​Hey Reader,​

When I was in middle school, I joined the track team. I played soccer in the spring and I needed something to do after school in the fall (because art club, drama club, and orchestra weren’t enough, of course).

Because I was tall (at least back then, thanks to early growth spurts) and coordinated, the coach signed me up for high jump.

At first, I figured it would be easy. Just run, and then jump over the bar. I soon learned, however, that there was a little more to it than that.

Aside from being a pretty technical event overall, the high jump is just as much about the running start as it is about the jump itself.

In fact, if you do it properly, the approach does most of the work.

Like many lessons from my various extracurriculars, this translates into other aspects of my life and work: if you want a perfect “event,” nail the approach.

Yes, this applies to change management

In many change management frameworks, the first step in someone’s transition from status quo to future state is awareness; they have to be aware of the change or the need for change (the why).

The thing almost everyone misses about that first step is that it can happen way sooner than they think.

In fact, it can happen so soon that by the time a leader “announces” a change — by the time you get all flashy and jump over the bar — folks can already be bought in, or at least way further along in their journey to the future state than they would have been had they only gained awareness when you announced a change.

Communicating about a change earlier in the process lets your strategy do the hard work for you

It’s the difference between standing completely still in front of a bar and trying to jump over versus nailing your running start.

But wait...earlier, you said the high jump wasn't easy. What about change communication?

I'll be honest: communicating change isn't easy for most leaders...until they learn how it works

The running start up to the high jump isn't the same as a 100-yard dash, just like communicating a change earlier doesn't just mean saying it sooner. Nailing the approach requires knowing when, where, and how to weave communication about your intended change seamlessly and organically into your everyday internal communication.

If you’re thinking about an upcoming change and you’re totally confused about where, when, and how to start communicating earlier in the process, join us for our next Office Hours on June 13th.

You’ll be able to diagnose where you miss the mark when it comes to communicating change, and I’ll share two client stories — one about a confidential change and one about an out-in-the-open change — that showcase how leaders can start communicating earlier in the process to achieve better results.

You’ll walk away with a better understanding of when and where to start communicating during your next change and how to create communication that catalyzes rather than simply adds to the noise.

​Register here for free and bring a friend — the more the merrier!

Will I see you there?

Caitlin Founder, Commcoterie

P.S. — Last month, I designed a retreat agenda for my favorite client. They had been organizing their own retreats for years and finally wanted someone else to take the curation and content creation off their plate.

They just got back and the reviews were glowing! “Caitlin thought about everything,” “Caitlin was so thorough,” and “The way that the planning team showed up at the retreat week was energized and ready to participate, which made the retreat feel better for everyone.” Have a retreat coming up and want to feel that good about it? Reply here so we can set up a time for you to tell us all about your team.

Listening and learning for leaders

The Leader's Journey: Transforming Your Leadership to Achieve the Extraordinary by Donna Lichaw Donna, a pal and former client, is an executive coach, speaker, and author. She helps purpose-driven founders, CEOs, and executive teams step up and lead so they can powerfully, authentically, and sustainably propel their business forward. Her second book, The Leader's Journey, came out last year, and she just released the audiobook version! This step-by-step guide draws on psychology, neuroscience, design thinking, and years of coaching experience to help leaders activate their superpowers and achieve their mission. Leaders will transform themselves, their team, and their business into a league of superheroes poised for success. In her actionable four-part framework, Donna teaches leaders how to: Own and leverage their core story as a leader Activate their leadership superpowers — and manage their personal Kryptonite Develop a strategic roadmap to achieve their personal and business goals Make a unique and lasting impact Check it out in print or audiobook

Commcoterie on the Brand Pollinators Community Call: How to Make Change (Successfully) For impact-driven companies (even emerging brands, small teams, or solo founders), how your business navigates change matters — not just for your bottom line, but because your stakeholders hold you to a higher standard. I joined Kate Fosson for her most recent Brand Pollinators Community Call to talk about How to Make Change (Successfully): why impact companies should consider how their organizations navigate change, the first steps companies can take to build organizational change capacity and capabilities, and more. Brand Pollinators' monthly calls provide actionable insights and inspiration from folks who are doing good business and doing good for the planet. Here are two of my other favorite featured experts: Jess Windell from Maven Consulting talked about when and how emerging brands can leverage PR, how to maximize resources, and the difference between traditional PR and full-funnel PR. Liz Rubin from Ecodeo, an eco video firm, talked about the power of video, how your brand can use it to connect with consumers, and what strategies make the biggest impact. Watch all of the Community Call sessions here

Love today's newsletter?
Forward it to a friend or share this link to it on your socials and tag us so we can return the favor and support your work as well.

​