Connection is not a vibe. It’s a lever. The most effective leaders I know do something quietly powerful: They begin meetings by listening. They communicate strategy with story. They humanise performance reviews with context, not just KPIs. They treat silence, tone, and timing as strategic tools—not just soft touches. I’ve even tested this in real-time....
The projections must have been solid. The timing aligned. The hard hats must have done their part. Technically, everything was ready: engineering complete, LNG export contracts signed, markets poised. In November 2024, Canada’s Coastal GasLink pipeline entered service. But something hadn’t quite aligned. The story hadn’t landed. Stakeholders were uneasy. The community had questions—many unspoken....
See “Abeg o, who dig this pit for me to fall inside?” That was the soundtrack in my head as I watched Astronomer’s post-scandal video featuring Gwyneth Paltrow. Let me rewind to when I saw Astronomer’s scandal video, I paused. And—like muscle memory—I started mapping out a crisis plan in my head. I genuinely felt...
2012: Editing townhall scripts while quietly learning ESG principles and performance indicators 2017: Supporting reputation strategy in crisis while exploring impact communications frameworks 2022: Shaping narratives that influenced decisions and built trust 2024: Helping scale culture and mindset by integrating systems thinking into execution Through it all, one truth became clear: Strategic communications goes beyond...
“When the duck asks for grapes…” 🦆🍇 Last night, my Gen-Alpha kid showed me a quirky animated video from 2009 called The Duck Song (660+ million views) by Bryant Oden. Here is the plot: A duck walks up to a lemonade stand, looks the owner in the eye, and asks for grapes. Every. Single. Day....
We use the word mentor too quickly. Often what we actually have is one of these: 1. Inspiration from someone whose example sparks us, but who is not engaged in our growth. 2. Instruction from a teacher, boss, or leader giving direction for a task or season. 3. Proximity to someone in our circle whose...