Good Comms | Inclusive leadership & communication
Posts covering internal communication that creates a sense of belonging.
Research shows conditional belonging (you belong because you’re useful) doesn’t create the same outcomes as unconditional belonging (you belong because you’re human). When belonging is transactional, it doesn’t work. So ironically, chasing the ROI of belonging through performative initiatives actually destroys the ROI. But fine, if you want to get the numbers, read on.
The ROI of belonging Read More »
Belonging
If you’ve never experienced a LEGO® Serious Play® (LSP) workshop, you might be wondering what actually happens. Will I need to be creative? What if I’m not good at building? What will we achieve? These are common questions I hear from participants before their first session.
What to expect in a LEGO® Serious Play® workshop Read More »
Belonging
Throughout this series, we’ve explored why LEGO® Serious Play® works: the cognitive science that creates deep engagement, the communication mechanisms that transform dialogue, and the cultural conditions that create a sense of belonging. Now we arrive at the heart of the matter: what all these elements enable when they come together: co-creation.
Why LEGO® Serious Play® works: Co-creating positive change Read More »
Belonging
In Parts 1 and 2, we explored the cognitive science that makes LEGO® Serious Play® effective for individual learning, and the communication mechanisms, metaphor and equal voice, that transform how groups interact. And something even more fundamental happens when these elements combine: they create the cultural conditions for genuine sense of belonging.
In Part 1, we explored the cognitive science behind LEGO® Serious Play®. How constructionist learning, embodied cognition, and flow states create conditions for deep individual engagement. The methodology’s power extends beyond how individuals think. It fundamentally transforms how groups communicate and collaborate.
Why LEGO® Serious Play® works: The power of metaphor and equal voice Read More »
Belonging
Ever wonder why building with LEGO® bricks creates insights that hours of talking couldn’t reach? There’s actual neuroscience behind it. When your hands build, your brain thinks differently, accessing knowledge you didn’t even know you had. This is constructionism in action, and it’s transforming how teams solve complex problems.
Why LEGO® Serious Play® works: The cognitive foundations Read More »
Belonging
Strategic listening sounds compelling in theory but how do we actually do it? In Part 1, we explored why treating internal community management as organisational intelligence matters. Now let’s get practical. The HEAR Framework offers a systematic approach to turning everyday conversations into actionable insights: Hone what matters, Evaluate the context, Articulate the patterns, and Respond with action. Here’s how leading organisations are making strategic listening real.
The HEAR Framework: A practical guide to strategic listening Read More »
Belonging
Most companies treat community management as housekeeping: moderate discussions, answer questions, keep things civil. But we’ve seen something different: organizations reimagining it as strategic listening, a systematic way to catch problems early, understand culture as it actually lives, and turn everyday conversations into intelligence that improves how work gets done.
Do you hear what I hear? From reactive to strategic listening in organisations Read More »
Belonging
This episode marks my final one as host of the IABC EMENA podcast and I couldn’t have asked for a better guest. I sat down with Simon Cavendish, new Chair of IABC EMENA, to talk about the human side of leading change. From trust and transparency to the IKEA effect, we explored how internal comms shapes transformation and why involvement matters more than perfection. While I’m stepping away from this podcast, I’m not done podcasting. I’ll be continuing the conversation over at my own Good Comms podcast, where we’ll keep asking better questions about leadership, inclusion, and communication that makes a difference.
On change, trust, and conversations that matter Read More »
Belonging, Better world, Bridging
Toen mijn zoon een parel vond en vroeg of ze echt was, liet ik hem voelen: een echte parel is een beetje ruw, een neppe is glad. Dat moment bleef hangen. Want hoe vaak doen we op het werk alsof we echt zijn, terwijl we eigenlijk gepolijst gedrag tonen? Het lijkt veilig, maar het doet ons geen goed. Authentiek leiderschap glanst niet omdat het perfect is, maar omdat het oprecht is. Echte parels, en echte leiders, ontstaan door wrijving.
Echte parels: over authenticiteit en leiderschap dat glanst van binnenuit Read More »
Belonging, Better world, Bridging