Hey there, 

Emma here 👋🏻, 

As we wrap up the year, it’s the perfect time to reflect, organize, and prepare for a successful start to the new year. Effective planning is the foundation of smooth communication and impactful outcomes. So let’s dive into some practical tips to help you close this year with confidence before exploring resources for starting the new year with purpose. 

Tips for a Fresh Start in 2025 

1. Reflect & Review: Take a moment to evaluate your projects, campaigns, and goals from the past year. What worked well? What could be improved? Learning from our successes and challenges ensures continuous growth.
2. Declutter & Organize: Clear out inboxes, archive files, and tidy up workflows. A clean slate helps you focus on upcoming priorities without distractions.
3. Set SMART Goals: Think about next year’s objectives. Use the SMART framework for goal setting (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, Time-bound) to define clear, actionable plans.
4. Create a Communication Calendar: Plan key events, campaigns, and messaging themes for the year ahead. Early alignment with a comms calendar saves time and keeps everyone on track.
5. Take Care of Yourself: Planning isn’t just about work — it’s about balance. Make time to recharge and start the year energized. You simply cannot perform your best if you’re burned out, so take the end of the year (and hopefully some time off!) to recharge and focus on yourself. 

Here’s to a well-planned finish and a fresh start! And now, something to look forward to in the new year …

Arianna Huffington to Headline VOICES 2025

VOICES, the leading event for internal communicators seeking industry insights to enhance the impact of communications within their organizations, will be back for a new virtual experience on May 15 — and the lineup is something to celebrate. 

In 2025, we’re tackling the elephants in the room, those tough challenges in internal communications you can’t afford to ignore any longer. We’re excited to announce Arianna Huffington, cofounder of The Huffington Post and founder of Thrive Global, as one of the keynote speakers.

Register now to hear her discuss how to tackle burnout and disengagement, cultivate the power of authentic recognition, and implement actionable strategies for thriving workplaces as she addresses the challenges of creating an authentic workplace culture. 

Don’t miss this chance to confront hard truths and shape the future of internal communications in 2025 by attending this free event for internal communicators. 

See you in 2025!

Top Reads  

5 Essential Leadership Communication Skills

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Plus hear 9 practical tips to take your leadership communication to the next level.

Resources & Tools 

What You Need to Listen To 🎧

Cecilia Crossley, founder of the social enterprise From Babies with Love, shares her journey of building a business that channels 100% of its profits to support orphaned and abandoned children globally, as well as the power of purpose-driven storytelling and creating impact. 

What You Need to
Read 📘

Dive into the strategies that make teams thrive, including actionable insights on fostering trust, collaboration, and effective communication within organizations with The Culture Code: The Secrets of Highly Successful Groups. It's perfect for internal comms professionals looking to enhance their approach in the new year.

Discussions  💬    

Emma Fischer,
Content Marketing Manager