How to Advance Communications Roles

Fact: The secret to being a top performer isn’t in working harder. It’s in communicating smarter. Yes. Let me elaborate: After more than 15 years in the corporate world, the biggest lesson that I’ve learned is that the way we communicate plays a pivotal role in rising the ranks. Top performers take ownership of the room. They make people feel heard, they are considerate to everyone, and they lead not just through their work, but through their language. I've spent countless hours across executives, and the one quality that I often see in them is excellent communication skills. The language we use has a profound impact on our success, and the way we’re perceived by the world. People want to work with those who set a positive, empowering tone. These are the kind of folks who sneak out the promotion right from under their most productive team members. In my experience, it’s not the hardest workers who always get ahead, it’s the ones who know how to speak with conviction, empathy, and professionalism. The best news about this? You can get better at your communication skills to become a top performer. -> Here are a few simple language changes that can make all the difference: 1/ Thank, Don’t Apologize: Instead of saying “I’m sorry for the delay,” say “Thank you for your patience.” It shifts the focus from the negative to the positive and shows appreciation. 2/ Commit to Learning, Not Admitting Ignorance: Instead of “I don’t know,” try “I will look into that and get back to you.” This demonstrates growth, accountability, and a proactive attitude. 3/ Be Grateful, Not Apologetic: Instead of “Sorry for disturbing you,” say “Thank you for your attention.” It acknowledges the other person’s time without sounding uncertain. 4/ Own Your Actions: Instead of “I didn’t mean to,” say “I take responsibility for this.” Owning your actions shows confidence and accountability, not excuses. 5/ Ask, Don’t Assume: Instead of making statements, try asking open-ended questions like, “What do you think about this?” It invites collaboration and shows respect for others' input. 6/ Focus on Solutions, Not Problems: Replace “This is a challenge” with “Here’s a potential solution.” This shifts the mindset from obstacles to opportunities and demonstrates problem-solving skills. This level of intentional communication is what sets them apart. It’s not just about delivering excellent results, it's about expressing ourselves in a way that builds confidence, respect, and rapport with your underlings, peers, and bosses. What small changes in your communication have made a big difference? #Leadership #CareerGrowth #Communication #ProfessionalDevelopment

I’ve learned two big lessons over the last couple of weeks. 1. If you want to go viral on LinkedIn, post a relatable niche Beyoncé meme. 2. Almost every comms pro has a horror story about how they found out about a major announcement on short notice or after the fact. That’s a big problem for our industry Would leaders of a company give the finance team 24 hours to prepare an earnings report? Or give a programmer 24 hours to code and test a new software product before launching it? So why do they think it’s ok for an important message? Like any other profession, we need adequate time to do our best work. So what can you do to make sure the comms team is kept in the loop? 🤝 Build relationships - Regularly connect with leaders and business partners. - Ask what keeps them up at night. - Discover what “great communication” looks like to them. - Listen for upcoming initiatives that could impact key stakeholders and tell them you need to be involved. Don’t wait to be asked! 👩🏫 Teach people how to work with you - Create a clear process for communication requests. - Shift their requests from “We need an email” to “Here’s the business challenge—what’s the best way to solve it?” - Stick to your process—consistency builds credibility. 🙋♂️ Be in the room - Show up to project meetings—you can’t influence what you don’t know. - Anticipate key company moments and ask to be included in the planning meetings. - Identify communication risks before they become urgent. - Speak up! Your perspective shapes strategy, not just messaging. 📈 Use Data to prove your impact - Leaders trust numbers—use engagement metrics, survey data and case studies. - Demonstrate how poor communication creates risk. - Connect your work to business outcomes like retention, engagement or compliance. - Share success stories—help leaders see the value of proactive communication. What do you do to show your leaders and business partners that communication should be a priority, not an afterthought? #ChangeCommunication #InternalCommunication #StrategicCommunication #ChangeManagement #CorporateCommunication #SwingCommInsights

One of the skills that earned me 3 promotions in 1 year is… Communication. But not the kind you might think. Most people think communication is just about talking clearly or writing without typos. It’s more than that. It’s about: 1, Understanding your audience: Whether it’s your manager, team, or clients, knowing what they care about changes how you deliver your message. 2, Simplifying complex ideas: Data is full of jargon and numbers. But breaking that down into clear, actionable takeaways? That’s what gets you noticed. 3, Listening to connect, not just respond: Real communication starts with listening. Understanding someone else’s perspective makes your words twice as impactful. So I made sure I could: => Present data-driven insights to technical and non-technical teams without overwhelming them. => Proactively updating my managers on my tasks before they ask. => Help my team with their tasks and let my manager know. I wasn’t just “doing my job” I was someone people trusted to get things done and explain why it mattered. Strong communication isn’t optional. It’s the bridge between doing good work and getting recognized for it. If you master this skill, the opportunities will follow. If you want to get promoted more often, let me know, and I’ll help you communicate your values.