123 The Generational Divide and Comms … is it a ‘thing’?

Thu, 19 Jun 2025 05:00:00 +1000

Are generational communication preferences fact or fiction?

This episode of the Less Chatter, More Matter podcast dives into one of the hottest topics from the 2025 IABC World Conference: navigating communication across multiple generations in the workplace.

From Gen Z to Boomers and beyond, we explore whether the so-called generational divide is backed by evidence or built on unhelpful stereotypes. We unpack why some assumptions may be doing more harm than good and we offer three powerful strategies for communicators to break down generational bias, build psychological safety, and connect more meaningfully with employees, regardless of their age.

Whether you lead teams, create change communications, or just want to challenge the status quo, this episode will shift your perspective on how to truly understand and engage your audience. Plus, it'll give you some insights onto stereotyping and how sometimes, it doesn't do us any good! So, listen in now.

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#122 5 ways to shake up your change communications

Thu, 12 Jun 2025 05:00:00 +1000

In this special episode of Less Chatter, More Matter, recorded live from the IABC World Conference in Whistler, we explore how to refresh and reframe change communication in a world where attention is fragmented and information overload is the norm.

Too often, communicators fall back on familiar tools and templates when managing change initiatives... but with today’s audiences juggling endless priorities and digital distractions, those traditional approaches may no longer be fit for purpose. In this episode, we share five practical ways to shift your communication strategy and achieve stronger cut-through and connection.

We discuss how to align your communication rhythm with what your audience actually needs, experiment with different formats and delivery styles, and remove unnecessary complexity from your messaging. We also reflect on how relevance, timing, and empathy can significantly enhance how your message is received and acted upon.

Whether you're overseeing a major transformation or supporting localised operational change, this episode offers thoughtful, experience-based guidance to help you deliver communication that genuinely supports people through change. Listen in now.

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#121 How to navigate misalignment with stakeholders as a comms pro

Thu, 05 Jun 2025 05:00:00 +1000

In this episode of the Less Chatter, More Matter podcast, we dive into one of the trickiest parts of being a communicator: managing challenging relationships with stakeholders who just don’t get it.

Whether it's clashing with HR, navigating gatekeeping internal comms teams, dealing with leaders who think they know best, or trying to manage change in a project where everyone expects comms to do all the heavy lifting—we address it all, and we share all the practical, tried-and-tested techniques to help you shift from frustration to influence.

Tune in if you're tired of battling egos, getting overlooked, or being undervalued as a comms pro, this episode is packed with strategies that will help you reframe the conversation and earn your seat at the table.

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#120 7 tips on making your comms easier for everyone to understand

Thu, 29 May 2025 06:00:00 +1000

Clear communication isn’t about using big words or sounding clever. It’s about making sure your message lands.

In this episode of Less Chatter, More Matter, we are sharing 7 practical tips to help you simplify your communication so it’s easier for your audience to understand and act on.

Whether you're dealing with senior leaders, change-resistant teams, or complex topics that need breaking down, these tips will help you bring more clarity, confidence and cut-through to your message.

We’ll talk about how to:

Ditch jargon without losing credibility
Use structure to your advantage
Leverage visuals (and even AI tools) to enhance understanding
Avoid common clarity-killers in your writing and presentations

So, in the interest of simplifying the complex - if you’ve ever been told your message is “too long,” “too technical,” or “not quite clear”, this one’s for you.

Tune in now and start making your comms easier to understand.

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#119 5 things leaders can do to improve their communication

Thu, 22 May 2025 06:00:00 +1000

Effective communication isn’t a nice-to-have for leaders, it’s essential. But here’s the problem: 9 out of 10 employees say their leaders aren’t cutting it when it comes to communication, and 6 out of 10 new managers receive zero training in this space. No wonder so many leaders are overwhelmed and underperforming.

In this episode of Less Chatter, More Matter, we explore five practical, no-cost ways leaders can improve how they connect, share, and support their teams. Even if you're in your first leadership role or mentoring someone who is, these strategies will help cut through the noise and bring more clarity, trust, and impact to your comms.

What you'll learn:

How to ask your team what they actually want from communication (and keep asking)
Why setting a predictable rhythm builds trust and reduces confusion
The value of short, sharp messaging (and the danger of email overload)
Why it’s okay to say “I don’t know”—as long as you follow up
How showing up authentically builds stronger relationships and drives change

Leadership communication isn’t about being perfect. It’s about being intentional, consistent, and human. Let’s get into it.

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#118 Creative ways comms pros can help get employees back in office (ft. Anshuman Kumar)

Thu, 15 May 2025 05:00:00 +1000

The return-to-office debate is back, and a lot of businesses are all but making their employees return to the workplace. However, are these organisations giving the right reasons as to why employees need to return... or are they still communicating in a way that doesn't resonate?

In this episode of Less Chatter, More Matter, we ask culture and comms expert, Anshuman Kumar, how he's seen leading organisations across Asia Pacific manage the return to office shift and what they've done right... or wrong.

He highlights the shift away from rigid mandates and a new focus on the purpose of in-person work. The emerging undertone? It’s not about filling seats—it’s about solving problems, building culture, and making time together count.

From here, we share fresh insights on making office days more intentional, the power of creative internal communications like gamification and immersive experiences, and the emerging role of AI as a true thought partner for communicators.

Join us on this week's episode to challenge the status quo and find great new ways that you can reframe your hybrid work comms with clarity and purpose.

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#117 Communications as the fix for change fatigue (ft. Kate Neilson)

Thu, 08 May 2025 06:00:00 +1000

In this episode of the Less Chatter, More Matter podcast, we are joined by Kate Neilson, a Senior Editor and Content Strategist at Mahlab, to explore how change fatigue happens in an organisation, and what comms can do to essentially, fix it.

With extensive experience writing for the Australian HR Institute and working closely with business leaders, Kate offers a unique perspective on the challenges organisations face in adapting to a fast-paced, technology-driven environment.

As businesses continue to grapple with hybrid work models, mental health issues, and the increasing pace of change - traditional communication strategies are no longer working to foster the engagement and connection needed. Which is why Kate discusses the growing importance of a more human-centred approach to communication—what she calls belonging communications.

This approach helps to mitigate change fatigue and reduce resistance to new initiatives, all while giving practical strategies for communicators to thrive in a world full of change.

This episode is a must-listen for communicators looking to adapt their practices, stay ahead of the curve, and navigate the complexities of modern org-wide change with a focus on people and connection. Tune in now to get the low down.

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#116 A case study in driving change with a remote workforce

Thu, 01 May 2025 05:00:00 +1000

When your team is 250 people strong, morale is shaky, and no one’s in the same physical location, how do you communicate a major organisational change—let alone get people on board with it? In this episode of Less Chatter, More Matter, we get a behind-the-scenes look at an award-winning change communication project Mel Loy delivered for a local government client navigating a complex transformation.

With multiple senior leadership changes, ongoing remote work due to office renovations, and a lack of clarity around what the change meant in practice, the challenge was clear: connect and engage people effectively without face-to-face interaction. You get the step by step strategy developed to turn this situation around—starting with a clear focus on outcomes and a commitment to simple, practical, and human-centred communication.

Along the way, you’ll pick up key tips on strategy versus tactics, making virtual events more interactive, and supporting speakers to deliver with confidence. Whether you’re a change leader, communicator, or team manager trying to reach and engage dispersed teams, this case study is full of actionable insights to help you do it better.

Tune in to learn what worked, what could be improved, and how creativity, clarity, and collaboration can turn a tough communication challenge into a big win.

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#115 Building your personal brand and making LinkedIn work for you (ft. Fady Ramzy)

Thu, 24 Apr 2025 05:00:00 +1000

If you’ve ever opened LinkedIn, stared at the blank post box, and thought, “What do I even say?”—this episode is for you.

Fady Ramzy is an international digital communications consultant, LinkedIn top creator, and trainer for LinkedIn Top Voices. He’s passionate about helping professionals and leaders stop lurking and start leveraging LinkedIn to build an authentic, strategic personal brand.

In this episode, Fady shares practical, no-fluff advice on how to show up online without feeling like a self-promoter. He unpacks his signature frameworks for consistent, human-first content—including the “3 specifics” and “3 Cs”—and shares how AI tools can support your creativity and workflow (without sounding robotic).

We talk about:

Overcoming the fear of judgment and perfectionism
Why value matters more than volume
How to find your content sweet spot by blending personal stories with professional insights
The mindset shifts that help you stay consistent and connected on LinkedIn

Whether you're a communicator, executive, small business owner, or just someone ready to show up more intentionally online, this episode will help you feel more confident, clear, and aligned in your content.

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#114 Restructures - the good, the bad, the ugly, and what comms can do about it

Thu, 17 Apr 2025 06:00:00 +1000

Let’s be real — restructures suck. They’re messy, stressful, and almost always handled poorly. But do they have to be? In this episode, we roll up our metaphorical comms sleeves and dig into why we keep getting restructures wrong (spoiler alert: it’s not just the org charts), and what communicators can actually do to help make them suck a little less.

From the jargon-laden emails no one wants to read, to leaders ghosting their teams at the worst possible time, we break down the usual chaos and chaos-creators. We offer up smart, human-first strategies to bring clarity, empathy and actual sense to these corporate shake-ups.

Because no, you can’t "comms" your way out of bad leadership — but you can help make the ride less bumpy. So if you’re a comms pro, change wrangler, or just someone who’s survived one too many restructures, hit play. It’s time to change how we talk about change.

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#113 How Comms & PR pros stay relevant in an AI world (feat. Ana Pista)

Thu, 10 Apr 2025 00:00:00 +1000

What would you do if a client came to you and said they no longer needed your services, because they’re going to use ChatGPT instead?

This is the situation today’s guest, Ana Pista, faced recently.

If you don’t know Ana, start now! She’s the founder and CEO of Ardent Communications based in the Philippines. She’s a seasoned PR expert with more than two decades of experience, having honed her skills while working for big companies like HP and Microsoft.

In this conversation, we cover how to deal with clients who want to use Artificial Intelligence (AI) instead of our services, using AI in our own practices, the ethical considerations, and so much more.

If you work in comms, PR or marketing, and AI is encroaching on your world, you want to listen to this one!

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Follow Ana on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ana-pista-apr-871742108/

Ardent Communications Inc.

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/ardent-communications/
Facebook: https://web.facebook.com/ArdentPR

AI Centre of Excellence (ACE)

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/aicentreofexcellence/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AICentreofExcellence/

Articles

ArdentComm advocates for responsible AI use in PR practices (Inquirer): https://technology.inquirer.net/140011/ardentcomm-advocates-for-responsible-ai-use-in-pr-practices
ArdentComm founder and CEO pushes ethical AI in PR (Inquirer): https://technology.inquirer.net/138713/ardentcomm-founder-and-ceo-pushes-ethical-ai-in-pr

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#112 Strategies for comms pros to rebuild reputation after a crisis

Thu, 03 Apr 2025 00:00:00 +1000

Reputation takes years to build and only moments to break... and a lot of the time, it's due to something fairly simplistic that many wouldn't have planned for. In other times, it can be as signficant as a media storm, unethical behaviour or even worldwide crises.

No matter the issue, the real work comes after the crisis has been managed and dealt with. This is where the reputational recovery starts, and with it, the long-term work of rebuilding trust and restoring credibility.

In this episode of Less Chatter, More Matter, we unpack the critical phases of reputation recovery, alongside giving you five key strategies to help organisations repair their reputations and reset for the future.

With it, we show you how to navigate the recovery phase in a way that effectively rebuilds your brand rep, and sometimes, helps it emerge stronger. So, tune in now for the big tips!

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#111 5 key emerging trends in the comms and PR sector in the Asia Pacific region

Thu, 27 Mar 2025 05:00:00 +1000

The Asia Pacific region is a powerhouse of growth and opportunity, and for communication professionals, that means a lot of exciting trends to watch. In this episode of Less Chatter, More Matter, we share key insights from the IABC Asia Pacific Fusion 2025 Conference in Manila.

We dive into the five biggest trends shaping the future of comms and PR in the region, such as how the conversation around AI is shifting—no longer just about tools, but about ethics, accountability, and the economic impact. Change remains a constant, but the real challenge now is tackling change apathy. How can communicators re-engage employees and drive meaningful transformation?

We discusses how professional communicators can step up to support and guide them. The importance of local representation in media and comms also takes center stage, highlighting the need for on-the-ground professionals to uncover authentic stories. We also explore the research behind some key trends and what can be done to support women in the profession.

If you’re a comms pro, change manager, or PR consultant, this episode is packed with insights to help you navigate the evolving landscape. Tune in now!

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#110 All things change and comms (ft. Lata Hamilton)

Thu, 20 Mar 2025 05:00:00 +1000

Change is only as successful as the confidence behind it, which is why this week's episode of the Less Chatter, More Matter podcast features confidence expert Lata Hamilton.

Lata runs us through the ways in which a lot of organisations often struggle with transformation, alongside how they can fix it. She talks to the way many lack foundational change capability, which makes even relatively small shifts feel overwhelming.

Lata shares practical insights, including why process mapping isn’t just a documentation exercise—it’s a powerful tool to engage employees and build momentum. We also explore how real transformation isn’t about new systems themselves but about what they enable for people and businesses.

So... whether your organisation is navigating change, or you're looking to navigate yourself into a new career - this episode is packed with tips to make the process smoother and more successful. Tune in now!

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#109 What comms can learn from bulk toilet paper buyers in a crisis

Thu, 13 Mar 2025 05:00:00 +1000

Off the back of Tropical Cyclone Alfred here on the east coast of Australia, we have seen the quick rise of the not-forgotten behaviour seen during the height of the pandemic: toilet paper hoarding.

Now, it may seem silly, and at both times you may have scoffed at the idea... but have you ever actually wondered why people rush to buy toilet paper during a crisis? Because we have. And right now, we're seeing it again. Which is why this week's episode of the Less Chatter, More Matter podcast is diving into the why behind the hoarding, and what we can learn from it in our comms.

It’s not just about the need—it’s about psychology. In this episode, we explore the behavioural science behind panic-buying and what it reveals about how people respond to change. By understanding these psychological principles, we can better anticipate reactions to change and craft messages that resonate.

Whether you’re leading a transformation or managing communications, this episode will give you valuable insights into human behaviour... so, get listening!

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#108 Event management tips for comms pros (ft. Sally Porteous)

Thu, 06 Mar 2025 05:00:00 +1000

As professional communicators, team leaders, change managers, and even project managers, we can often be tasked with managing events. Whether it's a CEO town hall, a conference, an expo, or anything in between, there's always some kind of event we will be called in to help organise, if not manage, entirely.

Though that doesn't mean we know what we are doing. In fact, quite a few of us have no idea what we're doing, which is why event management professionals should be on your speed dial. Because how do you make sure the event you run gets the outcomes you want? And that's what today's episode of the Less Chatter, More Matter podcast is all about.

Featuring the expert, Sally Porteous, who is a passionate advocate for creating remarkable audience experiences where she has created three pillars of support for her event community. Red Lanyard is the production company supporting people and organisations to create their best work. Event Planner's Workshop is about creating space for people to learn, play, and test their work.

And the Event Manager's Network that encourages connection, collaboration, belonging, and support. Still a self described work in progress, Sally continues to create meaningful event experiences, give others the confidence to do the same, and connect a vibrant community to make magic in the world.

In today's episode, we cover everything about how to organise and manage quality events because events are a solid communication channel that we should be using.

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#107 7 tips for presentation success

Thu, 27 Feb 2025 05:00:00 +1000

If you’ve ever had your eyeballs assaulted by a PowerPoint disaster—think endless bullet points, chaotic graphics, and a structure that makes zero sense—this episode of the Less Chatter, More Matter podcast is for you.

We tackle the all-too-familiar scenario of being handed a presentation that needs major help before it lands in front of a VIP... but instead of just fixing slide decks one by one, we've shared some go-to strategies for guiding people to create better presentations themselves—saving you time, sanity, and possibly your eyesight. With seven practical (and sanity-saving) tips, we cover everything from defining a clear purpose to structuring content in a way that actually makes sense, ensuring your slides don’t just inform but persuade.

There is also some sneaky psychological tricks to help you get what you want—whether that’s securing more budget, buy-in, or resources. We break down how to make your slides more visually engaging, why fewer words are (almost always) better, and how to simplify complex ideas without losing impact. This episode is packed with smart, actionable advice to make your next deck a winner... so tune in now!

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#106 How to stay creative in PR and communications (ft. Kirsty Visman)

Thu, 20 Feb 2025 05:00:00 +1000

Creativity in Public Relations and communications isn’t just about artistic talent—it’s a mindset that thrives on collaboration. In this episode, Kirsty Visman from Superdream joins us to discuss how creativity plays a crucial role in problem-solving and campaign success, both in PR and comms.

Kirsty shares insights on overcoming barriers like budget and risk aversion, the evolving media landscape, and the importance of adaptability. From tapping into niche audiences through podcasts to leveraging AI for research, this conversation dives deep into the trends shaping the industry today.

But, you're probably wondering... why is this important to me? Well, here are some of the key things you'll takeaway from this episode:

How collaboration fuels creativity in PR
Overcoming budget constraints to drive innovative ideas
The shift from traditional media to decentralised platforms
Why personalisation in PR is more effective than mass press releases
The power of partnerships and brand collaborations
Using AI as a research tool for trendspotting and media outreach

So.. what're you waiting for? Hit play to learn how to keep your comms strategies fresh, engaging, and impactful (even in this day and age).

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#105 The three questions you should ask before communicating

Thu, 13 Feb 2025 05:00:00 +1000

Not everything needs a comms plan, and not every comms plan needs to be extensive.

On this week's episode of the Less Chatter, More Matter podcast, we explain away how you can easily outline and specify your comms before you even start. In fact, we share three essential questions every communicator should ask before crafting their messages.

We all have busy schedules and information overload, meaning both communicators and audiences have little time for unclear, over the top or irrelevant messaging.

By taking a few moments to consider these key questions, you can ensure your communication is clear, engaging, and effective—without the need for a full-blown comms plan. So, why wouldn't you spare yourself the workload and listen in for our simple three questions?

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#104 Personal branding: who, what, how and why (ft. Petra Zink)

Thu, 06 Feb 2025 05:00:00 +1000

In this episode of Less Chatter, More Matter, Mel Loy chats with personal branding and career expert Petra Zink about why your reputation, and your personal brand, is your most valuable asset—especially in today's digital-first world.

Petra shares why personal branding is more than just self-promotion—it's about shaping the perception others have of you. She explains how a strong personal brand can help you stand out in a competitive job market, future-proof your career, and attract new opportunities.

Key takeaways include:

If you can't be found, you can't be considered—your online presence matters more than ever.
Go beyond job titles and tasks—focus on the value you bring and the impact you make.
Content pillars matter—define your expertise and share insights that are relevant to your audience.
Overcome self-promotion fears—think of it as curating conversations, not just talking about yourself.
The rise of YouTube and owned content—why long-form content and email lists are key to a sustainable brand.

Whether you're job hunting, building a business, or positioning yourself as a thought leader, this episode is packed with practical strategies to help you take control of your personal brand.

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#103 Topic in 10: How to get your workforce to adopt AI

Thu, 30 Jan 2025 05:00:00 +1000

In this episode of Less Chatter, More Matter, we answer a key listener question: "What is a quick framework for companies to adopt AI into the workforce?"

Now, this one is a particularly interesting episode as we chat about the new challenges that accompany the hot topic of Artificial Intelligence, alongside what it means for workforces around the world.

We dive into a 3P framework to help you foster adoption across your organisation, and we give you some pretty fantastic steps on breaking down the process in a way that’s manageable - for everyone.

Tune in to hear how communications professionals can lead the charge in integrating AI responsibly and effectively.

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#102: Topic in Ten: How do I get people to give a sh*t?

Thu, 23 Jan 2025 05:00:00 +1000

In this episode of Less Chatter, More Matter, we dive into the challenge of encouraging people to volunteer, particularly on initiatives that rely on community support. We respond to another Topic in Ten question from one of our listeners about how to get more volunteers involved without resorting to nagging or threats.

We share six evidence-based strategies to inspire action while mphasizing the importance of experimentation to find what resonates with you and your audience best.

So, get into this short and snappy episode to get an understanding on how you can use science to make people give a sh*t!

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#101: Topic in Ten: How do I get more engagement on LinkedIn?

Thu, 16 Jan 2025 05:00:00 +1000

Welcome back to Less Chatter, More Matter: The Communications Podcast and we are back, starting 2025 off strong with our newest Topic in Ten: How do I get more engagement on LinkedIn?

This week, we’re diving into a big one: How do I get more engagement on LinkedIn? Whether you’re looking to enhance your personal profile or boost a company page, we've got some pretty useful tips to help you grow your audience and foster meaningful connections.

Next week, we’re wrapping up our Topic in 10 series with another hot topic before diving back into our regular programming in February. So stay tuned, and get listening to our latest short and snappy Topic in Ten!

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#100 10 tips from 10 interviews over 100 episodes

Thu, 09 Jan 2025 05:00:00 +1000

Team... we did it. Not only are we bringing in a new year, hitting the big 2025, but we're at 100 episodes of the Less Chatter, More Matter podcast and honestly, what a ride!

With our episodes now hitting the triple digits, it's no surprise that we're using this 100th episode to review and revisit some of the coolest interview learnings we had on this journey to 100 - with tonnes of amazing and intelligent folks joining us along the way.

From building business acumen to mastering the art of simplicity in communication, we've got ten key takeaways and tips that every communicator looking to up their game can use in the new year.

Whether you’re a long-time fan or tuning in for the first time, this celebratory episode is packed with golden nuggets of wisdom. Dive in and let us know your favourite moment from the past 100 episodes!

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#99 Topic in Ten: How to combat survey fatigue (and still get feedback)

Thu, 26 Dec 2024 05:00:00 +1000

We’re back with our Topic in Ten mini-series of the Less Chatter, More Matter podcast and this week, we’ve answered your burning question around whether we are surveying people too often.

In fact, more specifically, we’ve given a tonne of top tips on the creative ways we can gather meaningful feedback from dispersed groups in sometimes non-traditional methods.

We’ve shared five practical and creative alternatives to traditional surveys, while reinforcing the importance of collecting data you’ll actually use and showcase, without overwhelming your audience.

Interested? Listen in to make sure your participants’ voices are heard. Make sure to submit your own questions below, too!

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#98 Topic in Ten: How to get people to read your newsletter

Thu, 19 Dec 2024 05:00:00 +1000

Welcome to our very fancy, new podcats mini-series: Topic in Ten, where we tackle your very own submitted communications questions or dilemmas in ten minutes or less.

In this first episode of our new mini-series, we answer your question: "How can we get people to actually read our transformation program newsletter?"

We explore the pros and cons of newsletters as a channel, we look at the why behind newsletters, and we also give five actionable tips on making your newsletter fresh, readable and enticing for your audience. All in just ten minutes!

Get listening in and don't forget to submit your very own questions using the link below.

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#97 The inside scoop on internal communications (ft. Sia Papageorgiou)

Thu, 12 Dec 2024 05:00:00 +1000

In this episode, we interview Sia Papageorgiou, the managing partner of the Centre for Strategic Communication Excellence, to talk about the progress and ongoing challenges in the field of internal communication.

We also discuss a recent report by the Centre and Haiilo, which highlights the need for internal communication professionals to gain a strategic foothold and become more integrated into executive decision-making.

Sia shares her experiences, the importance of measurable objectives, professional development, and the potential of AI in transforming strategic communication. So, jump in this week to chat all things internal comms!

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#96 6 trends from 2024 that could influence your 2025 strategy

Thu, 05 Dec 2024 05:00:00 +1000

In this episode of the Less Chatter, More Matter podcast, we discuss six crucial trends that communication and change professionals need to anticipate in 2025.

Through these trends, we showcase what it could mean for a comms pro leading into 2025, and how you capitalise on these trends to ensure you're hitting the mark. We also provide strategic advice on navigating these challenges, alongside some handy tips on what you need to make sure you steer clear of.

This episode aims to equip comms folks with insights and strategies to stay ahead and thrive in the evolving communications landscape.... especially as the time begins for strategy prep leading into the new year!

So, jump in and get your top 6 trends to stay aware of as you start to prepare for the new year!

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#95 Inclusive communications: how and why you should do it (ft. Matisse Hamel-Nelis)

Thu, 28 Nov 2024 05:00:00 +1000

In this episode of the Less Chatter, More Matter podcast, we picked the brain of award-winning communications and digital accessibility expert, Matisse Hamel-Nelis, on all things accessibility and inclusivity.

In recognition of International Day of People with a Disability, December 3rd, we wanted to get the run down on all things accessibility, and what we could do or implement as best practice for communicators in order to make a difference.

Our discussion covered some practical tips for making social media, documents, and videos more accessible, alongside the role of AI in accessibility, and the importance of inclusive language. Matisse also emphasised the need for continuous learning and engagement with the accessibility community to improve communication practices.

So, listen in now to get some quick and easy tips on making your content more accessible to over 1.6 million people across the globe.

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#94 Reporting on your communications: how to do it and why!

Thu, 21 Nov 2024 05:00:00 +1000

In this episode of Less Chatter, More Matter, we tackle a challenge that’s all too familiar to communication professionals: measuring and reporting on your work.

You’ve been there—you’ve just finished rolling out a major campaign or change initiative, and before you can breathe, you’re knee-deep in the next project. Measurement? Reporting? Out the window. And then, months later, when leadership questions your value, you’re left wishing you’d made the time.

Sound familiar? Then this episode is for you.

We dive into the why behind measurement (spoiler: it’s about proving your strategic value and staying at the top of your game) and the how, with a practical five-step process. So, with actionable advice and tips on everything from crafting business-aligned metrics to making your reports visually engaging, this episode will help you showcase your value—and maybe even save your job in tough times.

Ready to prove your worth as a strategic communicator? Tune in and learn how to turn measurement into your superpower.

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#93 The 5 ways you're scaring your employees away from engaging with your communications

Thu, 14 Nov 2024 05:00:00 +1000

In this episode of Less Chatter, More Matter, we jump headfirst into the five common communication mistakes that often scare off audiences, particularly in internal communications.

Whether it’s townhalls that cause you to have a quick nap, or comms that you see minimal engagement on and maximum deletes - there are a tonne of mistakes we, as communicators, can make that often do the opposite of communicating to our audience: we scare them off.

With overly long messages, vague communication, corporate jargon, pointless communication, and boring content, we’ve got some practical tips on how to mitigate these issues.

So, if you’ve ever seen a comms hit your inbox that made you want to quickly jump back into bed, you should listen in to learn how to keep your audience engaged and your messages effective.

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#92 How we can leverage political communications techniques in our communications (ft. David Imber)

Thu, 07 Nov 2024 05:00:00 +1000

Elections are at the top of our mind right now, regardless of where you are around the globe. In fact, there are at least 64 countries around the world that are holding elections this year… plus the European Union.

Most notably, we’re all sitting on the edge of our seats watching the votes trickle in from the US election and wondering what that may mean for the rest of the world in the coming years… so, with all of this in mind, we got wondering: what kind of comms is at play in elections and big political pieces, and more importantly, what could we learn from them?

Which is why we’ve got the incredible David Imber on this week’s episode of the Less Chatter, More Matter podcast to talk us through all things political comms and what we can take and apply to other areas of comms across the board.

So, if you’re keen to get the inside scoop on election tactics, including what Kamala Harris and Donald Trump have been doing comms-wise, you should listen in!

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#91 Top tips on becoming a confident public speaker (ft. Julian Mather)

Thu, 31 Oct 2024 06:00:00 +1000

When you began your career, (unless you started out as a public speaker) we can make an assumption that you never thought public speaking would become a key skill in your toolkit.

However, it's unfortunately the reality for a lot of corporate folks, and even those outside of the corporate world. In fact, the importance of developing public speaking skills has become a necessity in many roles - which is why we've got Motivational Speaker and professional public speaker, Julian Mather, on this week's episode of the Less Chatter, More Matter podcast.

A former stutterer turned professional keynote speaker, Julian shares his personal journey from dreaming of being a photojournalist to becoming a TV cameraman, to his eventual career change into magic and motivational speaking (a rollercoaster, right?).

Even with the chaotic career path he's ventured, Julian highlighted the critical need for effective communication and public speaking while providing practical tips for improving speaking skills, overcoming the fear of being wrong, and mitigating the usage of filler words like 'um.'

So... if you want to get better at speaking in front of people, or maybe you just want to hone your skills, sit back and get listening to this week's episode!

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#90 What Would Mel Do? When the CEO isn’t listening to your comms advice

Thu, 24 Oct 2024 06:00:00 +1000

What Would Mel Do is back, and with it, we've got a juicy listener-question submitted that we're ready to address. This week, we're answering: 'What would Mel do when the CEO isn't listening to your comms advice?' and with it, we've got six top tips to help.

This week's episode of the Less Chatter, More Matter podcast provides practical strategies for better engagement, while emphasising the importance of trust, business acumen, and consistency. Mel offers actionable insights to improve executive communication, employee engagement, and organisational strategy.

So, if you want to make sure you get heard... listen in here!

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#89 Three ways to use language to persuade your audience

Thu, 17 Oct 2024 05:00:00 +1000

In this episode of Less Chatter, More Matter, we get down to the nitty gritty on how strategic language choices can enhance persuasive communication.

In fact, we have three key tips to give you in making your language more persuasive alongside some of the things you need to avoid. The episode also highlights common pitfalls and uses practical examples and studies to illustrate the importance of these techniques in influencing belief, credibility, and motivation.

So... if you’re looking to get more persuasive or motivate people, stay tuned and listen in!

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#88 Change as a career and how that works in communications (ft. Eloise Seidelin)

Thu, 10 Oct 2024 06:00:00 +1000

Ever thought of a career in change, or perhaps in change comms?

Well, this week's episode of the Less Chatter, More Matter podcast may as well have been made for you because we've picked the brain of change recruitment specialist Eloise Seidelin from Change It Recruitment on all things change.

We talk about change as a career profession, alongside the way change works in communications. We dive into change management, the need for organisations to adapt continuously and the importance of roles in managing technological and skill-based disruptions.

Eloise shares insights on specialisation within change management, the importance of building lasting organisational change capacity, and maintaining the resilience needed for effective change management. The episode also discusses how change professionals can navigate their careers and highlights the emerging role of AI in the industry... so, jump in with us now!

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#87: Adding a podcast to your channel mix (and how to do it)

Thu, 03 Oct 2024 06:00:00 +1000

Have you ever considered starting a podcast?

Well, maybe you should. In this episode of the Less Chatter, More Matter podcast, we explore the world of podcasting... and why it could be a good idea for you to join it.

With 546 million listeners globally, we dive into the importance of understanding your audience and what a podcast could do for you, your brand, your teams and your audience. Though, you may be thinking: what a great idea, how do I start?

Luckily, we’ve given you the insider tips on the technical platforms and equipment you’ll need to jump right in. Plus, we offer some key advice on structuring content, editing, and promoting your podcast effectively.

So, tune in now for a comprehensive guide to starting and sustaining a successful podcast.

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#86 What Would Mel Do: The AFLW

Thu, 26 Sep 2024 06:00:00 +1000

On this week's episode of the Less Chatter, More Matter podcast, we're doing things a little differently.

In fact, we're doing them completely differently because we've asked Mel to go ahead and review seemingly fine businesses, products or ideas and to give us a game plan on how she'd approach making them... better.

Now, better is subjective. Much like our opinions. But, we can attest to the fact that all of the ideas in this very first episode of the What Would Mel Do (WWMD) series are great ones that any business could use to leverage their marketing and comms successfully.

So, for this week's WWMD, we've taken a look into the Women's AFL right here in Brisbane, Australia and how we think they could elevate their comms game to get more folks to the actual game. Press play to get right into it!

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#85 The key skills communicators need to develop for the future (ft. Ross Monaghan)

Thu, 19 Sep 2024 06:00:00 +1000

This episode of the Less Chatter, More Matter podcast is dedicated to setting you up for the future of your comms career.

In fact, we've brought in an expert in all things professional communication with the real-life experience of teaching our new communicators on how to adapt to the professional world ahead of them: Ross Monaghan.

Ross Monaghan is a strategic communications lecturer at Deakin University and chair of the IABC Asia Pacific region, with a passion for discussing the dynamic nature of the communications profession. Ross shares his journey from journalism to academia and various roles in the mobile telecommunications industry, alongside what exact factors he believed helped him thrive in each area.

Key discussion points include the evolving skills needed for communicators, the importance of embracing new technologies like AI, the significant shifts in communication practices, and the role of professional communicators in internal and external organisational success.

In summary: we asked Ross to elaborate on what skills he thinks we, as comms pros, need to develop for the future - alongside what new comms pros will need for theirs. So... why wait? Jump in!

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#84 Communicating like a human in the corporate world

Thu, 12 Sep 2024 06:00:00 +1000

Welcome back to another episode of the Less Chatter, More Matter podcast!

This week, we're teaching you how to communicate like a human in a world of robotic, corporate jargon. We talk about the importance of clear, human-centric communication and how that influences your audience. We share some key tips and strategies for influencing others to adopt clearer communication practices, alongside some ways to help clarify your messaging.

Tune in to learn how to transform corporate jargon into meaningful and impactful messages.

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#83 How movement helps communications (ft. Lisa Partridge)

Thu, 05 Sep 2024 06:00:00 +1000

If we told you that taking your stakeholders for a walk could drastically improve your stakeholder relationships.... would you, a) believe us and b) want to immediately know more about how to apply this?

We're fairly sure it's a mix of both a and b, but luckily, the latest episode of the Less Chatter, More Matter podcast features the brilliant Lisa Partridge from Sixcomms - a.k.a. the creator of the "Walk and Talk" method.

On this episode, we dive head first into the importance of active and attentive listening skills in supporting stakeholder relationships, alongside how this plays a part in the six C's of effective communication. We discuss how genuine listening fosters connection, enhances curiosity, and assists in asking meaningful questions, alongside how you can do this out and about in nature or other ways that don't involve a board room.

So, listen in to find out how to walk your talk... preferably in a beautiful park in Singapore!

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#82 Kick-start your change comms plan with these four steps

Thu, 29 Aug 2024 06:00:00 +1000

Now this episode is a gold mine of great tips, tricks and information for ANY comms pro!

This week, we dive into the crucial steps you need to do before you begin the arduous process of a change comms plan. In fact, we go over what makes it an effective change comms plan, or not. We show you the importance of understanding the scope of change, taking a thorough brief, creating a reverse brief, and drafting FAQs to ensure a clear, strategic, and impactful communication strategy - all with template hacks in the links below.

In fact, this episode provides practical advice and insights aimed at helping communication specialists navigate and support transformational projects effectively… so what are you waiting for?

Find out what you need to know and do before you start your change comms planning - right here!

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#81 A case study on how to communicate globally (ft. Cassandra Thurston)

Thu, 22 Aug 2024 06:00:00 +1000

Welcome back to another episode of the Less Chatter, More Matter podcast and this week, we have a big treat for you! The incredible Cassandra Thurston, Global Communications Manager at Flight Centre Travel Group, has joined us to shed light on all things internal comms and a global workforce.

She shares her expertise on managing internal communications for a global workforce alongside over two decades of experience in PR and employee communications. Cass discusses the challenges of reaching a geographically dispersed and diverse employee base while highlighting the strategies her teams have taken to unify their communications platforms, leverage data and AI tools, and create concise and targeted messaging.

Cass also talks about her journey into internal comms, the impact of COVID-19 on Flight Centre, and the innovative programs that helped the company navigate the crisis.

So... tune in for practical tips and insights on effective internal communication practices and get into it!

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#80 Dos and don'ts: cyber incident crisis communications

Thu, 15 Aug 2024 06:00:00 +1000

If you haven't heard about the Optus cyber breach, the MediSecure cyber attack or even the St. Vincents ransomware shenanigans - you're about to. And mostly, not for good reason.

In this episode of the Less Chatter, More Matter, podcast we give you some critical strategies for responding to cyber incidents. In fact, we emphasise the importance of preparation and clear communication, highlighting five key tips to navigating your crisis comms prep in lieu of a cyber incident.

We run you through the big dos and don'ts in the comms world, and we give you some malleable tips on getting prepared for the semi-inevitable. In this digital age, are you willing to risk your brand rep?

Join us to find out more!

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#79 Busting common communication myths

Thu, 08 Aug 2024 05:00:00 +1000

Welcome back to another episode of the Less Chatter, More Matter podcast!

This week, we debunk five prevalent myths around communication. Myths like the misconception that there's no such thing as over-communication, the belief that one's audience is always everyone, the assumption that people should already know certain information, the conflation of communication and change management skills, and the idea that natural communicators exist.

We talk about all the ways that these are in fact, not correct, and we look into ways to fix these common misconceptions. Most importantly, we look at the why these myths came to fruition and what it has meant for comms over time, and overall.

Join us and put your mythbusting hat on for this week's episode!

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#78 Communicating across different cultures (ft. Victoria Rennoldson)

Thu, 01 Aug 2024 06:00:00 +1000

This week, we welcome the incredible Victoria Rennoldson to the show to talk to the way cross-cultural communication works in a highly globalised world.

On this episode of the Less Chatter, More Matter podcast, Victoria shares valuable insights on how leaders and teams can better communicate across different cultures, languages, and hybrid work environments. We then dive head first into common challenges, the importance of understanding cultural nuances, and we even find out some practical tips for tailoring communication strategies.

At the end, we touch on the role of technology, such as AI and translation tools, in facilitating cross-cultural interactions... and how sometimes, it's not enough. Tune in for expert advice and actionable strategies in cross-cultural comms.

So, what're you waiting for? Join us on this week's poddy!

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#77 Virtual reality and the future of comms (ft. Ben Breitenstein)

Thu, 25 Jul 2024 06:00:00 +1000

On this week's episode of the Less Chatter, More Matter podcast, we dive head first into the rapidly evolving landscape of virtual reality (VR) and its impact on communication... by interviewing one of the best minds in VR, Ben Breitenstein.

Our resident virtual reality evangelist from Composit Design, sits down with Mel to discuss the current and potential states of VR in various fields, including communication, training, and telepresence.

Together, this dream team explore practical applications of VR, its convergence with AI, and the future role of immersive technologies in building connections and enhancing workplace interactions. Ben shares insights from his journey into VR, including examples of VR use cases and tips for incorporating VR into professional practices.

This insightful conversation sheds light on the transformative power of VR and AI, offering listeners valuable knowledge on navigating the next frontier of communication.

So, what're you waiting for? Join us on this week's poddy!

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#76 The crucial role of comms in mergers and acquisitions

Thu, 18 Jul 2024 06:00:00 +1000

In this episode of the Less Chatter, More Matter podcast, we’re diving head-first into the critical role of communications during mergers and acquisitions (M&As).

Why, you ask? Because if you’ve never had to find out your workplace has been sold via a media announcement on a social media platform - have you ever really lived?

Unfortunately, this is not uncommon - which is why this episode outlines the potential chaos and consequences of poor communication surrounding an M&A while providing a comprehensive guide on how to. do the exact opposite: manage your comms effectively throughout the M&A process.

Some of our key topics include initial preparation, stakeholder mapping, scenario planning, developing key messages, executing a tactical plan, and maintaining long-term communication efforts post-merger.

For the rest? Well, you’ll have to tune in to find out!

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#75 What is internal comms auditing and why is it important?

Thu, 11 Jul 2024 06:00:00 +1000

The rapid shift to remote work in 2020 brought incredible challenges and changes to our internal communications. From the quick fixes like the introduction of varying comms channels (i.e. Slack, Teams, Skype, etc) through to the bandaid work from home solutions - our IT teams were under the pump.

However, as much as we can applaud their quick and efficient roll outs during a tense time - it’s becoming clearer as time wears on that these quick fixes are not only showing their limitations, but causing major headaches for a lot of folks; especially those in comms.

This is the exact reason why we’ve discussed the importance of internal comms audits in this episode of the Less Chatter, More Matter podcast. However, we’ve gone one step further and even stepped out the exact six step process to conducting your own audit.

Join us as we talk you through the simple six-step process to ensure your communication strategies are effective and up-to-date.

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#74 How TikTok is changing political communications ft. Dr. Susan Grantham

Thu, 04 Jul 2024 06:00:00 +1000

In 2022 Australia was gearing up for a federal election. The Australian labor party or the ALP was in opposition at the time. And they needed to win over a specific audience: the younger generations. Meaning that the usual tactics wouldn’tcut it. And this is where a perhaps unlikely platform came into play - TikTok.

At last count tikTok had over 1 billion active users, representing almost a quarter of all internet users. And the app has been downloaded more than 4.1 billion times. And of all those users, the largest proportion, at least in the USA are 10 to 19 years old with almost half of all users under 30.

So how did a stodgy political party make this modern day social video platform work for them? That's what today's episode of Less Chatter, More Matter, is all about and we’ve brought in the expert: Dr. Susan Grantham to talk all about her research specialising in the intersection of trending social media, notably TikTok, and its applications within organisational contexts… alongside how it’s changed comms now, and potentially, for good.

Jump into this week’s episode!

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#73 How to have challenging conversations

Thu, 27 Jun 2024 06:00:00 +1000

How many times have you avoided a tough conversation because you thought it would be difficult? If you’re like most people, probably quite a few.

The problem is that avoiding these discussions can lead to accountability issues and team frustration - especially in a corporate environment. However, we're here to deliver some good news on this week's episode of the Less Chatter, More Matter podcast, because were here to tell you that hard conversations don't have to be hard.

That's right! They can be constructive and they can be really valuable if you take the right approach.... which is luckily what this episode is all about. You'll learn multiple techniques, tips and tricks on how to navigate challenging conversations in a way that ends constructively for all parties involved.

So... with all this free learning waiting for you, let's get into it!

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#72 What comms professionals need to know about data (ft. Roelant Vos)

Thu, 20 Jun 2024 06:00:00 +1000

By 2025, it's estimated that the volume of data or information created, captured, copied and consumed worldwide will reach 181 zettabytes. That’s the equivalent of 4.98 quintillion movies, or 78 times the length of the Milky Way.

Now you may be thinking: firstly, that’s a heck of a lot of data - and you’d be right; but secondly, you may also be wondering why this matters for a communications podcast or to a comms professional?

Well, that would be because as communications professionals, data surrounds us everywhere we look, and it is a critical tool to make sure our work is the most effective it can be. And that is what today's episode is all about.

In fact, we’re so sure of this implication to our work, that we enlisted the help of self-confessed (and proven) data extraordinaire, Roelant Vos from Agnostic Data Labs, to talk us through what data is, where to find it and how we can be using it as comms professionals. He also shared some of the challenges with using data that we need to be on the lookout for, alongside the tools that we can leverage to make it even easier for us to get ahead of the game… including AI!

So don't get left behind and sit back, relax and enjoy this chat with the wonderful Roelant Vos.

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#71 How improv can enhance your comms skills (ft. Mandy Plumb)

Thu, 13 Jun 2024 06:00:00 +1000

How could improv possibly play a role in improving someone's communication abilities?

We're so glad you asked. This week on the Less Chatter, More Matter podcast, we've got the incredibly talented and incredibly knowledgeable Mandy Plumb, from Blah Blah Blah Improv in to talk all things improv, and how it translates for a comms pro.

Mandy talks us through how the skills crucial to an improv comedian can help people from all walks of life and professions to build on and refine their comms skills. From the obvious like public speaking practice, through to the less obvious, like collaboration and strategic thinking - it's all a part of the play, per se.

So, jump in this week and maybe you'll get yourself into the world of improv, too.

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#70 Strategic storytelling: what is it and why should you use it?

Thu, 06 Jun 2024 06:00:00 +1000

Strategic storytelling is a skill as old as time… literally. As in, most of the world couldn’t read or write until the 1980s, so how we communicated was through verbal storytelling.

This, however, has become less used over time with the introduction of length presentations and the infamous dot-point; but can we really say that those are more effective than a story?

No, we actually can’t. Which is why this week’s episode of the Less Chatter, More Matter podcast is centred around the neuroscience, alongside the history, of why storytelling is actually significantly more impactful with an audience - especially when it’s strategic.

Alongside how you can use it, and why you should. So, get stuck into it and hone in on your inner storyteller this week.

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#69 5 communications things you need to do to prepare for EOFY

Thu, 30 May 2024 06:00:00 +1000

We're getting close to the end of financial year here in Australia, and with it comes the age-old debacle: how do we communicate our results to varying audiences?

Well, this is where communications professionals come in, and it's also why this time of year isn't just stressful for the finance and investor relations folks. This time of year can include a variety of comms requirements, from the communication of results to shareholders and investors, through to employees and news - it's all about how you do it.

All of which we've got covered in this week's episode of the Less Chatter, More Matter podcast. So, get stuck into it and find out what our five tips are to preparing your comms for EOFY.

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#68 How to make the complex, simple (ft. Kate Norris)

Thu, 23 May 2024 06:00:00 +1000

Another week, another filled-with-free-insights podcast episode and another incredibly insightful guest!

Welcome to our latest guest, Kate Norris, from Presentation Boss - a business dedicated to teaching data visualisation, interpretation and how to communicate your data and findings in a way that resonates with your audience.

Why? Because one of the most common mistakes we see in communication is when people don't take the time to make complex ideas and data simple and easy for their audiences to understand. And when we don't do that, we miss the whole point of communication in the first place, which is getting our audience to understand and resonate with our message.

Which is why we've spoken to the absolute expert on this topic: Kate Norris! So tune in to find out more.

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#67 Inspire change with these key messaging tips

Thu, 16 May 2024 06:00:00 +1000

This week on the Less Chatter, More Matter podcast we've diving into change messaging and how you can make sure yours is effective, inspires action and resonates with your audience.

Generally, we've seen a lot of change messaging filled with corporate language, jargon and a lot of inpersonal content. All of which doesn't inspire anyone to do anything, nor does it influence people to know, feel or do something that they have traditionally done a certain way for a long time.

So, using experience, behavioural science and the magic of effective comms theory - we've boiled all of that down into five key tips on making sure your change messaging hits the right way, every time. Find out more in this week's episode!

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#66 5 secrets to persuading your audience

Thu, 09 May 2024 06:00:00 +1000

216 million is the amount of emails that are sent, on average, every day. 15.5 hours is the accumulated time for an average office worker to simply manage these emails, and 40 is the amount of emails we actually send ourselves on the daily.

With numbers like these, it's a wonder how we find the brain space or time to remember the important things that the comms we receive are actually telling us.

Well, a lot of us actually don’t. Which is why our newest episode of the Less Chatter, More Matter podcast is here to talk about how, in this barrage of info-overload, we can find a way for our comms to cut through the noise and resonate with our audience.

Tune in to find out our top five tips now!

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#65 What in the world is happening? How to communicate in a world of upheaval

Thu, 02 May 2024 06:00:00 +1000

How do you communicate about the tough topics?

More importantly, in a world of upheaval and an ongoing barrage of information and news - how do you communicate about the important things in a meaningful way, with a positive outcome?

In this week's episode of the Less Chatter, More Matter podcast, we dive head first into exactly this; how to navigate the complexities of a world in upheaval, and what you can do to communicate it in a way that is empathetic, and impactful, in all the right ways.

Tune in to learn all about it.

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#64 The process behind creating and embedding an EVP

Fri, 26 Apr 2024 06:00:00 +1000

Welcome back to another episode of the Less Chatter, More Matter podcast. This week, we dive into part two of the EVP-explained series where we explain all things EVP, why it matters and how it matters to a comms pro.

For this episode, we've uncovered the process behind creating your EVP, step by step, alongside how you can embed it. We then give you the nitty-gritty details behind how you can gain traction internally, build excitement around your EVP and also make sure that the EVP aligns with the culture of your business.

So, why wait? Jump into this week's episode with us now!

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#63 What is an EVP and why is it important?

Thu, 18 Apr 2024 06:00:00 +1000

On today's episode of the Less Chatter, More Matter podcast, we cross the bridge from comms land into HR land a little to unpack the infamous Employee Value Proposition, or EVP, as it's more commonly known.

Why, you ask? Well, from an internal comms perspective, particularly, and even a recruitment comms perspective, we need to make sure that the business' EVP is woven into everything we do. More often than likely, your EVP will be run in tandem with HR and the Comms teams as both are just as important in communicating and aligning the strategy, vision and everything in between.

In fact, you'll sometimes find that the internal comms folks end up being responsible for the development of the EVP, so it also pays to know what one is, what should be in it and what that means for our communication practices.

Now, don't fret - this is a big topic, we know, so this will only be the first of two episodes. So this week we'll delve into the key elements of a great employee value proposition, and then next week we'll get into the process of actually developing your EVP, communicating it and embedding it. So make sure you tune in for part two.

Otherwise, let's get amongst it!

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#62 What is thought leadership and how do you use it?

Thu, 11 Apr 2024 06:00:00 +1000

On this week's episode of the Less Chatter, More Matter podcast, we're starting with a jargon-busting episode dedicated to detailing out exactly what the term "thought leadership" means.

As a comms pro, you've likely heard the term "thought leadership" a million times and wondered to yourself: what does that even mean?

Not to worry! This episode is here to detail all of the reasons why thought leadership is important, alongside what it is and how you can use it to elevate your brand, comms plans and your comms internally, and externally. We even give you some free templates to help you do it.

So, why wait? Let's get into it!

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#61 Do the right thing: communications edition

Thu, 04 Apr 2024 06:00:00 +1000

Today we've covered a new topic that has been briefly touched on in previous episodes, but we are hyper-aware that if we called it exactly what it is... nobody would listen to it, because the topic is tiresome.

However tiresome, it's still important - if not more important than a lot of others, and that is: the legal and ethical parts that comms pros need to adhere to, or be aware of. Things like the key laws you need to abide by in the comms space, alongside ethical considerations you'll need to keep in mind when creating content, distributing comms and generally participating in the wide world of comms

So, this week's episode of the Less Chatter, More Matter podcast may cover some boring topics... but they're ones you need to know! So buckle up and let's get into it!

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#60 Showing up on social media (ft. Rachael Gough)

Thu, 28 Mar 2024 06:00:00 +1000

On this week's episode of the Less Chatter, More Matter podcast, we've dived into the fun topic of: social media.

We interviewed Rachael Gough, a Brisbane-based, award-winning certified personal stylist, content creator, and mum of two who is committed to showing women of all shapes and sizes, how to embrace their now and find their love for fashion, beauty, and life at all its wonderful stages.

Now you might be wondering: why a stylist as a guest to a communications show? Well, when it comes to showing up on social media and generating business. Rachael knows how it's done. She has 64,000 followers on Instagram. Having started creating content in 2016. And it's her consistent presence on social media channels that has helped her reframe and shape her business over the years.

So in today's episode, Rachael gives us a peek behind the curtain as a content creator, sharing her top tips on how to create content that cuts through the noise. Including getting clear on your audience and showing up for your community ... so, why wait? Let's dive in!

Links mentioned in this episode:

Change Isn't Hard! Mel's book
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#59 The role of leaders in communicating change

Thu, 21 Mar 2024 06:00:00 +1000

Communication is important in a change, but comms itself does not make change happen. Leadership is how a change gets across the line effectively and successfully across a business, and when you combine the two - you get ownership and accountability driving your change ahead.

So, in this week's episode, we've dived into the role of leaders during a change aside from role modelling behaviours, helping to remove roadblocks, gathering feedback, and working with the change team - which is communication with their team.

Join us on this week's episode of Less Chatter, More Matter to find out more.

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#58 All things change communication (ft. Prina Shah)

Thu, 14 Mar 2024 06:00:00 +1000

This week, we've turned the tables on Mel and instead of being the interviewer... she's the interviewee! Prina Shah has stepped in again this week to do a second week of absolute comms gold, interviewing Mel to discuss all things change communication.

From how stakeholders receive change comms, through to how we, as comms pros, communicate change in a way that is both effective AND helps to drive change from internal and external perspectives.

Both pros touch on a variety of topics close to their hearts, including the way different personalities interact in the workplace and outside of the workplace to drive and sometimes hinder change. So, without delay - get into this week's nugget of knowledge here!

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Change Isn't Hard! Mel's book
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#57 The power of leadership communication (ft. Prina Shah)

Thu, 07 Mar 2024 06:00:00 +1000

Welcome back to another episode of the Less Chatter, More Matter podcast, where we were joined by the incredible Prina Shah. Prina is a coach, consultant, trainer, and speaker, and the host of the Ways to Change the Workplace podcast.

Her extensive background of over 20 plus years in the corporate world plus leading teams in strategic people and culture roles, focusing on culture change, leadership development, and change management have all placed her in the best position to talk on leadership comms today.

Especially as Prina understands the challenges that today's workforce face and she brings a wealth of practical experience as well as fun and corporate knowledge to support you in developing the right kind of workplace with you.

We've asked Prina to share some fantastic insights into the power of leadership communication and how poor communication can disrupt teams. She shares a really great framework for leaders to think about when communicating with their teams.

On next week's episode, we've got a part two ready for you where Prina interviews Mel on all things change comms, too. So, stay tuned and buckle up for some incredible leadership comms insights!

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Mel's book
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#56 5 best-practice comms activities for every crisis

Thu, 29 Feb 2024 05:00:00 +1000

Every single day we're seeing something of some kind of issue or crisis bubbling up in organisations of all shapes and sizes. From high-profile resignations through to large scale hacks and IT outages; we've got a plethora of crises and many organisations unsure of how to handle them.

Mostly because while it pays to put in the work for planning, doing risk assessments, and creating your usual crisis management plans and message matrices - if you're not sure where to start in this array of documents, it can seem overwhelming.

This is why today's episode is made to give you the best practice actions for effective crisis communication that would apply to pretty much any crisis that your organisation faces. Without the chaos of managing a bunch of documents.

So... let's get amongst it!

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#55 The right to disconnect … what does that mean for internal comms?

Thu, 22 Feb 2024 06:00:00 +1000

On this week's episode of the Less Chatter, More Matter podcast we’ve looked to the international community for some guidance on navigating new workplace laws here in Australia.

If you have no idea what we’re talking about - we’re referring to the new ‘right to disconnect’ laws that have been floated here in Australia. Laws that essentially give workers the right to not monitor or answer work emails and text messages, all those sorts of channels outside of work hours.

Which in theory sounds fantastic! In comms-specific practice, it poses a lot of questions surrounding how internal comms will need to change to fit the new laws, and what kind of activities we will need to undertake as comms pros to make it work.

Which is exactly what we've dived into in this episode... so let's get into it!

Links mentioned in this episode:

Blog post: An EPIC system for change communication
Book: Change Isn’t Hard: a playbook for practical, people-centred change communication

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#54 4 ways to personalise your internal communications (and make a bigger impact)

Thu, 15 Feb 2024 06:00:00 +1000

Welcome back to another week of the Less Chatter, More Matter podcast!

This week's episode talks to personalisation in your internal comms, and how it could impact the cut-through with your messaging or, how it could help make a bigger impact on your audience.

We’re bringing you four ways you could use personalisation to up the ante on your comms and keep your audience engaged.

From covering the basics, through to the ways you can repurpose, restrategise and reengage your audiences - tune in to find out more about speaking your audiences' language in ways that will improve your engagement.

Let's get into it!

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#53 The power of a great brand for your business (ft. Lisa-Marie Vecchio)

Thu, 08 Feb 2024 06:00:00 +1000

This week's episode comes from an incredible chat with the super-knowledgeable and talented, Lisa-Marie Vecchio. As so much of what we do as communicators revolves around branding, including making sure that our messaging and visual brand align, plus that the visual brand is applied properly in our work - we thought we'd get an absolute expert onto the show to talk all about it.

In this episode, Lisa-Marie shared a bunch of her tips for creating and applying branding, alongside what she has seen in the industry across the years when it comes to branding at all sizes of business.

We also dive into the topic of AI in the design space, and what it means for your business to have a great brand.

So, let's get into it!

Links mentioned in this episode:

Website: www.lisadotdesign.com
Instagram: @LisaDotDesign

About Lisa-Marie Vecchio
Lisa-Marie is a Brisbane-based graphic designer and muralist, illustrating art that encourages and uplifts. Her designs are recognised as colourfully eye-catching, created with the intention of communicating hope, joy and empowerment.

After ten years working as a designer in the business and corporate sectors, Lisa-Marie started to explore the more creative side of design, seeing a shift in her art style. She then looked for opportunities to recreate her digital artwork as murals, refreshing public spaces with a burst of vibrance and colour.

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#52 Crisis communication scenario planning - the how-to guide

Thu, 01 Feb 2024 06:00:00 +1000

Crisis after crisis after crisis - the last few years have seemingly become a whirlwind of crises; one right after the other. From the pandemic through to hackings, all the way through to full-scale system outages - we've seen a plethora of crises, and a plethora of examples on how not to handle them as a business.

So, the next logical thing to wonder might be... how DO you handle these crises when they inevitably occur?

Luckily for you, this episode is all about crisis management through scenario planning because every single business, no matter the size, should have a crisis communication plan in place and ready to go.

Why? Because crises often occur out of the blue. Each business needs to have a toolkit ready to pull out at any moment and put into action.

So... is yours ready? Whether it is or isn't, join us to do a check on your scenario planning this week.

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#51 Do this, not that: communications edition

Thu, 25 Jan 2024 06:00:00 +1000

Whether you’ve seen this trend on your socials or not, this week’s episode of the Less Chatter, More Matter podcast is bringing you our favourite dos and don’ts of the comms world.

It's our very own, communications-specific version of the 'Do this, Not that' trend, and we are here to explore it - while using some research from all across the globe to back up our tips.

From the language you use, to how you develop a video message and more. We've covered some of the biggest hot takes in the industry, and we're ready to share. So, let's get to it!

Links mentioned in this episode:

Podcast episode 32: What is accessibility, and why is it important? (ft. Kelly Thibodeau)
Blog article: 5 tips to keep your communications accessible
Blog article: The 4 accessibility principles and why they matter
Blog article: Supporting neurodiverse folks in your comms

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#50 How to talk about the value of communications to non-communications people

Thu, 18 Jan 2024 11:00:00 +1000

This is the 50th episode of the Less Chatter, More Matter podcast and we are so stoked to reach this important milestone!

So stoked, in fact, that we chose this week to tackle a highly controversial topic in the comms world: how to talk about the value of comms to non-comms people. Also known as, how to tell people what you do when they're fairly sure your role is solely making PowerPoints.

In this episode, we share some tips for those of you who work in comms or who need to get comms support for your business or team, alongside talking about the differences we can draw between roles to showcase value across the board. We touch on the big topics for value, including employee attraction and retention, reputation management, engagement and awareness - but we also touch on how to show the value of these seemingly intangible outcomes in ways that the C-Suite can understand.

So, join us this week for a how-to on talking comms!

Links mentioned in this episode:

Episode 48: New year, new job - How to land that comms job you want in 2024
Episode 14: What’s the difference between a strategy and a plan?
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#49 How to not be boring when you run workshops (ft. Leanne Hughes)

Thu, 11 Jan 2024 06:00:00 +1000

If you've ever run a workshop, or are preparing to run one in the future, one of the most daunting things isn't necessarily the preparation for the workshop. Rather, it's the execution and the public speaking to ensure engagement parts that concern the majority of us delivering the workshop.

That's why we're excited to welcome the incredible workshop pro, Leanne Hughes, to this week's episode of the Less Chatter, More Matter podcast, to run us through her top tips on workshop facilitation - alongside how to ensure you're not boring as you run it.

Leanne has over 240 podcast episodes, and a book, all of which go through the ins and outs of making sure your workshops are as successful as possible. You can check her out in the links below.

Otherwise, listen in to get ready for your next workshop or public speaking event!

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#48 New year, new job: how to land that comms job you want in 2024

Thu, 04 Jan 2024 06:00:00 +1000

Welcome to 2024, folks... and to another episode of your favourite, the Less Chatter, More Matter podcast.

With the beginning of a new year kicking off in style, plenty of us are thinking about what our careers look like, what our year will encompass and where we want to take our roles in the next twelve months.

Whether it's your first ever comms role, a new comms role, you're freelancing or you're even just wanting to refresh your knowledge - this episode is dedicated to some top tips on how to get the comms job you want this year, based on real-life experiences.

So... are you ready to make 2024 your best career move yet? Let's get into it!

Links mentioned in this episode:

Create your plan for your freelancing/consulting business: join the next cohort of my Fresh 2 Freelancing program, kicking off 7 February - Find out more here.
Kickstart your new career in communications with my Communication Career Fundamentals course, an online, self-paced workshop with a pack of templates and a resource guide - Find out more here.
Develop your personal brand! Use it to help update your social media profiles and get clear on what you want to be known for - Use my free mini workbook here to get started.

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#47 2023 in review and our forecast for 2024 trends

Thu, 28 Dec 2023 06:00:00 +1000

Hello, friend, and welcome to the last episode of Less Chatter, More Matter for 2023.

This episode is jam-packed full with all of the most important recaps of the year that was, and what the communications world had to say about 2023. We go over the ins and outs of the year, what was big, what went terribly and how we anticipate the impacts and learnings from 2023 will cross into next year.

We’ve got a bunch of predictions for 2024, and we've looked into every nook and cranny for what could be a year of change.

So, without delay - let’s take a look at the recap of 2023!

Links mentioned in this episode:

Episode 41: Crisis communication and the lessons we can learn from Optus

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#46 Your 2024 checklist for communications planning

Thu, 21 Dec 2023 06:00:00 +1000

The second last podcast for 2023 has landed, and with it, your very own checklist for communications planning in 2024!

This episode runs you through four big steps that will help you prepare your communication strategy for the year ahead, alongside a criteria of questions you'll need to answer in order to make sure you're set for 2024.

Not to mention, we've done the hard yards for you and put it all into a template - a FREE template - that you can grab at the end of the episode.

So, let's get into it!

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#45 How to create a thoughtful end-of-year message for your people and clients

Thu, 14 Dec 2023 06:00:00 +1000

It's getting close to the end of the year, and with it comes the ultimate responsibility: crafting an end of year message.

Whether that message is for your people or your clients, it's important to create a thoughtful message that not only resonates with your audience, but provides guidance on how the year went, what could've been better and how you anticipate the year ahead's trajectory.

So, with that in mind, how exactly do you come up with this all encompassing message? Well, we've got some helpful tips to get you started - plus an incredibly useful messaging tool freebie that you can get your hands on at the end of the podcast!

With that, let's get crafting!

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#44 How people respond to change and what it means for your comms

Thu, 07 Dec 2023 06:00:00 +1000

Welcome to December friends, and with it, another episode of the Less Chatter, More Matter podcast!

This week, we finish off the change comms topic with the people side of change comms and why it matters.

We share a model that explains how people respond to change and some of the techniques you can use to respond in kind (plus, you can use the linked quiz below to find out how you repsond to change!).

This model goes into the ins and outs of four different change personalities, and why they are crucial to consider in your change and comms plans.

We also use the model to explain processing times and risk aversion and how these key factors will shape your communications during any change.

So, join us this week and finalise your change comms knowledge!

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#43 How to write a change communication plan

Thu, 30 Nov 2023 05:00:00 +1000

If you're involved in communications, you're most likely involved in change work in some way, shape or form. Which is why this week's episode of the Less Chatter, More Matter podcast is going to give you the 101 on how to write a change communication plan.

This may seem like a basic skill for those who dive into comms plans every day, but your typical, day-to-day communications plan is significantly different to a change communication plan.

The biggest difference is the granular level that change impact needs to be assessed and addressed for different audience groups.

Plus to add to that complexity, that granularity means you'll have very specific outcomes for each audience group, all of which will need specific messaging and strategies.

Sounds complex, right? Don't stress because we run you through the ins and outs of it all in this episode. So let's jump in!

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#42 5 behavioural science hacks to use in your change communication

Thu, 23 Nov 2023 05:00:00 +1000

When the words 'behavioural science' get brought up, you wouldn't be alone in immediately thinking about any CSI or Bones show you could fathom. However, behavioural science is not simply used in characterising serial skillers, but rather, characterising people and the way they act, and interact, across a plethora of topics.

For example, behavioural science can become a key player in how you manage your comms overall, but specifically in a change heavy role. And change communication in itself is about really, deeply understanding human behavior and then using your comms to drive a desired response.

So then, how do we use this behavioural science to back up our change comms? Well, you're about to find out in this week's episode!

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#41 Crisis communications and the lessons we can learn from Optus

Thu, 16 Nov 2023 05:00:00 +1000

Another week, another episode full of knowledge on the Less Chatter, More Matter podcast. However, this week is a special one as we bring to you the perfect case study itself in crisis communications: the Optus outage of 2023.

Last week, the hot crisis comms news came in the form of the colossal bin fire that was the national Optus outage (a.k.a the second largest telecommunications company in Australia) which left over 10 million customers without mobile, their phone, or internet services for over 12 hours.

Now, over a week later and the mop up continues with what could be deemed the golden case study in what NOT to do for your communications in a crisis. So, we thought we’d dive right in and deliver some hot tips on crisis comms with some real-time examples.

Plus, we'll talk you through some of the things they did right, a lot of the things they did wrong, and why we all need to be prepared for a crisis and what that can look like.

So, let's get into it!

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#40 How to use video as a powerful communication tool (ft. Joseph Bobadilla)

Thu, 09 Nov 2023 00:00:00 +1000

We live in a digital world, and video inundates every channel we use - from intranets and websites, to social media, messaging apps, and more. But why is it such a powerful communication tool, and what are some of the best-practice tips for getting it right?

Which is what we asked the exceptional video expert, Joseph Bobadilla from Brown Fox Media House, on this week’s episode of the Less Chatter, More Matter podcast.

We picked Joseph's brains on everything from the big mistakes people make when they use video as a communication tool, all the way to the top tips you can use to get started, even if you’re on a budget. We even dabbled in a bit of chat about artificial intelligence and the opportunities and risks when it comes to video.

So, get your notebook out and let's get into it!

Links mentioned in this episode:

Social handles - Joseph

Social handles - Brown Fox Media House

Links

Business website
Brown Fox Podcast (video marketing)
From The Inside Out Podcast (personal) plus on Spotify and Apple Podcasts

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#39 How to create a content plan for your business or client

Thu, 02 Nov 2023 05:00:00 +1000

Our worlds revolve around content these days! But, with so many different channels to reach our audiences, and so many different ways of doing it - it can be difficult to figure out the nuances of each and what is going to work best.

That's why this week's episode of the Less Chatter, More Matter podcast is all about creating and maintaining a content plan for your business or client. This episode touches on how to create content that is purposeful, and how to make sure your channels are kept alive and performing!

We've even got a FREE content plan template available for you to download! But you'll have to listen in to find out how to grab it.

So, let's get into it!

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#38 Mental health and the crucial role of communications (ft. Cherie Canning)

Thu, 26 Oct 2023 01:00:00 +1000

Welcome back to the Less Chatter, More Matter podcast. This week's episode starts with the impact of mental health in the workplace to celebrate Mental Health Month here in Australia this October. We asked Cherie Canning, founder of Luminate Leadership, to join us on this episode to explore how communication plays an instrumental role in advocating for mental health issues in the workplace.

When done with mental health in mind, our communication practices can create safe spaces to have conversations, particularly in the workplace. And it's even more fortuitous in a way that the theme for Mental Health Month in 2023 is 'we all have a role to play'. So this episode is really about encouraging people to think about ways we can connect with the people around us in more meaningful, supportive ways.

So, without further adieu, let's get into it!

Links mentioned in this episode:

Mental Health First Aid Training: www.luminateleadership.com.au/mhfa
Luminate Leadership website: www.luminateleadership.com.au
Follow Luminate on Instagram
Follow Luminate on LinkedIn
Connect with Cherie on Instagram
Connect with Cherie on LinkedIn

About Cherie:
Cherie Canning is a passionate optimist, an avid traveller and the Founder and Director of Luminate Leadership.

After almost two decades of leading teams and running development training at Flight Centre Travel Group, Cherie and her husband Andy were thrown a Covid redundancy curve ball. It was then Cherie knew she had to follow her passion of Leadership development and Luminate Leadership was born.

Cherie is passionate about creating training and development experiences that challenge people, inspire them and give practical tools to create real life impact in their workplaces and lives.

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#37 3 big lessons from 3 big years in business

Thu, 19 Oct 2023 06:00:00 +1000

It's our third birthday!
That’s right, Hey Mel! has been offering our communication and training expertise for three big years, full of big business learnings - learnings that we’d love to share with you.

Whether you’re looking to start your very own consultancy, or you’re a lover of all things learning, we’ve got some pretty cool lessons to share from around the world of freelancing and what it could mean for your career.

That's why this special birthday episode covers some of the key takeaways that the business has compiled over the three years we've been doing it! We've also packed all of said shiny insights in this one, fantastic podcast episode - full of insights you can use across the board in any career.

So... why wait for the fourth birthday? Let's get into it!

Links mentioned in this episode:

Blog: Three tips for choosing the right channels for your business
Course: Fresh 2 Freelancing
Offer: Third birthday 30% discount
Email update: Sign up here!

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#36 How to choose the right channels for your business

Thu, 12 Oct 2023 06:00:00 +1000

Gone are the days of simple websites, media releases and CEO emails. These days, we have so many more channels to use and choose. But the challenge is knowing which ones to choose and why!

Especially when a new social media app comes onto the market because it can be really tempting to jump onto it right away. And why not? It's the latest shiny thing and apparently everyone is using it… but, before you do, can you answer whether it will serve your business any good?

Knowing which channels to pick, how to use them, and how to use them well is crucial before heading onto any new media platform. It’s especially important for those who are starting a new business or starting from scratch in an existing business.

That's why we've gathered some tips on how to pick the right channels for your business here.

So, let’s get into it!

Links mentioned in this episode:

Blog: Three tips for choosing the right channels for your business

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#35 Top tips for making and maintaining a great website (ft. Jessica Panozzo)

Thu, 05 Oct 2023 06:00:00 +1000

Do you know what it takes to create a website that is accessible, creative, design friendly, SEO ready, easy to navigate, and fits your brand? All of these things are crucial parts of your website's job in ensuring your brand is taken seriously and that your clients can trust you to deliver on what they need.

Which is exactly why this week's podcast is all about website design. We've asked the fantastic Jessica Panozzo from Feel Good Creative to join us and share some of her insider knowledge on the key aspects to website design, and why it's so important to get it right, no matter if you're a small business or massive organisation.

Jess is the owner of Feel Good Creative, a website design agency in Brisbane, Australia. She's a colour loving, food obsessed, website designer and an ex-accountant, but we won't hold that against her. She works with creative businesses and all-round good humans to ensure that your digital home communicates a special sauce, stands out from their competition and is a dream for your visitors to use.

She has mastered the art of managing website projects in an efficient, personalised two week period so that you can get back to running your business ASAP. That's why we were stoked to have her on the show to spill the beans on all the website aspects you'll need to know!

Let's dive in.

Links mentioned in this episode:

Website: Feel Good Creative
Instagram: Feel Good Creative
Episode 32: What is accessibility and why is it important? (ft. Kelly Thibodeau)

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#34 How to reach hard-to-reach people

Thu, 28 Sep 2023 06:00:00 +1000

What exactly is a hard-to-reach person? They're the people in your business who are on the road, serving customers, on a construction site or simply out of range (like on a plane!). They aren’t, and simply can’t be, in front of a computer screen all day.

But as the people who are often our frontline employees, it's critical to get organisation-wide messages to them effectively.

Unfortunately, our traditional internal comms channels, like intranets and emails, are pretty useless a lot of the time. So where do you start? Much like every communication that we do, we have to start by thinking from our audience's perspective because to put it bluntly: we can't communicate the way we want, we have to do it the way they want.

Luckily for us, the good news is there are a lot of ways to communicate with the 'unwired' workforce very successfully, and some of them might surprise you. And we’ve gone into a bunch of them, right here in this podcast. So, what are you waiting for?

Let's get into it.

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#33 What employees really mean by 'poor communication'

Thu, 21 Sep 2023 06:00:00 +1000

If you’ve ever heard of the terms Pulse survey, or Employee Engagement Survey - then you’ve most likely had to answer a variety of questions surrounding the effectiveness of communications in your organisation.

More specifically, you've most likely had to deal with the repercussions or the aftermath of 'poor communication' being identified in these surveys, and the way by which a company or team handles outcomes like this. But, when it comes to this sort of outcome, it's less likely that a company will actually identify what the poor communication is attributed to, rather than simply trying to address it with more communication.

That's why on this week's episode, we've dived head first into what employees REALLY mean when poor communication is identified, and the ways by which you can fix, work on, or even implement strategies to combat it permanently.

Let's get into it.

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Blog: What employees really mean by ‘poor communication’

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#32 What is accessibility and why is it important? (ft. Kelly Thibodeau)

Thu, 14 Sep 2023 07:00:00 +1000

On this week's episode, we dive into a new topic: Accessibility.

We chatted with the incredible Kelly Thibodeau, who is based in Manitoba, Canada, and is the founder of Squarely Accessible - a social media marketing consultancy and training organisation that focuses on accessibility, content strategy, and digital experience. She's a consultant, trainer, and speaker who's been making online marketing make sense for organisations and non-profits for 25 years.

Kelly joins us on this week's episode to shed light on the topic of accessibility in communications. Find out what accessibility in communication really means, why it's important, and how you can make sure your communication is hitting the mark!

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Episode 31.5: (BONUS) Key communication trends from the Asia-Pacific region

Mon, 11 Sep 2023 06:00:00 +1000

Oh it’s a sneaky bonus episode!

I’ve just returned from the two-day IABC Asia-Pacific Fusion 2023 Conference in Bali, which brought together 70 communication professionals from around the region, as well as Europe, South Africa, and the USA.

And while it’s all still fresh in my mind, I wanted to share my key takeaways.

In this bonus episode, I’m sharing the three big themes that came out of the conference: leadership, cross-cultural communication, and of course, artificial intelligence! There’s loads of gold I took out of these two days, so dive in and get the download!

Links mentioned in this episode:

IABC Asia Pacific on LinkedIn
Australia’s AI Ethics Principles
Conference speaker: Rita Arrigo
Conference speaker: Subho Das
Conference speaker: Ross Monaghan
Conference speaker: Supriya Addanki
Conference speakers: Chris Saxby and Elizabeth Petersen
Conference speaker: Serge Borg
Conference speaker: Adrian Cropley
Conference speaker: Soundari Makerajeh
Conference speaker: Clare Gleghorn

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#31 Practical skills every comms professional needs

Thu, 07 Sep 2023 06:00:00 +1000

Today's episode is all about how you can make yourself an undeniable hire when you're new in your communication career.

More specifically, we dive into the key practical skills that every communications professional needs to hit the ground running. So whether that's new graduates, people who are about to graduate or people who are shifting careers - these are the absolute bare bones skills that will help you elevate yourself above your peers, and ultimately keep your career thriving.

Not to mention, I've already done the hard yards for you and collated all of the key collateral and templates you should have, or should know about, in my very first online-only course. Talk about making it easy for you!

So, have a listen, rate the show and if you're interested in getting those schmick templates and some one-on-one coaching, check the course out below.

Let's get into it.

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#30 Neurodiversity and communication (ft. Kylee Leota)

Thu, 31 Aug 2023 06:00:00 +1000

Welcome to the 30th episode of the Less Chatter, More Matter! That means 30 weeks of sharing all the things, and there's still so much more to come!

This week, we've focused on how no two brains are the same and how each of us interpret things differently. We've touched a lot in the past on how to communicate in different ways to reach your audiences in a way that is meaningful for them, and gets your message across.

To do this, we've brought in the best of the best! The incredible Kylee Leota, founder of Elements 4 Success - a global organisation delivering transformational experiences to individuals, teams, and businesses. Her services include psychological safety, high performance teams coaching, leadership, change management, and she designs bespoke programs as well. Her background is actually in the education sector. She spent 20 years working in education, including leadership roles in schools and at the regional level.

On this episode, we dive deep into the world of neurodiversity, what it means, and how it could, or should, impact your communications. Join us to hear all about it and grab some great tips on making sure your comms are inclusive!

Let's get into it.

Links related to this episode

Kylee's business Instagram
Kylee's business Facebook page
Kylee's business LinkedIn
Blog post: 4 Cs of effective communication
Episode 28: The 4 Cs of effective communication

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#29 How small teams can still drive great internal comms

Thu, 24 Aug 2023 07:00:00 +1000

On today's podcast, we're tackling the age-old situation of resource-poor comms teams (or organisations who don't even have comms teams!). Communication teams are often left stranded, sometimes after a restructure, or sometimes simply by the business not understanding the function well enough. And yet, the expectations don't change - internal and external communication goals need to be met to help achieve business goals.

The good part is, these situations are opportunities to become extremely innovative and creative in their delivery or organisation of comms in order to fill the gaps. It's not uncommon for there to be solutions or workarounds that may come in handy when you're trying to find the best practices for a resource-poor team.

That's why in this episode we've focused on how you can still deliver great internal comms by leveraging a variety of tips and tricks. From supporting stakeholders and driving organisational strategy, all the way through to the very basics of templating and resource hubs.

We've got tonnes of tips - so let's get into it!

Links mentioned in this episode

Episode 21: Six ways to use AI to stay relevant in comms

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#28 The 4 Cs of effective communication

Thu, 17 Aug 2023 07:00:00 +1000

On this week's podcast, we dive into one of my most-asked-about topics: what makes communication effective and how can I improve my own communication skills?

Off the back of these queries, I developed the 4 Cs of effective communication framework to help you develop communication in a way that is clear, concise, considerate, and connected. With these 4 Cs in mind, you can start to judge for yourself whether or not your comms are hitting the mark!

Because when we're effective in our communication, it's easy to measure our impact as our audience will be doing exactly as we intended, and we'll be achieving our 'know, feel, do' objectives.

So what do these 4 Cs look like in practice? That's what I'll be getting stuck into with this episode.

Let's get into it.

Links mentioned in this episode

Blog post: 4 Cs of effective communication
Lisa's LinkedIn: Lisa Partridge LinkedIn profile
Lisa’s business: SIXCOMMS
Podcast: Episode 17 - How to write concisely without losing friends
Podcast: Episode 23 - 5 key communication skills leaders must master

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#27 The power of visual communication (ft. Hayley Langsdorf)

Thu, 10 Aug 2023 07:00:00 +1000

This week, we've got a special guest on the show who specialises in the world of visual communications and is a top tier expert on making sure your comms are received by the wider audience. It's Hayley Langsdorf.

Hayley is the self-described Chief Doodler at Thoughts Drawn Out, a creative consultancy powered by the art and science of illustrated storytelling and human-centred design. Hayley has helped unleash the colourful stories within some of Australia's largest organisations through her work as a facilitator and designer. She has a winding career through corporate communication, transformational change, innovation, and experience design. She is obsessed with visual storytelling to say the least, having written a book, delivered a TEDx talk and created numerous courses on the topic.

This week, Hayley will take us through her top tips for visual communications, how to get into them, how to reach more of your audience, and where to begin on your journey to becoming a more visual communicator - plus why it's important!

She has some fantastic advice and a wealth of knowledge to share, and we can't wait to see what she has to offer.

Let's get into it.

Find out more about Hayley:

hayley@thoughtsdrawnout.com.au

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#26 The messages your behaviours send

Thu, 03 Aug 2023 06:00:00 +1000

This week’s podcast episode focuses on the often overlooked part of communication that is: communication that is neither written nor verbal.

When the word ‘communication’ comes to mind, most people will immediately imagine things like emails, meetings, conversations, website copy, town halls and all sorts of other mediums across the board for written or verbalised communication. But, what many people fail to realise is that conversation traverses into the world of behaviour, and as such - your behaviour is a direct type of communication.

Anything that sends a message is a form of communication.

Regardless of what you’ve written in an email, verbalised to a colleague or discussed in a meeting - there are ways by which we communicate, such as behaviours, that can be often more impactful, regardless of whether they are intentional or not.

Not to mention that the messages you send through your behaviours are just as powerful, if not more powerful than the words you speak or write. So this episode will touch on all the ways your behaviours send messages, how to be more aware of them and also, what the repercussions could be for not keeping them in mind.

Let's get into it.

Links mentioned in this episode

LinkedIn: A post about the timing of your communication

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#25 How to get the most value out of your performance reviews (ft. Paula Maidens)

Thu, 27 Jul 2023 06:00:00 +1000

Welcome back to your favourite comms podcast, and we've got a treat for you!

This week, we've had our very first ever guest star on the show - and we've started big. We've teamed up with the incredible Paula Maidens, to bring you a podcast relevant to the current time of year, all about performance reviews and how you can make the most out of them.

Paula is a hiring and leadership coach, and speaker, who helps fast growing entrepreneurs build high performing teams so they can scale with ease, get their time back and create the life they damn well deserve. She's been a business consultant for over 13 years and uses her signature six pillar framework to shift the perception that hiring leadership, and stepping up as an empowered CEO needs to feel hard.

She has a straight talking reputation and uses her simple systems and tools to support you to look within, find a way that feels authentic and amazing and build your dream team to support your dream life. As an entrepreneur herself, Paula shares her own business and life lessons, as well as the hands on experience she has from interviewing and hiring.

We're super excited to have her on the show to talk all about the ins and outs of performance reviews, but also, how you can make them as effective as possible.

Let's get into it.

Episode links:

Paula’s website: https://paulamaidens.com/
Instagram: @paulamaidensconsulting
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/paulamaidensbuildingawesometeams
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/paulamaidens/

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#24 Change vs internal communication: What's the difference?

Thu, 20 Jul 2023 06:00:00 +1000

Are you someone who either is, or has hired, an internal or change communications professional? If so, then you've most likely come across the two topics of change and communications, and their many cross-overs.

The key part to these topics are that there are many differences between change comms and internal comms. The first thing you need to know is that communication is only one element of change and it is not the silver bullet that will solve all the problems.

There are four other elements to change, including leadership, stakeholder engagement, learning and development and governance. And in today's episode, we are going to discuss and uncover these five elements of change to give us the foundation on how, and why, internal and change comms differ.

Let's get to it.

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#23 5 key communication skills leaders must master

Thu, 13 Jul 2023 06:00:00 +1000

In this week's episode, we're delving into the world of leadership communication skills. We all know that communication is a key skill for all leaders, but communication could generally mean almost anything.

So what are the specific communication skills that a leader needs to master?

In today's episode, we unpack five key leadership communication skills that I think every leader should master and how they differ from management communication. I'll be giving you a run down on some free tools I've collated to help you learn more about leaership communications and I'll even give you some key examples of how to apply it.

Let's get to it.

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#22 Developing your brand narrative

Thu, 06 Jul 2023 06:00:00 +1000

Having your personal brand narrative is not something that you suddenly one day need in order to apply for a job. Figuring out what sets you apart from others may be useful for that, but having your brand narrative precise and ready can, and will, underpin your career as a whole.

Whether you think you need one, already have one or aren't sure - it's more than likely your colleagues, friends and even family already have one conjured up on your behalf.

So, why wouldn't you take the time to craft and refine the way that you wish to be perceived in a professional or unprofessional capacity?

In today's episode, we take the time to really scope out the why and even the how behind the importance of a brand narrative that encompasses you and what you bring to the table. I'll be giving you a run down on a mini-workbook I've collated to help run you through the entire process in detail (which you can find here) and I'll even give you some key examples of how to apply it.

Let's get to it.

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#21 Six ways to stay relevant with AI tools in comms

Thu, 29 Jun 2023 00:00:00 +1000

There was a lot of excitement earlier this year when ChatGPT took off! A tool that produces copy in an instant? Fascinating! Helpful! Worrying!

Whatever your initial reaction was, tools like ChatGPT are evolving quickly, and if we don't learn to use them, we'll be left behind.

I've been playing with some of these tools, attending events, listening to other podcasts, and putting a few of them into practice myself, and I've now got a list of use cases for professional communicators - or people who communicate a lot as part of their work - that shows how useful artificial intelligence (AI) tools can be for our work.

So get ready as I share six ways you can use these tools to boost productivity and reduce time spent on tedious work, particularly if you're a resource-poor comms team! I also share some examples of how I've tested out these tools myself, and the results of those experiments.

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#20 How to reach visual learners with your communication

Thu, 22 Jun 2023 00:00:00 +1000

65 per cent of people are visual thinkers. People remember 80% of what they see and do; only 20% of what they read; and only 10% of what they hear!

That's why it pays to know your audience, and think about how you could communicate in a way that will actually work.

If you've been following the podcast for a while, you'll know we say tailoring your communication to meet the needs of your audience is key to your communication cutting through. A big part of that is understanding people's different personality types, so whether they are more introverted than extroverted; more of a strategic thinker or a detail thinker; or more of a visual or auditory learner.

In today's episode, we're going to delve into the specifics and focus on ways you can adapt your communication to resonate with people who are visual thinkers. I'm going to share four ideas with practical examples of how you can take your communication and repackage it in a visual way that will actually work!

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#19 Three key comms documents every business should have

Thu, 15 Jun 2023 00:00:00 +1000

If you don't have these three key documents, you're working harder not smarter.

Communication teams - and the broader organisation - need tools to help them make decisions, uphold standards, and educate others.

The tools I'm sharing in today's episode will help you work more efficiently, and ensure everyone is singing from the same songsheet - so you have consistent output, you protect your brand, and you protect your channels.

Importantly, they also help to protect your time! So tune in to find out what these three golden documents are, and how you can get your hands on a template for one of them.

Links relevant to this episode

Free 12-month comms toolkit

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#18 Global communication trends you should know!

Thu, 08 Jun 2023 10:00:00 +1000

The International Association of Business Communicators (IABC) annual World Conference in Toronto has just wrapped up, and boy was it an incredible learning experience!

Across two-and-a-half days we heard from international speakers on a variety of corporate communication hot topics and trends, that are relevant not only for professional communicators, but for anyone who has communication as part of their work responsibilities (looking at you, leaders!).

In this special episode of Less Chatter, More Matter, I'm going to share the three key trends I identified from the sessions I attended across the conference, and stay tuned to the end of the episode for a bonus - my summary and key takeaways from the woman who took Duolingo's TikTok account from just a few thousand followers to 6.7 million followers in a flash!

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#17 How to write concisely without losing friends

Thu, 01 Jun 2023 00:00:00 +1000

Today's episode addresses a bug bear of many - how to write concisely, without losing friends! It takes a lot of practice to write in a way that's short and clear, without sounding abrupt or rude.

But with a few simple writing tips and tricks, you can be a much better, clearer writer, which will help you get the outcome you want!

I'll walk you through my three-step process for writing concisely, and share a few of the writing 'red flags' you need to look out for when honing your writing skills. I'll also share a simple formula that will make drafting any content so much easier.

Links mentioned in this episode

Episode 2: The three outcomes every comms plan should have

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#16 Can we please re-think the annual report?

Thu, 25 May 2023 00:00:00 +1000

If you've ever worked in communications, corporate affairs, investor relations, or even finance, you'll be aware of the beast that is the Annual Report. Whether you work for a listed or non-listed company, a for-profit or not-for-profit organisation, the Annual Report will be around in some shape or form.

Annual reports are important - they need to be done to meet regulatory requirements, let shareholders know how their investment is performing, or let donors know how their funds are being used.

But the problem with annual reports is HOW they're produced - in my opinion, they're currently a colossal waste of time and effort. They're not targeted at their audiences, they don't respect their audience's needs and behaviours, and they don't achieve good business or communication outcomes.

So as we approach end of financial year, I'm sharing a few ideas on how to re-think the dreaded annual report, and produce it in a way that's both more efficient and more effective.

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#15 Do these five things before starting your business

Thu, 18 May 2023 00:00:00 +1000

One of the things I’m asked about all the time is advice on starting a business. I offer it freely, although brunch is often involved!

Back in episode eight I shared the five fun things you should consider doing when you’re looking at starting a business - whether that’s as a side hustle or a full-time gig.

Today’s episode is about the five boring things you’ll need to consider - at least, I consider them boring! But they’re really super important things that will help set you up for success, and they’re things we often don’t consider and then learn about the hard way! I want to help you so you don’t have to do that.

So if you're thinking about starting a business - whether now or in the future - this episode is absolutely critical for you!

Make sure you grab a copy of my 'five things' checklists from my website to play along from home when listening to this episode!

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#14 What's the difference between a strategy and a plan?

Thu, 11 May 2023 06:00:00 +1000

What exactly is a communication strategy, how is that different to a comms plan, and what are the types of strategies you could be developing?

If you’re new to comms, it’s really important that you know this, because simply jumping to a plan is jumping to tactics, without overarching direction. And when you can show strategic thinking to your client or leader, you’ll be able to start building a bank of credibility. If you stay in the land of tactics, you’ll only ever be asked to create and execute tactics. I want you to be able to set strategy!

Also, helping people to understand the differentiation between a strategy and plan is something I’ve had to coach quite a few people with over the years. Often it’s because they’re simply new to comms, or they’ve been in other roles and never had to think about comms strategies and plans like this before - they’ve simply just communicated the way they always have. Except now they might be in a position where they need to communicate more broadly, rather than just to a few people.

So in this episode, I'm going to help you understand what strategic thinking means in comms, and how your strategy and your plan work together to deliver a solution!

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#13 Case study: Crisis comms during a natural disaster

Thu, 04 May 2023 00:00:00 +1000

I'm going to take you back to 2017, when Cyclone Debbie hit large parts of my home state of Queensland, and I was leading the internal comms team at a big insurance company.

In this case study episode, I'm going to talk you through the steps my team and I took to communicate during this crisis - the channels we used, what messaging we used, and our tools and processes - to show you how the three crisis communication principles work in practice.

It's a peek behind the curtain of crisis communication 'in real life', and a reminder to all leaders and communication professionals that being prepared is the best way to manage communication during a crisis.

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#12 Three ways to avoid the broken communication cascade

Thu, 27 Apr 2023 00:00:00 +1000

Today’s episode is about something you might have tried before, or didn’t know existed, but that is the communication cascade.

This is a strategy that’s been used since the beginning of time - where we give information to senior leaders, and we expect them to pass it on to their next line of leaders, then we expect them to pass it on to their teams.

The reasoning behind it is pretty solid - people are more likely to listen to and trust the information coming from their direct leader, than from any other source. There’s been some wide-ranging research into that, and it really reinforces why good leadership and good relationships are so important, particularly when it comes to the effectiveness of your communication.

Also, one central person and one central comms team cannot possibly communicate personally with every member of an organisation.

So the logic is sound … however, humans get in the way!

What often ends up happening is the message gets diluted or misconstrued by the time it ends up at the team member level; or there’s the permafrost layer - usually at middle management level - where the message gets trapped and just doesn’t go any further.

What we really want leaders to do is not only pass on a message, but make it relevant to their teams, and personalise it to reach their audience.

So while our comms strategies might have a cascade element with the best of intentions, the reality is that they often aren’t successful.

So, how do you navigate it when you can’t personally communicate with every individual?

That’s what we’re going to tackle today - how to still use the communication cascade, but put in place some strategies to give you a better chance of success!

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#11 Top tips for creating memorable presentations

Thu, 20 Apr 2023 00:00:00 +1000

At some point in your career - whether you work in communications or not - it’s likely you’ll need to do a presentation. It could be to your boss, company Board, a potential client or investor, customers, or anyone in between.

Knowing how to deliver a presentation so that it engages people and gets the outcomes you want will be critical not only to the success of that presentation, but also potentially to the progression of your career. It’s a great skill to have, and really an opportunity to showcase your expertise and aptitude for leadership.

Importantly, your presentation has to be memorable - for the right reasons! You want people to walk away remembering you and the points you made. So how do you do that?

Hint - it's NOT about having a pretty PowerPoint deck! It IS about you!

In this episode I'll share my top tips for how you can hone your presentation skills so you and your message is clear and memorable.

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#10 How to choose the right channel mix for your business

Thu, 13 Apr 2023 00:00:00 +1000

When working in a comms team or for yourself, it pays to put time and effort into developing a channels mix that services both your internal and external audiences. The right mix of channels, used in the right way, can help you achieve your business goals - whether that's growth, improving brand awareness, or something else entirely!

The challenge we have today is that we have SO MANY channels to choose from! And it can be really tempting to just jump on the bandwagon of the latest fad, or try and use too many channels.

So in this episode, I share three key principles to guide your decision making around what channels to use to meet your business needs. Whether you're a management consultant, lead a corporate affairs team, design wedding cakes ... or anything in between, this episode is for you!

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#9 Three key principles of crisis communication

Thu, 06 Apr 2023 00:00:00 +1000

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.

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#8 Five fun things to consider when starting your business

Thu, 30 Mar 2023 00:00:00 +1000

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!

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#7 Formatting hacks that will get your written comms read

Thu, 23 Mar 2023 00:00:00 +1000

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.

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#6 How to adapt your communication style

Thu, 16 Mar 2023 00:00:00 +1000

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.

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#5 How to write a solid comms plan

Thu, 09 Mar 2023 00:00:00 +1000

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!

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#4 Three top tips for measuring your communication success

Thu, 02 Mar 2023 00:00:00 +1000

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.

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#3 How I started my business

Thu, 23 Feb 2023 00:00:00 +1000

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.

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#2 The three outcomes every comms plan should have

Thu, 16 Feb 2023 00:00:00 +1000

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.

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#1 Welcome to Corporate Comms!

Tue, 07 Feb 2023 19:00:00 +1000

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.

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