Quick tips for effective writing: 1️⃣ Use fewer words: Get to the point and get there quickly. 2️⃣ Use numbers, statistics, percentages to make your content more credible. 3️⃣ Go for clear language every time. Don’t fall into the trap of thinking long words = more intelligent. What would you add?
Joanna Parsons
@joannaparsons.bsky.social
Internal communications consultant, author, trainer, speaker and creator based in Dublin, Ireland. Email: joanna@thecuriousroute.com Website: thecuriousroute.com YouTube: youtube.com/@Joanna_Parsons Membership: thecuriousroute.com/thecurioustribe
Finding the content approval process tricky? Don't ask this: ❌ Can you review this and let me know if you want to make any changes? Try this instead: ✅ Can you fact-check this for accuracy? They are the fact checker. You are the comms expert. The style, tone and language is yours - own it.
Early in my career, I spent a lot of time creating communications that had no impact. I was in SOS mode: Sending Out Stuff. When I began using a planning framework, things became easier. Ask: - What's our objective here? - What would success look like? - Who is our audience? This is the way.
📢 "When everyone is shouting, nobody is listening." Not all messages need to get sent. Not all emails should be distributed. A high volume is comms is drowning your employees and teaching them to ignore you. May 2025 be the year of less volume and more relevance.
I've got my NYE clothes on, it looks suspiciously like pajamas
Does effective communication at work really matter?
I can't work under these conditions (And I'm ok with that)
My 6 year old was about to drift off to sleep when she suddenly said "Wait... does air have gravity?" WTF hahahaha
My husband just purchased a video game called Epic Mickey. As an Irish person, I can't cope with this 😆 EPIC MICKEY! omg.
I'm dreaming of a... new lego set that I can build for days while sitting on the floor. Surely what christmas is all about!
I was the top guest on the Comms Hero podcast in 2024. I'll take that! 👏
Introducing #commsHERO wrapped 2024 👏 It's been a fantastic year for the podcast, we've had lots of incredible guests. Thanks to all who have listened and downloaded. @joannaparsons.sky.social was the top episode 👏👏 @weareresource.bsky.social @asifchoudry.bsky.social #SpotifyWrapped
Sorry I can't make it for drinks. I've got plans My plans:
A list of communication activities is not a strategy. A list of communication activities is not a strategy. Pass it on.
According to Axios HQ, ineffective communication costs organisations $2 trillion every year – and that’s just in the United States alone. So consider me totally BAFFLED when company leaders treat communication as an afterthought. This stuff matters! www.axioshq.com/research/202...
The 2023 State of Essential Workplace Communications | Axios HQ
Strategies that help leaders communicate more effectively, efficiently, and profitably. Discover what Axios HQ found after surveying 1,500+ professionals.
axioshq.com
💡 Radical idea alert: create content that resonates with your target audience and that inspires them to take action. If your boss doesn't like the wording or the tone of the content, then that's okay... because it's not FOR THEM.
I found a tiktok account of a goat eating fruit and veg. Why is this so compelling and why have I been watching for 15 mins??
One of the biggest mistakes I see in workplace communication is using jargon or unnecessarily complex language. If your audience doesn't understand what you're saying, they will either misinterpret your message or ignore it completely. ✅ Write for clarity ❌ Not for complexity
You know it's a deep work day when I crank out the Stardew Valley soundtrack
The no. 1 skill any professional communicator needs is this: curiosity. Simply asking lots of questions will make you much more effective in your job. Some of my faves: - What are we hoping to achieve? - Why is this important to the business? - What do we want people to DO with this information?
3 reasons I love WFH: - No commute - No shoes - No awkward small talk PLUS 100% more office cats (I may or may not make small talk with the cats)
Crap communication at work is EXPENSIVE. A 2022 report from the University of North Carolina found that ineffective communication is costing large businesses up to $100 million a year. Now more than ever is the time to invest in internal communication. It's a business-critical function.
IT'S TIME. Who else is leaning into the festive season early?
My home office. Green, obviously. Let's see your office pics 👇
I love this storytelling structure from Pixar that gives us a formula to use to tell a great story - about anything! You can use this when you need to a presentation in work, when you need to explain a change programme, when you want to articulate your company story. It looks like this:
I know BlueSky is on to something because all the worst people you know are raging against it