Hi Reader,

How are you?

This week I’ve been tapping back into my IT skills to design an interactive excel spreadsheet for a change comms plan I’m supporting a client with.

They are currently working battling with more than 27 change programmes excluding business as usual so we’ve been figuring out the best way for them to manage comms around it. n top of that, there are also multiple global stakeholders involved and various languages to consider. Each programme team has a different way of working but they all have the same audience they need to communicate with.

If you’ve worked on a change programme you’ll empathise with this mammoth task.

I was brought in to help them design a system that was accessible, sustainable and most importantly provided clarity for the global comms team. I can't stress how important it is that we give ourselves the time to think about the systems we need to achieve our goals. Using templates that are not fit for purpose is much more time consuming and can really knock confidence when they don't work.

We rush into “what we need to deliver” without pausing to ask how we make it sustainable and clear. The right system will give you headspace, reduces duplication and will help you make better decisions. So if you’re wrestling with change comms or something else, ask yourself: Is it really the task that’s tough, or is it the system around it that needs a rethink?

In other news, outside of excel formulas, I picked the font for my new book this week which was beyond exciting. I never thought I’d deliberate as long as I did over a font - hahaha.

The book is currently with the copy editors who are reviewing it for any grammatical issues and bits that may not quite sound right. I’ve also sent the book to a few folks to review and I swear waiting for their response is taking me back to my A-Level results day (though hopefully the reviews will be much better than my results).

To support you I’ve designed a quiz so you can see which confidence habits are your strengths and which ones you may want to focus on. I’ve shared the test link with members on my CommsRebel app so if you have the app, check out the latest post and let me know what you think.

And before I let you crack on with your Friday, next week on Thursday 4 December I’m hosting a session for Engage Employee, with Rachel Tolhurst from Simplrr about how internal comms can use technology to build inclusion. I’d love to see you there if you can make it (it is being recorded).

Right I’m off to make a cup of tea, and I might treat myself to a KitKat to celebrate my excel achievement.

If you have a few minutes let me know what's been going on with you!

Take care.

Advita

PS: I'm planning my 2026 calendar so if you have any projects you'd like support with or know anyone that might need some support, then let's chat. Outside of creating fancy excel formulas I specialise in building confident workplaces through effective internal communication.