How to Communicate With Impact

I do not write grants. I write about opportunities. I do not ask for donations. I ask for partnerships. I do not build capacity. I build connections. Here’s what I’ve learned in 20+ years of working with nonprofits: The words you use can determine whether your mission thrives—or gets overlooked. When we talk about “grants,” “donations,” or “capacity building,” we’re focusing on what we need. But when we shift the language to “opportunities,” “partnerships,” and “connections,” we focus on the bigger picture—the shared impact we can create. That subtle shift? It’s the difference between asking and inspiring. Between pitching and partnering. One of my favorite examples is a client who struggled with fundraising for years. They were stuck in the cycle of “we need help.” But when we reframed their mission around opportunities for impact—and built stories around the lives their work touched—they didn’t just hit their fundraising goals. They doubled them. What changed? ✨ Their messaging became magnetic. ✨ Partners wanted to collaborate, not just contribute. ✨ Funders saw themselves as part of the story. It’s not just about what you’re asking for. It’s about how you’re inviting people into your mission. So, here’s my challenge to you: 👉 Stop writing proposals. Start writing possibilities. 👉 Stop chasing dollars. Start fostering alignment. 👉 Stop focusing on transactions. Start building relationships. Because when you lead with vision, you open the door to something far greater than money—you build momentum that transforms communities. How are you currently positioning your mission? Is your messaging unlocking doors, or holding you back? ----- Hi, I’m Shannon—a nonprofit consultant, fractional fundraiser & marketer, and proud mom of autistic twins. As a certified human rights advocate, I’m all about making sure every voice is heard. Imagine fundraising as a road trip: you’ve got the destination, and I’m here to help you navigate the route, dodge the bumps, and keep the journey exciting. From creative strategies to real talk about what works, I love diving into conversations that spark change and keep you moving forward. Let’s connect! Send me a message, and let’s see how we can fuel up your fundraising journey together!

Leading a team of 500+ taught me a lot about communication — especially in times of crisis. Here are five key lessons I’ve learned: 1. Communicate Early: Carry people along as things evolve. People should hear from you early in the game, before all hell breaks loose. Send that email, call that meeting, announce the changes, transitions, new strategies, or new directions as soon as you can. Trust is built when your team hears from you first, not through the grapevine. It’s not just about saying it — it’s about saying it as soon as you can. 2. Communicate Openly: Your team should feel free to remark, respond, or react to what you share without fear of punishment or being marked. This creates a psychologically safe environment where people don’t have to walk on eggshells around you. It’s an organization, not a dictatorship — people’s voices should never be stifled or silenced, covertly or overtly. 3. Communicate Completely: Don’t leave loose ends or unspoken assumptions. Address direct and indirect questions as much as possible at the time. If something can’t be discussed, say so. Don’t gloss over key details or shy away from touchy topics. Complete communication bonds a team and unites everyone around the leader — especially when they hear it directly from you. As much as you can, leave no stone unturned. 4. Communicate Clearly: There should be no ambiguity. Some team members shouldn’t hear one thing and others another. This is where Q&A sessions and checking for understanding become crucial. Think through what you want to say and ensure it’s plain, simple, and leaves no room for wrong assumptions or misconceptions. A strong leader speaks clearly, so nobody misunderstands, and everyone is on the same page. 5. Communicate Consistently— Communication is the cornerstone of successful organizations. The more your team hears from you, the stronger and more connected they become. Reach out regularly and create accessible platforms for open dialogue, ensuring your team feels informed and heard. Communicating effectively is non-negotiable, and leaders who master it go far. What would you add to the list? Drop your thoughts in the comments! Have a superlative week! #LeadershipLessons #CommunicationMatters #CrisisLeadership #TeamManagement #LeadershipDevelopment #EffectiveCommunication #LeadingTeams #WorkplaceCulture #TransparentLeadership #CrisisCommunication #LeadershipTips #Teamwork #GrowthMindset #LeadershipSkills #InspirationForLeaders

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

The Leadership Mistake That’s Costing You More Than You Think Are you making the mistake of confusing enthusiasm with noise? Many leaders do. They believe that the louder and more energetic they are, the more their team will follow. But here’s the truth: noise without clarity creates confusion, not motivation. Why This Matters According to a study by McKinsey, organizations with clear, concise leadership communication see up to 25% higher productivity than those where messages get lost in the noise. Yet, many leaders unknowingly overcompensate with excitement instead of strategy. The Conflict: Why We Fall Into This Trap It’s easy to believe that passion and volume equal engagement. You get excited about a project, your vision is bold, and you want your team to feel the same energy. But when enthusiasm isn’t backed by clear direction, strategic alignment, and actionable insights, it turns into overwhelming noise. A Simple Story Early in my career, I led a project where I poured my energy into rallying the team. My updates were frequent, my tone was passionate, and I assumed my enthusiasm was contagious. But instead of momentum, I got hesitation. Why? Because I was broadcasting energy, not delivering clarity. A mentor pulled me aside and said, “Excitement doesn’t replace direction.” That shift changed how I led forever. The Strategic Application: What to Do Instead 1️⃣ Replace Volume with Vision – Instead of talking more, ensure your message is clearer. Align every communication with specific outcomes. 2️⃣ Prioritize Clarity Over Excitement – Be passionate, but ensure that passion translates into actionable, focused direction. 3️⃣ Engage with Intentionality – Instead of overwhelming your team with information, structure your message to answer the questions they actually have. Your Next Move If you want to lead with impact, start by auditing your communication. Ask yourself: Is my enthusiasm creating clarity or just adding noise? Let’s continue this conversation—comment below with one way you’ve seen leadership either create clarity or confusion! ♻️ I hope you found this valuable, please share with your network. 📌As a seasoned finance and operations leader with years of experience, I am passionate about organizational leadership and developing future leaders. I am currently seeking my next opportunity and welcome connections to discuss how my expertise can add value to your organization.📈 Click "Follow" and 🔔 #Leadership #ExecutiveCoaching #ClarityOverNoise #EffectiveLeadership #LeadWithPurpose #StrategicLeadership #LeadershipDevelopment #CoachingForSuccess #LeadershipMindset #InspireAndLead #BetterLeadership #CommunicationSkills #VisionaryLeadership #LeadershipMatters

Stop nodding along in meetings. Start having impact: Too often, meetings are filled with phrases like: ❌ “That sounds great” ❌ “Let’s table it for another time” ❌ “Let’s circle back when we have more info” From 10 years in high performing teams, here’s what I’ve learnt about meetings: Top performers aren’t afraid to ask the hard questions. Here are 13 questions you can ask to leave a mark: 1/ "What do we have to deprioritize to do this well?" ↳ Use to help create focus. ↳ Shows you understand we can't do everything at once. 2/ "What happens if we do nothing?" ↳ Use to overcome inertia. ↳ Helps identify true priorities. 3/ "Who's done this well that we could learn from?" ↳ Use when projects have been done before. ↳ Shows you want to use others’ learnings. 4/ "What's the simplest way to explain this?" ↳ Use to create clarity. ↳ Shows you understand the importance of simplicity. 5/ "What went wrong last time?" ↳ Use when repeating past initiatives. ↳ Shows you want to learn from experience. 6/ "How will we know if this is working?" ↳ Use when success isn't clearly defined. ↳ Shows you care about real results. 7/ "Who's going to own each workstream?" ↳ Use when responsibilities are unclear. ↳ Prevents the "someone else will do it" problem. 8/ "How does this affect our current priorities?" ↳ Use when new work might disrupt current priorities. ↳ Shows you're thinking about the whole picture. 9/ "Who might we upset by this choice?" ↳ Use when changes could impact others. ↳ Shows you consider how others might feel. 10/ "If we had half the budget, how would we do this?" ↳ Use to find creative solutions. ↳ Shows you can spark new ideas. 11/ "What aren't we seeing here?" ↳ Use when consensus comes too easily. ↳ Shows you look at problems from all angles. 12/ "How does this help us reach our primary goals?" ↳ Use when projects drift from objectives. ↳ Makes sure we're not getting sidetracked. 13/ "What's our plan for the worst-case scenario?" ↳ Use when planning risky initiatives. ↳ Shows you think ahead. Remember: Impact can from asking the right questions. You don't have to be the smartest one in the room. Just ask the questions that make others think differently. P.S. Which of these will you use in your next meeting? — ♻ Repost to inspire your network to have more impact at work. ➕ Follow me (Will McTighe) for more like this.

The difference between being heard and being influential Often comes down to how you communicate: After coaching 100+ technical experts into powerful leaders, here are the communication practices that exude confidence: 1. Strategic Silence  Confident leaders use purposeful pauses to let key points land and create impact. 2. Question Architecture  Strong leaders ask powerful questions that drive insight rather than simply making statements. 3. Voice Calibration  Your pace, volume, and tone should match your message and convey authentic conviction. 4. Preparation Mastery  Know your audience, anticipate concerns, and structure your message before every important conversation. 5. Feedback Reception  How you handle pushback reveals your true confidence - listen without defensiveness and respond thoughtfully. 6. Concise Messaging  Eliminate unnecessary words and communicate with clarity - confident leaders don't hide behind complexity. 7. Body Language Alignment  Maintain purposeful movements and appropriate eye contact that reinforce rather than undermine your message. Communication confidence isn't innate — It's developed through practice, feedback, and continuous refinement.