Inclusive leadership – Good Comms | Communication for good

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The power of nuance in an age of superlatives

Inclusive communication, Inclusive leadership

In a previous post, I explored how nuance is often matched with native speakers sometimes have the privilege of being imprecise with language. When words come easily, it’s tempting to reach for dramatic phrases without thinking carefully about what they really mean. But nuanced thinking doesn’t belong only to native speakers. In fact, people who’ve had to learn languages carefully—weighing each word choice—often develop sharper skills for recognizing complexity and avoiding oversimplification.

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Good communication goes beyond mother-tongue fluency

Inclusive communication, Inclusive leadership

‘Native speaker’ sounds like a standard of excellence, but is it really? In many organisations, someone’s mother tongue is still seen as the gold standard for language skill. But look closer, and that assumption doesn’t hold up, and it often excludes talented professionals. In this blog, I make the case for a more inclusive understanding of language expertise: one that focuses not on where you’re from, but on what you can actually do with language.

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Inclusive communication, Inclusive leadership

Goede communicatie gaat verder dan moedertaal

Inclusive communication, Inclusive leadership

‘Native speaker’ klinkt als een kwaliteitslabel, maar is dat het ook? In veel organisaties wordt moedertaalgebruik nog steeds gezien als dé maatstaf voor taalvaardigheid. Maar wie goed kijkt, ziet dat deze aanname niet alleen onjuist is, maar ook mensen uitsluit. In deze blog breek ik een lans voor een inclusiever taalbegrip: eentje dat niet focust op afkomst, maar op wat iemand écht met taal kan.

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Inclusive communication, Inclusive leadership

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The European Accessibility Act: Essential do’s and don’ts for communication professionals

Inclusive communication, Inclusive leadership

On 28 June 2025, the European Accessibility Act (EAA) officially takes effect and if you work in communication, you need to care.

Because whether you’re crafting web copy, producing videos, writing internal newsletters, or managing social content, you’re shaping how people access information. And soon, how you do that won’t just be a nice-to-have. It’ll be the law.

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Inclusive communication, Inclusive leadership

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Referrals reimagined: A more inclusive way to hire

Inclusive leadership

Employee referrals can speed up hiring and boost retention but they can also quietly reinforce bias, privilege, and sameness. In this post, I unpack how referral programmes often reward social capital over potential, why family-based referrals can undermine equity, and what HR teams can do to shift from “culture fit” to “culture add”.

It’s time to ask: are your referrals building diversity—or just deepening your echo chamber?

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Inclusive leadership

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What Pippi Langkous can teach us about courageous leadership

Inclusive leadership

Last week, we visited friends whose daughter is absolutely enchanted by Pippi Langkous. And let’s be honest, who wouldn’t be? She’s strong enough to lift a horse, cheeky enough to mock authority, and free enough to live by her own rules. But as I watched this little girl talk about Pippi adventures with sparkling eyes, it struck me: this pigtailed rebel might have more to say about courageous leadership than we give her credit for.

Pippi may be fictional, but her approach to the world embodies many of the traits today’s leaders need: boldness, empathy, boundary-setting, and the ability to disrupt what no longer serves. Here’s what leaders at any level can learn from her.

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Inclusive leadership

Your story matters

Belonging at work, Inclusive communication, Inclusive leadership

Why do communicators struggle to tell their own stories? In this episode of the IABC EMENA region podcast, I speak with storytelling strategist Lucy Eckley about how to craft a personal narrative that connects, inspires, and leads.

From a practical five-part framework to insights on inclusion, visibility, and career growth, this episode will help you own your story with clarity and confidence.

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Belonging at work, Inclusive communication, Inclusive leadership

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Trust-building: the quiet power of everyday internal communication

Inclusive leadership

We often celebrate internal communication as the engine of change—but what if much of its power lies in the everyday? In this post, I explore why routine communication matters more than we think, and how it quietly builds trust, inclusion, and a sense of belonging across organisations, just like inclusive leadership.

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Inclusive leadership

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Presenting our three-level approach to inclusive leadership

Inclusive leadership

Building on insights from the studies by Nishii, Leroy, and Korkmaz, this post illustrates how ACES, ALLIES, and BELONG complement theoretical and practical perspectives on inclusive leadership. By addressing the individual, team, and organizational levels, these frameworks translate academic insights into actionable strategies for fostering inclusion.

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Inclusive leadership

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Understanding inclusive leadership through key frameworks

Inclusive leadership

Inclusive leadership has emerged as a vital approach for fostering diversity, equity, and belonging in today’s organizations. It is not merely about surface-level inclusivity but encompasses deep, systemic engagement across individuals, teams, and organizations. In this blogpost, I’m focusing on two key studies that provide comprehensive frameworks for understanding inclusive leadership.

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Inclusive leadership