The Tough Truth Academics Need to Hear

Welcome to Comsteria's powerful communication podcast. This is Colin Kelly, and this episode is for every academic. For years, we've watched the tension, maybe conflict, maybe just a lack of understanding between academic experts and the PR and marketing teams trying to amplify their impact. If you've ever felt misunderstood or like your brilliant work isn't getting the attention it deserves, this is for you. We're cutting through the noise with practical, no-nonsense advice: ditch the two-and-a-half-page biography for a snappy intro, learn to stop talking after a 30-60 second answer (this isn't a lecture, it's a conversation!), and for goodness sake, don't reiterate what another academic just said – it's actually quite rude. Your academic reputation isn't the currency here; genuine connection is. This might be 'unfamiliar, scary territory', but it's where your work truly 'makes a difference' and your reputation grows. It's tough love, but it's what you need to go from ivory tower to impactful public voice. Suck it up and enjoy the empowerment. Share this with someone who needs it and get in touch if we can help you bring your work to life. Visit Comsteria's website  or call us on +44 141 628 8228.

We're going full on into a speculative vision of the future in this episode.  One where local businesses diversify into running radio stations and supermarkets employ journalists and produce local news. We also talk about the politics of Charles Dickens and how profit making enterprise can play a role in bringing communities and society back together.  Time will tell how accurate Colin Kelly's predictions are!

Straight talking advice for HR and comms professionals. In this episode, media trainer and strategic communications specialist Colin Kelly from Comsteria explores how businesses should respond to the current wave of protests around the UK government's immigraiton policy. If you need support with any aspect of your communications strategy, Comsteria is here to help.  Get in touch today by calling 0141 628 8228 or visit us online at www.comsteria.co.uk   In this episode of the Powerful Communication podcast, host Colin Kelly dives into the delicate balance between personal freedom and organizational values in the modern workplace. Drawing from real-world experiences in crisis communications and internal training, Colin explores how businesses are navigating the challenges of employee behavior—both online and offline. He discusses the impact of social media, the importance of upholding company values, and the consequences of failing to address disruptive conduct. With candid insights and practical examples, this episode is a must-listen for leaders, HR professionals, and anyone interested in the evolving dynamics of workplace culture and accountability.

Comsteria is here to help every organisation communicate with power.  And we want public relations, marketing and communications professionals to achieve their full potential.  Subscribe our podcast for straight talking advice and insight to super charge your career. And visit our website for training and consultancy incouding media relations, presentation skills, crisis comms, video and podcast production and AI training for comms teams. 

We can't let the summer pass without celebrating this Powerful Communication hero of ours. You might not know Zoe Lister (although she's working very hard to change that!) but you'll certainly know her voice. And we think there's loads to learn from the way she has proactively seized opportunities presented by big changes in her industry instead of sitting around whining. Have a listen to find out more and get in touch with us if you'd like to supercharge your own profile. 

Colin Kelly with reaction following the former Principal of Dundee University's appearance at the Scottish Parliament's Education Commitee.

It's perfectly natural to feel excited or a bit scared when you're about to speak in public.  Whether it's a big audience at a conference, a small group at work or that strange sensation that comes with Teams and Zoom, being in the spotlight can feel strange. Sometimes, this manifests in physical ways. You might perspire. Feel shaky. Or suddenly acquite a washing machine on the spin cycle in your stomach. In this short episode of Comsteria's Powerful Communication podcast, Colin Kelly shares some advice on getting the nerves and adrenaline under control. We help people every day get their messages across with clarity and personality. Get in touch and let's chat about what we can do for you.

The days of 'leaders' or any senior figure in an organisation 'flying under the radar' are over.  You need to let people in, give them the chance to get to know you, and above all, spend time listening to them. This cultivates goodwill and gives you the benefit of the doubt when the heat's on. I think some senior figures in organisations shy away from media engagement and speaking in public because deep down inside they believe themselves to be arrogrant, elitist and out of touch. If that's you - you're probably right. And the bad news is the clock's ticking. But the good news is, it's never too late to change. And we are here to help. It might be that the organisation or the job you're doing has made you like this. There's a culture you've had to fit into and it's made you someone you hardly recognise.  You've convinced yourself you're 'not good with people' or that you 'don't need people' or even worse you tell yourself 'people don't want to see me'. Let us here at Comsteria put that right. It starts with showing up and we can support you as you make the necessary changes and become a modern, visible leader. Our work with you will be highly confidential.  Call us anytime on 0141 628 8228 or visit our website. Executive media and presentation skills training for leaders who are ready to change.     

When you give an interview to the media, you can get powerful results by using a key statistic as a 'hook'. Journalists are trained to look for these as they can make stories more engaging and give them a sense of urgency. There's a great example today in the story from Police Scotland about how easy it is for online paedophiles to make contact with childen 'within 30 seconds' of trying. The use of that tangible number stops the audience in its tracks, gives the whole story a new dimension that we haven't heard before and is being used in headlines across the board. Here's Comsteria's founder and media trainer Colin Kelly to explain more and highlighting what you can learn from this.