Opportunity, hiding in plain sight
Edition 4, Vol. #6 September 2025
Hi, friend,
What if complexity isn’t only a problem — but also an opportunity? I’ve had a few conversations with business leaders lately that have me wondering.
Sure, every day it feels like complexity multiplies with shifting priorities, technologies and processes. But communicators can deliver what people crave: clarity.
When we take what’s complicated and make it simple and clear, it’s a bit unexpected and certainly a welcome relief to our audiences. Clarity is an underappreciated way to build trust and create real opportunities for understanding and engagement.
But no one said it’s easy.
This month’s newsletter leans into that theme. From compliance training that’s interesting, to enterprise tech that works smarter, to Total Rewards comms built on data — we’re always looking for ways to make work and life a little easier to understand.
That’s an opportunity worth seizing.
Clearly yours,
Mary Pat Nimon
President
idea one
Want Compliance to Stick? Borrow a Page from Ms. Frizzle
70% of employees forget compliance training within 24 hours. No wonder so many programs fall flat. The fix? Storytelling.
You can borrow techniques from professional storytellers — like point of view, hooks and emotional connection — and turn your compliance program into something people actually remember.
From transforming codes of conduct into guided journeys to using conflict and real-life dilemmas, we’re sharing some powerful yet practical ways to shift from telling policies to showing them.
Buckle your seatbelts.
idea two
A Webinar Worth Your Hour
We rarely spotlight partner events here — but this one comes from Spindustry, our close collaborator on projects where technology plays a critical role in communications.
On Tuesday, Sept. 30, they’re hosting an executive webinar designed for leaders navigating today’s rising complexity.
The session will show how familiar platforms like SharePoint, .NET, SQL Server and WordPress — when paired with AI and automation — can unlock intelligent workflows, real-time insights and seamless collaboration across the enterprise.
We’re tuning in, and you might find it valuable too.
idea three
The Story Your Open Enrollment Data Is Trying to Tell
For Total Rewards leaders, open enrollment data isn’t a report card. It’s a roadmap.
Participation rates and plan selections can highlight important workforce signals, and communications are the lever that turns those insights into action.
- HSA enrollment trends may signal financial confidence — or cost sensitivity. Communications can help employees make informed choices by offering clear comparisons, decision aids or quick reminders about how deductibles and contributions work in practice.
- Wellness program participation offers a glimpse into culture. If uptake is low, communications can spotlight real employee stories or show the tangible benefits of participation, reframing the program into a valued lifestyle resource.
- Shifts in dependent coverage reflect changing demographics. Communications can support these shifts with targeted content — like guides for new parents or reminders about eldercare resources — so employees feel the benefits meet them where they are.
The numbers reveal patterns. Communications transform those patterns into decisions, behaviors and ultimately, stronger alignment between employee needs and business strategy.
(& a meme)
We only say it because it’s true.
Opportunity, hiding in plain sight
Edition 4, Vol. #6 September 2025
Hi, friend,
What if complexity isn’t only a problem — but also an opportunity? I’ve had a few conversations with business leaders lately that have me wondering.
Sure, every day it feels like complexity multiplies with shifting priorities, technologies and processes. But communicators can deliver what people crave: clarity.
When we take what’s complicated and make it simple and clear, it’s a bit unexpected and certainly a welcome relief to our audiences. Clarity is an underappreciated way to build trust and create real opportunities for understanding and engagement.
But no one said it’s easy.
This month’s newsletter leans into that theme. From compliance training that’s interesting, to enterprise tech that works smarter, to Total Rewards comms built on data — we’re always looking for ways to make work and life a little easier to understand.
That’s an opportunity worth seizing.
Clearly yours,
Mary Pat Nimon
President
idea one
Want Compliance to Stick? Borrow a Page from Ms. Frizzle
70% of employees forget compliance training within 24 hours. No wonder so many programs fall flat. The fix? Storytelling.
You can borrow techniques from professional storytellers — like point of view, hooks and emotional connection — and turn your compliance program into something people actually remember.
From transforming codes of conduct into guided journeys to using conflict and real-life dilemmas, we’re sharing some powerful yet practical ways to shift from telling policies to showing them.
Buckle your seatbelts.
idea two
A Webinar Worth Your Hour
We rarely spotlight partner events here — but this one comes from Spindustry, our close collaborator on projects where technology plays a critical role in communications.
On Tuesday, Sept. 30, they’re hosting an executive webinar designed for leaders navigating today’s rising complexity.
The session will show how familiar platforms like SharePoint, .NET, SQL Server and WordPress — when paired with AI and automation — can unlock intelligent workflows, real-time insights and seamless collaboration across the enterprise.
We’re tuning in, and you might find it valuable too.
idea three
The Story Your Open Enrollment Data Is Trying to Tell
For Total Rewards leaders, open enrollment data isn’t a report card. It’s a roadmap.
Participation rates and plan selections can highlight important workforce signals, and communications are the lever that turns those insights into action.
- HSA enrollment trends may signal financial confidence — or cost sensitivity. Communications can help employees make informed choices by offering clear comparisons, decision aids or quick reminders about how deductibles and contributions work in practice.
- Wellness program participation offers a glimpse into culture. If uptake is low, communications can spotlight real employee stories or show the tangible benefits of participation, reframing the program into a valued lifestyle resource.
- Shifts in dependent coverage reflect changing demographics. Communications can support these shifts with targeted content — like guides for new parents or reminders about eldercare resources — so employees feel the benefits meet them where they are.
The numbers reveal patterns. Communications transform those patterns into decisions, behaviors and ultimately, stronger alignment between employee needs and business strategy.
(& a meme)
We only say it because it’s true.
SUBSCRIBE TO
Three fresh ideas (and a meme)
Our monthly take on today’s marketing and communications topics… and a little fun, too.
