Insights
Do facts change minds?
Changing other peoples' minds is central to having influence in business, however in his new book Atomic Habits James Clear offers some new insight into this vexing challenge. He starts by referring to two notable minds which point in the same direction: J.K....
Is Andy Groves right? Is writing more important than reading?
Like many, I have been impressed by the discipline that Jeff Bezos has instilled at Amazon, where important decisions are made after thorough discussion of tightly crafted six-page narratives. Bezos has been quoted as saying that Full sentences are harder to write....
Getting to the So What just got easier
This new book introduces seven most commonly used storyline patterns for business communication How often have you invested significant energy to prepare a piece of communication only to be confronted with this most uncomfortable question from your audience: “So...
Winston Churchill nails it again
A client recently passed through a gem which is just too good not to share. Yet again, Winston Churchill 'nails it'. Written sixty plus years ago, it's fabulous. I also love his closing remark: Reports drawn up along the lines I propose may at first seem rough as...
Kurt Vonnegut had some great things to say about patterns that are relevant in business
I found something wonderfully useful this week that I wanted to share with you. Revered American writer Kurt Vonnegut penned these seven storytelling tips that reinforce not only what a wonderful writer he was but also that it is possible to communicate complex ideas...
Engaging Multiple Audiences: The Tale of Two Stories
We often help clients engage multiple audiences around the same set of ideas. I recently helped the head of strategy for a large industrials client to complete a strategic review. To get sign off on the strategy, he needed to package his findings for two audiences...
Ironically, writers need to educate readers about what ‘reader-focused' means
The Minto Pyramid Principle is a widely lauded approach for preparing clearer business reports. Developed by a McKinsey & Company team led by Barbara Minto in the 1960s, ‘pyramid’ helps people use logic and structure to organise their ideas into a logical and...
One case, one deck a winner for Aussie telco strategist
When preparing executive communications such as strategy reviews or Board presentations, people often prepare several versions of the same story as part of the stakeholder management process. This is deemed necessary as the 'doers' and subject matter experts further...
Quotas will increase the need for aspiring women to communicate with compelling clarity
The talk of quotas and the very welcome push from the BCA to increase the numbers of women in leadership will provide opportunities for more women to be noticed in general and in particular as candidates for senior roles. A terrific outcome will be an increase in...
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