Great companies don’t start with what they do or how they do it, they start with why. They lead with purpose. That ‘why’ doesn’t just guide innovation, culture, or leadership, it also guides how they connect with the world around them. And that connection? It lives and breathes in how they engage with their stakeholders.Continue reading “Building a strategic stakeholder strategy from the ground up”
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The cup of coffee and the art of engagement
Imagine this: you and I are having a cup of coffee. It’s simple, it’s human, and it’s equal. When we sit across the table with a warm mug in our hands, the titles disappear. CEO, manager, intern, client, or partner, it doesn’t matter. What remains is two people in conversation, building trust sip by sip.Continue reading “The cup of coffee and the art of engagement”
Cracking the code: making sense of stakeholder impact to support effective decision-making
Every great decision should start with a simple question: why does it matter? Organisations don’t solely thrive because they have the best strategies or the most detailed plans, they thrive because they understand the people they affect and the people who affect them. When leaders take the time to truly see the ripple effects ofContinue reading “Cracking the code: making sense of stakeholder impact to support effective decision-making”
In the eye of the storm: why the best leaders prepare for the worst
We don’t build trust when things are going well. We build trust by how we show up when everything is falling apart. That’s the essence of crisis management. Not just controlling a message but proving who we really are. Not just responding with statements but responding with character. Because in a crisis, facts matter. ButContinue reading “In the eye of the storm: why the best leaders prepare for the worst”
The evolution of public relations: from manipulation to meaning
In every industry, in every era, there comes a moment when the question shifts from what we do to why we do it. Public relations is no exception. What began as an exercise in spectacle and spin has matured, painfully, purposefully, into a practice rooted in trust, relationship, and responsibility. To truly understand this evolution,Continue reading “The evolution of public relations: from manipulation to meaning”
Two ears and one mouth: why listening is the heart beat of stakeholder engagement
We’re wired to speak. But we’re built to listen. You’ve probably heard the old saying: “We have two ears and one mouth so that we can listen twice as much as we speak.” It’s an idea so simple it sounds almost quaint, but in the world of stakeholder engagement, it’s revolutionary. There’s a reason weContinue reading “Two ears and one mouth: why listening is the heart beat of stakeholder engagement”
Public relations isn’t just media relations and it’s about time the industry recognised that
There’s a clear misconception in the public relations industry, and it’s holding everyone back. Scroll through LinkedIn or attend any PR conference, and you’ll see a familiar theme: PR professionals touting media coverage as the ultimate goal of public relations. They share clips from the BBC, celebrate a few inches in the Financial Times, orContinue reading “Public relations isn’t just media relations and it’s about time the industry recognised that”
Broadening our stakeholder lens beyond the political spectrum
When we think about stakeholder engagement in major infrastructure projects, it’s easy to gravitate towards the most visible and powerful voices: our MPs and Councillors. After all, they hold elected office, they’re easy to find in the phonebook, and they often have the authority to shape public perception and funding decisions. But if we focusContinue reading “Broadening our stakeholder lens beyond the political spectrum”
Breaking the stop-start cycle in stakeholder engagement
In major infrastructure projects, stakeholder engagement can mistakenly be treated as a campaign, one that is intense, urgent, and highly visible at key moments, then quiet, almost absent, in the periods in between. This ‘feast or famine’ approach isn’t just inefficient. It erodes stakeholder trust. And trust is the foundation of all strong relationships. SoContinue reading “Breaking the stop-start cycle in stakeholder engagement”
Lead with empathy: engaging stakeholders with additional needs the right way
For some, stakeholder engagement can mistakenly be approached as a box tick exercise; a workshop, a newsletter, a public consultation event. But when you strip away the jargon and frameworks, what you’re left with is a simple human truth: people want to feel seen, heard, and understood. And for those with additional needs, including neurodiverseContinue reading “Lead with empathy: engaging stakeholders with additional needs the right way”
Why understanding legitimate expectation is vital in consultation and engagement
In my professional life, there’s a simple principle I follow: people don’t buy what you do; they buy why you do it. The same is true in public consultation. People don’t just want to be informed, they want to be involved. They want to know that their voices matter, that their input makes a difference.Continue reading “Why understanding legitimate expectation is vital in consultation and engagement”
Start with listening: the art of conversation and the engine behind infrastructure projects success
We often think of infrastructure as concrete and steel, bridges, roads, tunnels, cables. But the real infrastructure, the invisible one that powers progress, is human. It’s the network of relationships, trust, and shared purpose between people. That’s where the art of conversation comes in. We’re not just building things, we’re building belief. Whether it’s aContinue reading “Start with listening: the art of conversation and the engine behind infrastructure projects success”
Rapport North 