Communication Strategy That Works

As part of a mini series, I am looking at communicating complex topics, and I am starting with a book I read recently on holiday, recommneded by my 80 year old dad who provided IT systems for banks for many, many years. I've been reading Banking on It by Anne Boden, the founder of Starling Bank.

It's the story of building a completely new bank from scratch – taking on an established industry, raising the money, securing a banking licence, building the technology and, ultimately, persuading people to trust a bank they'd never heard of with their money. Oh, and she's also a women in finance.

But I found myself reading it less as a book about banking and female founders, and more as a book about innovation, customer behaviour and communications.

Because a lot of the challenges Boden describes are familiar to anyone trying to introduce something genuinely new.

You can believe passionately in the idea. You can have significant investment behind it. You can have brilliant technical people and a product you genuinely think is better.

But ultimately, you still have to persuade somebody to do something differently.

And that brought me back to something I've been talking about recently: when you're communicating innovation, there's a journey from awareness, to understanding, to confidence, and finally to action.

So rather than review the book chapter by chapter, there are three questions it left me thinking about.

So, let's dive in!

𝐴𝑡𝑡𝑒𝑛𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛, 𝐴𝑙𝑔𝑜𝑟𝑖𝑡ℎ𝑚𝑠 & 𝐹𝑜𝑟𝑚𝑎𝑡𝑠 𝑆𝑒𝑟𝑖𝑒𝑠 - 𝐸𝑝𝑖𝑠𝑜𝑑𝑒 3

Welcome to the final part in the series.

Why are newsletters growing? Why are podcasts continuing to thrive? Why are people spending 20 minutes reading a LinkedIn article or listening to an hour-long conversation when we're constantly told that attention is disappearing?

The answer reveals something important about communication in 2026. Because while attention may be fragmented, our appetite for depth hasn't disappeared. In fact, I would argue that it's becoming more valuable than ever.

One of the things I've been thinking about a lot lately is the contradiction at the heart of communication today. People scroll faster than ever. Content is shorter. Videos need to hook us in the first few seconds. Every platform seems to reward speed, immediacy, and constant novelty.

Yet, at the same time, some of the most successful content right now is long-form. Podcasts are thriving. Newsletters are growing. Thoughtful LinkedIn articles are being shared. People are still reading books. They're still listening to hour-long conversations. They're still investing time in ideas that matter.

So what's going on?

Let's dive in!

𝑨𝒕𝒕𝒆𝒏𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏, 𝑨𝒍𝒈𝒐𝒓𝒊𝒕𝒉𝒎𝒔 & 𝑭𝒐𝒓𝒎𝒂𝒕𝒔 - Episode 2

In the last episode, I looked at why some ideas stick by reviewing 𝑀𝑎𝑑𝑒 𝑡𝑜 𝑆𝑡𝑖𝑐𝑘. It gave us a powerful reminder: clear, emotionally resonant messages survive. But in 2026, there's another layer to the story, one that didn't exist when that book was written.

Today, attention itself is mediated by algorithms.

Before a human ever sees your digital message, an invisible system has already made a decision about it. Algorithms rank, filter, interpret, and prioritise digital content based on thousands of signals. In many cases, they determine whether your message is amplified, quietly buried, or never shown at all.

So if we want to communicate effectively digitally today, we need to understand not just how people think, but how platforms decide what people see.

So, let's dive in.

I am kicking off the 2026 podcast with a new series where I'm exploring what it really takes to communicate well in 2026. Attention, Algorithms & Formats is a three-episode series and your guide to crafting messages that cut through the noise, land with clarity, and actually get seen.

These three episodes will shape your thinking in the first quarter of the year ahead. Why? Because 2025 was a year defined by AI-shaped attention, personalised content ecosystems, fragile trust, and audiences who decide in seconds whether something is worth their time.

And I strongly believe that communication isn't just a skill, it's a competitive advantage. The ability to craft messages that cut through noise, land with clarity, and actually stick is becoming essential for leaders, teams, brands, and creators alike.

And while the tools and channels around us have evolved at lightning speed, the foundation of powerful communication hasn't changed. Storytelling is a craft as old as time, at the core of how humans have always connected, and great communication and skilled messaging sit at the heart of what I do today.

I'm starting the series with a book review: Made to Stick by Chip and Dan Heath. It's one of the most practical, timeless books on communication I've ever read, and its insights have only become more relevant as the world around us grows noisier and more algorithmically filtered.

In this book review, I'm breaking it down the way I always do:

1. Why I loved this book

2. What makes it so interesting

3. Five key takeaways you can use today

So, let's dive in.

Hey everyone, it's good to be back. Welcome to the refreshed version of the podcast: new rhythm, same depth, and a lot more inspiration.

We've taken a little time to reset and rethink what this show could be. And from this month, we're moving to one episode every three weeks - slower, more intentional, and packed with real takeaways.

You can expect a mix of in-depth insights and learnings, the kind of thoughtful, reflective conversations we've always had along with reviews and recommendations of things I've seen, read, or listened to that I think you'll love too.

And for our first episode in this new chapter, we're talking about something that sits right at the heart of great business, great creativity, and great campaigns: Collaboration.

So, let's dive in!

This episode was sparked by a recent chat I had with Helen Neal from HN Communications. We covered loads of ground around sustainability and transparency, but one theme really stood out to me - and that was humility in brand communication.

It got me thinking: in the built environment, we're often working on big, complex, long-term change. That makes messaging tricky because let's face it, not everything's sorted. And there is a lot of focus on what happens when something is complete, and little focus on progress over perfection.

So, what if we took a leaf out of the consumer brand playbook? I thought it would be interesting if we looked at how brands like Patagonia or Tony's Chocolonely talk about progress and imperfection, and applied that to how we communicate about our own sustainability efforts?

So, let's dive in!

I read Sustainable Marketing by Michelle Carvill a while back. It seemed the right time to review it right after my podcast conversation with Helen Neal this month.

In our discussion, Helen talked about the importance of humility, the value of "progress over perfection," and why it's so critical to bring sustainability experts into the conversation early.

These ideas were still echoing in my mind as I reminded myself of this book, and Carvill's insights feel like a natural extension of that conversation.

Let's dive in!

Today, I'm joined by Helen Neal, founder of the multi-award-winning HN Communications and a leader in sustainability communications. Named Professional of the Year at the PRCA Dare Awards 2024 and invited to speak at COP16 in Riyadh, Helen is redefining how businesses integrate sustainability into their strategies.

With a background spanning politics, corporate leadership, and communications, Helen built HN Communications to help companies navigate sustainability messaging with authenticity and impact. She believes that sustainability and profitability must go hand in hand—a vision that has made her a sought-after voice in the field.

Whether you're a business leader, a communicator, or just someone passionate about a greener future, this conversation is packed with insights you won't want to miss. Also check out our myth buster!

Let's dive in!

Welcome back to the final episode in February's productivity series.

Today, I want to share how I've tried to transform my workspace into a mindful environment that boosts efficiency using a couple of simple approaches. Whether you work from home, in an office, or somewhere in between, our surroundings have a massive impact on our ability to stay focused and creative.

Let's dive into some practical ways to optimise your space!

With the bulk of winter behind us, I find that February is the perfect time to start being proactive and setting the tone for a productive year ahead.

If you've been waiting for the right moment to shake off the post-holiday slump, this is it! Now is the time to reset, refocus, and build momentum that will carry you into Spring and the rest of the year.

In today's episode, we're diving into some of the best productivity tools and strategies of 2025 to help you work smarter, not harder, while keeping a good work-life balance. And it's not all about AI you'll be pleased to hear (although some of it is)

Let's dive in!