Key lessons from our guest experts across 2025
The end of a year has a way of inviting reflection and as 2025 comes to a close, we have reflected on the privilege we’ve had to speak with a wide range of thoughtful, generous and deeply experienced guests about communication, change, leadership and what it really means to be human at work.
Looking back across the year, a few themes surfaced again and again: sometimes in different language, sometimes from very different contexts, but always pointing to the same underlying truth: how we communicate shapes how people experience work, change and leadership. So, what lessons can we take from our expert guests as we move into 2026? Let’s see.
1. Every interaction shapes experience, and reputation
One of the strongest reminders came from storyteller David Pullan, who spoke about the idea that every interaction leaves a trace. Whether we realise it or not, every conversation, email, meeting or presentation contributes to the story people tell themselves about us and about the organisations we represent.
Reputation isn’t built in big moments alone; it’s formed quietly, over time, often when we don’t realise anyone is watching. That idea echoed throughout the year in conversations about leadership behaviour, events, body language and storytelling; all reinforcing the importance of putting the audience at the centre of everything we do.
2. Start with the audience, not the output
A consistent thread across multiple conversations was the importance of beginning with the audience. Zora Artis spoke about organisational alignment and how it shows up when people listen deeply, communicate clearly and are willing to engage in honest dialogue. When alignment is missing, even well-intentioned strategies fail to land.
This principle was echoed by event specialist Sally Porteous, who reminded us how often communicators are asked to execute events or communications after key decisions have already been made. When purpose, audience and outcomes aren’t clear from the start, the work becomes harder and less effective.
Across both conversations, the message was the same: effective communication doesn’t start with what we want to say, but with who needs to hear it and why.
3. Listening only counts if something changes
Listening came up repeatedly throughout the year, particularly in conversations with Howard Krais. Many organisations collect more feedback than ever before, yet struggle to translate that input into visible action.
When people are asked for their views again and again without seeing any response, trust erodes. What often gets labelled as ‘survey fatigue’ is really frustration at being unheard. When nothing changes, people eventually stop speaking up.
4. Change fatigue has become change apathy
One of the more sobering insights of the year was the shift from change fatigue to change apathy. Kate Nielsen shared research showing that as organisations experience more frequent and complex change, employees’ willingness to engage has dropped significantly.
This isn’t resistance in the traditional sense. It’s disengagement because people aren’t pushing back, they’re actually opting out. The consequences are serious: slower adoption, stalled innovation and declining trust. In this context, how leaders communicate change matters more than ever.
5. Clarity, context and practicality matter
Several guests emphasised that good communication is often about making the invisible, visible. Gilbert Kruidenier shared a practical approach to change communication by breaking work down into clear tasks and time commitments, helping leaders understand what’s actually required.
Tiffany English reinforced the importance of context, particularly in cross-cultural communication. Small shifts like providing more background, using video and voice, asking open-ended questions, can dramatically improve understanding and outcomes when working across cultures.
6. Connection is what drives engagement
Stephen Harvey challenged the assumption that serious topics must always be communicated seriously. Through humour and storytelling, he showed how connection helps messages land, particularly in areas like safety, where shock tactics often backfire.
This focus on connection was echoed by Gurpreet Bhatia and Soundari Mukherjea, who demonstrated how storytelling helps people make sense of complexity. Data informs, but stories build trust, inspire action and make change feel real rather than abstract.
7. Communication goes beyond words!
As work continues to happen through screens, Shea Evans reminded us that communication is never just verbal. Body language still matters, even online, where camera positioning, visible hands, eye contact and authenticity all influence how present, trustworthy and engaged we appear. These small, often overlooked details can significantly shape how our messages are received.
Let’s summarise that
When you step back and look at these conversations together, the message is remarkably consistent. Effective communication is about attention, intention and care because people experience change through moments, conversations and stories.
