Let diversity guide your internal story telling
Humans have an insatiable need for connection and communication. Storytelling is in our DNA. It’s how we make sense of the world. And this is equally the case in a work environment.
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Welcome to the random musings of our creative director. We want to share how we feel about business and life, how the two things are intertwined and how consciousness really does lead to a more fulfilling and successful existence for all. You won’t find tips or tricks here, instead you’ll be inspired by businesses that we feel are kicking goals when it comes to running heart-centred organisations and who walk their talk with passion. There will probably be some opinion-sharing too, tongue-in-cheek and with hopefully a bit of humour too.
Diversity and Inclusion, more than just a policy
When the concept of Justice, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (JEDI – yes, someone has a sense of humour and/or a love of Star Wars!) is raised, often the default position of most companies is to roll out their shiny, carefully crafted Diversity and Inclusion Policy/Statement and submit it as evidence that they’re an employer of choice.
Purpose is not your edge, it’s your heart
Purpose has been a business buzzword for a while now, almost to the point where I’m tempted to abandon it. As is often the case, something that works attracts attention, especially by people trying to find an edge. But here’s the thing about purpose. It isn’t an edge. An edge is hard and angular. It’s sharp and superficial.
Technology is the vehicle, not the answer
Across the first half of 2020, one of the biggest challenges in the business world has been how to keep a team engaged when we’re isolated from each other which makes engaging your team in your company’s purpose more important now than ever.
Build community by recognising your privilege
The world is going through a gigantic change and at its core is the need to build community in all aspects of our lives. To do this successfully we need to listen, learn and grow from the experiences of the past to create a more inclusive future.
Communicating through a crisis, just be yourself
When a crisis hits it can be easy to think you need to change how you communicate both internally and externally but if you have solid communication processes in place there is no need to change.
Clarity through growth
As an organisation with deeply held core values that drive how you do business it can sometimes get tricky navigating growth whilst staying clear on the values and aligning with those values.
Why good leadership is more than informed decision making
Whilst it’s accepted that leaders need to make informed decisions when communicating through a crisis. Good leadership is shown through listening and knowing how, what and when to communicate to those you lead especially when emotions and anxiety are running high.
In gratitude of goals and achievements
It’s the end of the year, a time when you clock off for a much needed break. Before you pop your out of office on however make sure you take a moment to look back on your achievements as a business and as individuals within your team through the last year, and be grateful for what is to come.
Social impact critical mass
If you’re an organisation that wants to have a positive social impact or change the world, creating stories of impact and sharing your concepts widely for long enough periods, and gathering like-minded collaborators who add to the imagined reality that you want to create, you can help to generate a new way of doing things that can turn the tide.
Connection is Everything
The concepts of connection, community, story sharing and the interrelation of whole ecosystems and smaller ecosystems within that are shared by Tyson Yunkaporta in his book Sand Talk could change the world if only people would listen.
The truth hurts
With the discussion of climate change, comes the discussion on how making changes to positively effect the climate may impact the economic status quo. The truth may very well hurt those who are profiting from the status quo, but lack of change will ultimately impact us all.
Can brand self-interest also be a force for good?
More and more brands are using their platform to become a force for good in the world but can use it’s own self-interest, to generate revenue, as the catalyst for change or will it merely been seen as and act as a marketing ploy to sell more products?
Shining a light on how becoming a B Corp has improved our business
With #BCorpMonth in full swing in Australia it has triggered a reflection on how becoming a B Corp has made us do better in business and help others do better in their business.
How important is it to share your own story?
I was listening to an episode of The Signal podcast recently about the life and achievements of Bob Hawke and realised that there was so little about him that I actually knew. When I arrived in Australia almost 30 years ago, Bob Hawke was nearing the end of his tenure and my most vivid memory…
Working all hours won’t deliver success
Working all hours won’t deliver success If you’re in the communications or marketing industry you will most likely have come across the story of Roxy Jacenko and her lazy team. Working all hours won’t deliver success, but that was the attitude delivered by Jacenko to her team via a recent media interview. If you haven’t…
brands taking stands
Over the last few days interest and commentary has been building around the new ad from Gillette, which tackles the very tricky subject of toxic masculinity, and it looks like the debate is set to continue over this highly polarising subject. In recent times, several major brands have, with varying degrees of success, attempted to…
can a wedding change the world?
I had planned to steer clear of the ‘wedding of the century’, making a lot of eye rolling over the circus that led up to the big day. I’d resolved that I would check in to look at the dress in my Facebook feed and that would be it. However, at 8.30pm on Saturday…
what’s your roi (return on impact)?
What’s Your ROI (Return On Impact)? Social purpose and social impact are topics that are discussed in the media and online with increasing regularity at the moment. And, whether you realise it or not, we all, both individuals and organisations, have a social impact. The question is whether, and to what extent, your impact is…
the purpose problem
The Purpose Problem It seems that purpose is the word on everybody’s lips at the moment. You’ll find it very prominently on this website that we do PR on Purpose and, being part of the Conscious Capitalism community I’m officially a card-carrying member of the purpose club. The other day I read an article that suggested our…
#straya
#straya As we head into another new business year (does anyone really work in January – in our defence it’s near impossible to sleep so functioning on all cylinders is a rare occurrence at this time of year), I have high hopes that this fine country is in the process of a brand identity renewal.…
spot(moon)light on getting it right
Spot(Moon)Light On Getting It Right I’m sure many of you watched in horror earlier in the week when, on the set of the Oscars during the final award, there was frantic scurrying to halt proceedings during the announcement of Best Picture, although not before there was enough time to make three speeches. Within hours there…
what does your business heart look like?
What Does Your Business Heart Look Like? I find having a business heart an interesting concept. My business journey, particularly over the last twelve months, has seen me delve deeply into why I do what I do. For a while this was the source of great stress because I thought that there had to…
finding your flow in business
Finding Your Flow In Business I’ve been very lucky during my business journey, spanning the last 11 years or so, to seem to have been in the right place at the right time when it comes to opportunities to show your stuff. When I was a solo business owner-wordsmith right at the beginning, my timing…
bright and shiny good deeds
Bright And Shiny Good Deeds It’s hard being a conscious business these days, especially when you work in the service industry. Once you open your eyes you see them everywhere and it’s very easy to get caught up in every bright and shiny good deed that’s going around. This happened to me last year, a…
if i’ve said it once, i’ve said it a million times…
I was reminded yet again recently, not that I personally have ever forgotten, that genuine connection is worth as much, if not far more than the perceived honour of being featured in the media. One of my biggest issues is getting people to understand that public relations is NOT media relations. Seriously, it isn’t, and…
not just another new year blog post!
Well, actually, it probably is just another New Year blog post but without a resolution in sight. I’m getting the vibe that 2014 was a particularly challenging year for many people, me included, but the main theme for the year was growth and learning. So many people I know were presented with adversity and triumphed,…
random acts of prness
Random Acts Of PRness So, it’s a couple of years since I’ve blogged. And, truth be known, what came before was less of a blog and more of a few articles designed to establish my credibility within an industry that seems to have lost its way a bit, at least to the outside world. As…