Asking the right questions – it’s all in the framing
For some people the tricky part of engagement can be actually making the decision to engage and working out how to go about it. While it’s vital to have a strategy that informs engagement, it’s equally as important not to skip past …
The truth about common ground and community engagement
Common ground is something that people agree about even if they disagree about other things (Merriam-Webster, 2018). It can be an important objective of community engagement where there is strong disagreement or conflict between groups. However, reaching common ground is not always an …
IoT Conference
Humans, technology and data in focus at the IoT conference Drones, self drive miniature smart cars, and smart data were highlights of the National IoT (Internet of Things) Conference in Melbourne on 4 June. Amongst the smart gadgets, it was the human aspect of technology that was brought …
Help stamp out burnout in a 24/7 world
You know them. They left the office at 10pm, kept working overnight and they’re back in the office at 6am. By then they’ve already scanned what was trending, the media clippings and their emails. Breakfast was a double shot coffee. But it …
No one’s listening, right?
How good are your powers of persuasion? Here’s 5 simple steps to selling the most complex ideas. …
It’s a celebrity… get ME outta here!
When it comes to reality TV, celebrities sell. But when it comes to facilitation, sticking a celebrity out front won’t fool ‘em. And you might pay dearly for the mistake. …
We know how to manage complex change
Climate change is an issue facing all of us. Community awareness and engagement around how to deal with climate change is something that a number of councils are working towards. Articulous recently worked with Moreton Bay Regional Council to plan how to …
Good presentation skills require us to challenge our preconceptions
What are the elements that make for a good communicator, or conversely, a poor one? Why is it that some have the gift of presenting and some do not? How do presenters stand out when most follow a very similar formula? …
Artificial Intelligence: Is it something to fear or favour?
I am intrigued by the fear of a potential technological revolution. Will technology steal away my livelihood? Will it mean we are devoid or lacking of skills required to fully embrace new technology? …
Communicating major change
It is a fine line between engaging the troops and spooking the horses when your organisation is faced with significant change. I have been involved in a number of transitions, mergers and acquisitions and it really can be a scary time for …
Good Engagement Practice leads to Safer Communities.
Articulous has been fortunate to be working on a number of projects in 2017 in the Rockhampton and Yeppoon areas and our best wishes go out to residents affected by flooding as a result of Cyclone Debbie. …
Using technology to create responses
Quite often, a major goal of any communication or public relations strategy is to have a significant impact on the feelings, attitudes and behaviours of stakeholders. The rise of technology like virtual reality offers new possibilities for storytelling and new ways to …
What makes a great leader?
Drawing from my own personal experience, there is one exceptional leader who I will never forget. He had a way of connecting and cutting through. His authenticity, energy and commitment to delivering his vision was palpable, you could feel it simply by …
Could non-verbal expressions add value to an engagement campaign?
Communication is so much more than the spoken word. While many of us like to verbalise how we feel or think, it’s often the expressions that go with our words that add meaning. The question begs then, could we analyse only those …
The Millennials: How do we engage this new workforce?
Millennials certainly are creating change and challenging our traditional beliefs when it comes to how work gets done. Managers who are traditionally accustomed to a Baby Boomer workforce will need to engage new strategies to retain and motivate this growing group of …
5 simple tricks to turn ‘No’ to ‘Yes’ and get your campaign off the ground
While communicators are intuitive when it comes to delivering successful campaigns, your campaign can be stopped in its tracks before you’ve had time to gather the team for a motivational high-five. A few simple tricks can help overcome these road blocks and …
Why a Sesame Street explanation of Empathy Should be at the Centre of your Community Engagement Practice
In community engagement, we talk a lot about collecting people’s ideas and feedback. We talk about the power of active listening. But, if you really believe in community and engaging at a deeper, more meaningful level, then empathy should be the key …
Is the communications team from the ABS ready to explode? They should be!
The Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) recently stated that it planned to actively prosecute Australians who had failed to complete their census within the allotted timeframe. Apparently there are up to one million Australians facing a fine for an incomplete census! There …
Data-driven Communications
In the olden days - aka 5 years ago - consultancies could produce great communications programs built on instinct and experience. Fast-forward to 2016, and communication experts can take that instinct and experience and triangulate it with data. Here are just a …
Facing the Music can build Community Trust
I recently had the pleasure of travelling throughout the Surat Basin in south west Queensland with a client of Articulous for a week, facilitating community information sessions. There were a few key lessons that I took away from that week that I …