Change needs strategic communication— and professional communicators

Now, before anyone thinks I'm about to type a career-ending political post while working in a political town... sorry to disappoint you. This is a quick post about the value of a good, strategic, professional communicator.

Throughout the recent election some politicians took issue with consultants and advisors supporting government endeavours, particularly those professional communicators contracted to enable massive, transformational change. Regardless of your political views there is one constant that I think we need to address: if you hope to effect change, you need a strategic, professional communicator on your side.

I've spoken to countless professional communicators— all worried. Many out of work. Some waiting to hear how long they'll be employed. Others are simply packing their bags and leaving the country.

If New Zealand thought it was hard finding good, professsional communicators during COVID, just wait until the ones we did have have left our shores.

Will strategic communications again be valued in halls of power? Will there be enough qualified or certified professionals to support government efforts to deliver against its intended outcomes? Well, only time will tell.

For those professional communicators out of work: my heart goes out to you and hang in there. There are some good people who are proactively coming together to get something rolling and I hope to shed more light on that, soon, if it all pans out.

Today Newsroom NZ has an opener from Tim Murphy, in their newsroom.pro edition. The piece centres on poll results that are, at the very least, eyebrow raising. More to the point, it's a great illustration of the challenges faced when the professional strategic communications function is ignored or under-valued.

Here are the lines toward the end of Mr Murphy's article that caught my eye:

"Unloved leaders often start, after a few months of head-scratching, to look around – at those key advisers who are responsible for anticipating, briefing, checking, and metaphorically slapping the leader’s face to ensure he or she is on message, precise, certain.

The communications team, political advisers, even those running the prime ministerial office start to come into focus.

Who can rid me of this troublesome public image and make them love me?"        

I happen to know a few, good professional communicators who can help; let's hope they're still in the country when their skill, talent, and outcome-oriented efforts are once again recognised and sought after.

In the meantime, I intend to shout from the rooftops with all the reasons they shouldn't have to leave, full stop.