The most important thing is the relationship: you need to trust the person you work with. Communications can feel very personal and vulnerable — especially if you are communicating ideas that you haven’t shared before.

I don’t think there’s any real way to be sure you’re a good fit with someone other than to start working together, so I recommend starting small and building up the work as you become more confident you’re a good fit.

The relationship will be set up for success if you can articulate what’s important to you in the relationship Do you prefer or dislike directness? Do you feel sensitive or dispassionate about the content? What’s your appetite for public profile?

You only need this if something’s not working.

If your organization is going well, don’t change anything! Communication is something we all do every day, and telling stories is a skill we were born with.

If your communication is not working — your stories don’t resonate or your audience doesn’t take action — it’s worth considering if communication is the problem.

But if your communication is working, keep doing what you’re doing: you’re a natural communicator.

Don’t worry - that’s normal.

Request an intro call where we can discuss your needs and decide on an approach that feels right to you.

I’m glad you asked :)

I prefer phonecalls to emails. Sometimes I have an Australian accent. I’m rarely offended.

I’m direct, which can feel abrasive to some people. I respect your time and money — and mine — too much to waste it, so I’ll ask for what I need, tell you what I think, and never pretend to agree when I don’t. We’ll work together fabulously if you do the same.

If I don’t think we are a good fit I will fire myself, even if you disagree. I won’t take your money if I don’t think I can earn it.

If you don’t think we’re a good fit, I won’t take it personally and I’ll appreciate your honesty. More than anything, you need to trust who you do this work with — if you don’t, I won’t be able to do my job no matter how good I am (and I’m very good). Like any relationship, sometimes it’s personality, sometimes it’s timing, sometimes it’s something we just can’t put our finger on so we call it “fit”. Either way, if we don’t have it, call it — because someone else will.

You can find my values here: nolipservice.org/mission

No Lip Service has always been more about communication that builds a shared understanding of a co-created future, than the hype and hyperbole that often goes along with PR. “No Lip Service” is less of a declaration, and more about transparency into what we are — and are not — about.

My practice is built primarily on experience; communications is rapidly evolving and unfortunately practice cannot not wait for new research or theories before responding to changes in the media.

However, theories of narrative and narratology powerfully complement knowledge gained through experience. For example, when a practice isn’t working as expected, research and theory can suggest why — and a new approach to try.