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The Secret to Successful Thought Leadership
Thought leadership strategist, speechwriter and former newspaper journalist Lech Mintowt-Czyz on why you need thought leadership, why so many people get it wrong and how you can get it right. The bottom line is this: thought leadership is not about leading people with your thoughts. Its power is in its ability to lead the thoughts of other people. See the video and transcript below. Reach out if you’d like a conversation with Lech.
Tantalus expert Lech Mintowt-Czyz on why you need thought leadership, why so many people get it wrong and how you can get it right
Lech Mintowt-Czyz
Transcript: Hello! My name is Lech Mintowt-Czyz. I have been a news reporter on the Daily Mail, a news editor on The Times and speechwriter to the CEO of Shell.
Now, I help companies and their leaders move critical audiences from where they are… to where they want them to be. In other words, I help them with thought leadership.
Why thought leadership?
So then. Do you need people to follow you? Do you need people to agree with you? Do you need people to make choices that benefit you and your company?
Of course you do. Everybody does. That is why companies value their brands in the billions and why advertising is a trillion-dollar industry.
Thought leadership, done well, is highly focused, highly efficient and exactly what you need to move people’s minds.
Why so many get thought leadership so wrong
Unfortunately, most people misunderstand what thought leadership is… and where its power lies… so they have no impact.
Thought leadership is not, for example, the mechanism to share a brilliant idea. It is not an opportunity to download the contents of your head… into the heads of other people.
In short, it is not about leading people with your thoughts – it is about leading the thoughts of other people. You change minds… by getting into the minds of others.
How to succeed in thought leadership
To succeed you need to know your audience. Where they are now, and where you want to get them. You also need to know how to make your audience want to hear what you have to say. And, finally, you need an expert in persuasion.
If you already have all of that – that’s great! If you do not. Let’s talk.
Arrange an introductory chat with Tantalus about our Thought Leadership programs for your executives, comms or marketing teams.
Lech Mintowt-Czyz| Senior Consultant | London, UK
Lech Mintowt-Czyz is a thought leadership strategist and speechwriter for CEOs, senior executives and other prominent figures. Leaders turn to Lech when the words need to be exactly right and when the moment really matters.
Despite his Polish name, Lech is London-born and has been a writer his entire career. He started as a news reporter, covering everything from Harry Potter premieres to political scandals and terrorist attacks. He met people at the most extreme moments of their lives and helped them tell their stories. Lech then worked as a news editor for nine years at The Times (of London) in both print and digital formats.
After more than 20 years in newspapers, Lech joined Shell as speechwriter to the CEO. Together they won five Cicero awards in three years, an unprecedented haul. More recently he has written for the CEO of ADNOC and the President of the UN’s COP28 climate conference.
The Tantalus Group is a global firm that specializes in management consulting services. We advise leaders on business opportunities and threats, from strategy, marketing, communications, organization and digital, to business transformation, change management, sustainability and mergers and acquisitions. Our management consulting services cut across all sectors and geographies.
We have a team of strategy and management consultants in Asia, Europe and North America and draw on decades of practical experience advising CEOs, CFOs, CCOs and executive committees. We also work closely with teams within companies, to deliver management consulting services to tailored to the unique demands of working in a fast-paced, changing global environment.
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Cross-Cultural Communications
Tantalus senior consultant Serge Giacomo shares expertise and learnings on cross-cultural communications acquired while working in some of the world’s largest companies like Shell, GE and Vale around the globe. Reach out if you’d like a conversation with Serge.
Brand management and cross-cultural & intergenerational communications expert Serge Giacomo explains why effective communications require being able to adapt to cultural differences and generational perspectives.
Bridging Generations and Cultures
Transcript: In our ever more diverse, interconnected and changing world, mastering brand management and cross-cultural, cross-generational communications is vital for global organizations to thrive in business, as well as to attract and retain talent. Effective brand management is essential. It’s not just about a global presence; it’s about resonating with diverse cultures and age groups, creating a universally appealing identity.
Cross-Cultural Communications: A Business Imperative
In a global business landscape in which even the most local companies and brands actually rely on some sort of international partnerships to foster their growth, cross-cultural communication is more than key. Understanding, respecting and adapting one’s narrative to cultural differences is crucial for building strong international relationships with customers, vendors, partners, employees, regulators and all other key stakeholders an organization may have.
Embracing Intergenerational Communication
Intergenerational communication is equally important. According to recent data, if 82% of employees of global organizations prioritize benefits like flexibility and career development opportunities, specific benefits vary by generation, with 63% of Gen Z employees valuing the offer of mental healthcare highly, while more than half of the older employees prioritize the offer of retirement plans, for example.
Understanding how to bridge the gap between age-different populations while learning from each other’s ideas, experiences and perspectives can be a game-changer.
Training and Ad-Hoc Program Development
I have lived, worked and managed diverse teams in several countries in North and South America, Europe and the Middle East. I speak English, French, Portuguese, Spanish and Italian. As a member of the Tantalus team, I use my international experience and knowledge to offer specialized services for companies around the world in Brand Strategy, Cross-Cultural,
and Intergenerational Communications.These include employee training to enhance cross-cultural communication and bridge generational gaps within the workplace, adapting company strategies to align with local
cultures and languages, and developing employee engagement and diversity programs.Additionally, I offer personal coaching for senior executives on cross-cultural and intergenerational leadership, and tailor these services to meet the specific needs of each organization, ensuring their relevance and effectiveness.
Arrange an introductory chat with Tantalus about our cross-cultural communications and intergenerational communications programs for your executives, coms or marketing teams.
Serge Giacomo| Senior Consultant | Paris, France
Serge Giacomo is a renowned figure in international Corporate Communications, Brand Management, and CSR with a focus on Diversity & Inclusiveness, with a career spanning over three decades. His professional journey includes significant roles and contributions in global brand management and CSR. Throughout his career, Serge has held prominent positions in various multinational corporations such as ADNOC in Abu Dhabi, WPO Group in Paris, GE Latin America in São Paulo, Vale S.A. in Rio de Janeiro, and Shell International in Paris and The Hague. He has also worked as a senior consultant for international offices of Edelman PR Worldwide and Burson-Marsteller (now BCW). Born in São Paulo, Serge holds dual citizenship from France and Brazil and is fluent in several languages. He holds degrees in French Language and Literature from the University of Paris-Sorbonne and in Social Communications/Public Relations from the University of São Paulo. Further enhancing his expertise, he is an alumnus of senior executive programs at IMD in Switzerland and the MIT Sloan School of Management in the USA.
The Tantalus Group is a global firm that specializes in management consulting services. We advise leaders on business opportunities and threats, from strategy, marketing, communications, organization and digital, to business transformation, change management, sustainability and mergers and acquisitions. Our management consulting services cut across all sectors and geographies.
We have a team of strategy and management consultants in Asia, Europe and North America and draw on decades of practical experience advising CEOs, CFOs, CCOs and executive committees. We also work closely with teams within companies, to deliver management consulting services to tailored to the unique demands of working in a fast-paced, changing global environment.
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Relier les générations et les cultures
Serge Giacomo, expert en gestion de marque et en communication interculturelle et intergénérationnelle, explique pourquoi une communication efficace dans un monde des affaires globalisé ne consiste pas seulement à avoir un récit, mais à être capable de l’adapter aux différences culturelles et aux perspectives générationnelles. Pour plus d’informations, n’hésitez pas à contacter Serge à l’adresse serge@thetantalusgroup.com.
Aligner la gestion des marques à des cultures et générations diverses pour créer une identité pertinente, inclusive et dynamique sur le marché mondial.
Relier les générations et les cultures
Transcription: Dans un monde de plus en plus diversifié, interconnecté et en transformation permanente, maîtriser la gestion des marques et la communication interculturelle et intergénérationnelle est vital pour les organisations afin de prospérer dans leur activité, ainsi que pour attirer et retenir les talents. Une gestion de marque efficace est essentielle. Il ne s’agit pas seulement d’avoir une présence ; il s’agit de résonner avec diverses cultures et groupes d’âge, créant une identité universellement attrayante.
La communication interculturelle: un impératif commercial
Dans un paysage commercial mondial où même les entreprises les plus locales doivent compter sur une main-d’œuvre diversifiée ou sur des partenariats internationaux pour favoriser leur croissance, la communication interculturelle est plus que nécessaire. Comprendre, respecter et adapter son récit aux différences culturelles est crucial pour construire des relations solides avec les clients, fournisseurs, partenaires, employés, régulateurs et toutes autres parties prenantes qu’une organisation peut avoir.
Adopter la communication intergénérationnelle
La communication intergénérationnelle est tout aussi importante.
Selon des données récentes, si 82 % des employés des organisations mondiales priorisent des avantages tels que la flexibilité et les opportunités de développement de carrière, les avantages spécifiques varient selon les générations, avec 63 % des employés de la Génération Z qui valorisent l’offre de soins de santé mentale, tandis que plus de la moitié des employés plus âgés privilégient l’offre de plans de retraite, par exemple.
Comprendre comment combler le fossé entre les populations d’âges différents en favorisant les échanges d’idées, d’expériences et de perspectives peut être un atout formidable pour les organisations modernes.
Formation et développement de programmes ad-hoc
Avec une grande expérience à travers les Amériques, l’Europe et le Moyen-Orient, et une maîtrise de l’anglais, du français, du portugais, de l’espagnol et de l’italien, je suis ravi d’apporter mon expertise à l’équipe de Tantalus.
Mes services en Stratégie de Marque et en Communication Interculturelle et Intergénérationnelle incluent la formation des employés, la localisation des stratégies de marque et la création de programmes d’engagement et de diversité pour nos clients.
Je propose également un coaching personnalisé pour les cadres en leadership interculturel et intergénérationnel, adapté aux besoins uniques de chaque organisation.
Pour plus d’informations, n’hésitez pas à contacter Serge à l’adresse serge@thetantalusgroup.com
Serge Giacomo| Consultant Senior | Paris, France
Serge Giacomo est un professionnel reconnu internationalement
dans les domaines de la Communication corporate, de la Gestion
des marques et de la Responsabilité sociale des entreprises (RSE),
en particulier en ce qui touche à la Diversité et Inclusion. Sa
carrière, riche et diversifiée, s’étend sur plus de trente ans.
Au cours de son parcours, Serge a joué des rôles clés et apporté
des contributions majeures dans la gestion de marques à l’échelle
mondiale et dans le domaine de la RSE. Il a occupé des postes de
haut niveau au sein de plusieurs multinationales, notamment
chez ADNOC aux Emirats Arabes Unis, dans le groupe WPO en
France, chez GE Amérique Latine et chez Vale S.A. au Brésil, ainsi
que dans le Groupe Shell en France et aux Pays-Bas. Il a aussi été
consultant dans des bureaux internationaux d’Edelman PR
Worldwide et de Burson-Marsteller (aujourd’hui BCW).
Né à São Paulo, Serge détient la double nationalité française et
brésilienne et maîtrise plusieurs langues. Il est diplômé en Langue
et Littérature française de l’Université de Paris-Sorbonne et en
Communication Sociale/Relations Publiques de l’Université de
São Paulo. Il a également suivi des programmes exécutifs à l’IMD
en Suisse et à la MIT Sloan School of Management aux États-Unis.
Sa passion pour la communication internationale souligne son
engagement profond à aider les entreprises à sculpter et adapter
le récit des marques, transcendant les frontières culturelles,
générationnelles et continentales.
Mettez à votre service la talentueuse équipe internationale de consultants en gestion et en communication de Tantalus. Notre structure unique en réseau offre à nos clients un accès aux stratégies les plus récentes et les plus efficaces en provenance du monde entier, ainsi que la possibilité de tirer parti d’une vaste expérience et expertise dans des industries et des marchés variés. Pour plus d’informations, n’hésitez pas à contacter Serge à l’adresse serge@thetantalusgroup.com.
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Media Training – When It’s Your Reputation On The Line
Content expert and media trainer Kevin Hasler explains why in the 24 hour news cycle and always on social media, what you say as an organization has never been more important. Get it right and your reputation/share price and value can soar. Get it wrong and your reputation can collapse and you can go out of business. It’s why good media training has never been so important.
Kevin is a highly experienced communications consultant with 25 years-experience of living and working in international markets in the Middle East and Europe.
Today, surveys repeatedly show that people will engage with organizations they perceive to be both authentic and trustworthy. Both from the Government or the private sector.
Authenticity starts at the top – but it must cascade down throughout the organization. And that is where media training comes into its own. It empowers individuals and gives them the confidence to tell their organization’s story to multiple stakeholders – starting with the media.
The Media Can Be Voracious – Don’t Feed It
We know the media can be ruthless at times. Make one mistake and the world will know. That is why it is vital to understand them. How they operate and to work with them to help your organization engage with stakeholders.
Training enhances the impact of confident leaders to exude greater trust and authority. Creating a stronger and more resilient reputation for their organization.
Learn how media training builds your confidence and competence.
Get your free white paper.So Who Benefits From Media Training?
Well trained people are vital to your organization. It helps in the good times – and the bad times. It can help launch new products and initiatives with passion. Or deliver, clear and controlled messaging to recover damaged reputation and trust following a crisis situation.
And training must provide the confidence and clarity to engage with every stakeholder – not only the media.
How Can we Help?
Media training is always tailored to individual needs. It can be 1-1 sessions preparing executives to face the likes of CNN or the BBC. Or with groups – helping them to tell their organization’s story at trade shows or events. Giving younger staff the confidence and skills for smarter peer to peer engagement.
Ultimately our goal is to help you to convince stakeholders – via the media and directly – to trust the authenticity of your brand and believe in your story.
If you would like to learn more how you can improve the way your teams communicate, please contact the Tantalus Group. Contact Kevin at kevin@thetantalusgroup.com
Speak to Tantalus about arrange an introductory chat with Tantalus about our well reviewed writing program for your executives, coms or marketing teams.
Kevin Hasler| Senior Consultant | United Kingdom
Kevin Hasler is a highly experienced communications consultant with 25 years-experience of living and working in international markets in the Middle East and Europe. A former newspaper journalist in his native UK, he has since managed PR businesses in seven countries including running the largest PR agency in Hungary and businesses in Dubai, Kuwait, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, Serbia and the Sultanate of Oman.
A media training and media engagement specialist, he has delivered training to C-suite executives and Government Ministers in Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Kuwait, Serbia and Slovenia among others. His client experience includes delivering senior advisory support for leading global companies across sectors that includes aviation, banking, healthcare, manufacturing, tourism, the first ever Papal visit to the Gulf Region and the Annual Meetings of the IMF and World Bank.
A lifelong love of training extends to team and in-house development and University lectures and he is also a highly experienced event moderator and host. He has interviewed global authors on stage at the Emirates Airline Festival of Literature for the past six years, hosted global virtual boardrooms and moderated live events at EXPO 2020 for the Italian Government.
The Tantalus Group is a global firm that specializes in management consulting services. We advise leaders on business opportunities and threats, from strategy, marketing, communications, organization and digital, to business transformation, change management, sustainability and mergers and acquisitions. Our management consulting services cut across all sectors and geographies.
We have a team of strategy and management consultants in Asia, Europe and North America and draw on decades of practical experience advising CEOs, CFOs, CCOs and executive committees. We also work closely with teams within companies, to deliver management consulting services to tailored to the unique demands of working in a fast-paced, changing global environment.
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What is Poor Communication Costing Your Company?
Donald Macintyre, senior consultant and former journalist at Time Magazine and Bloomberg News talks about the cost of poor communication and explains what companies can do to make sustainable improvements to employee writing skills.
Transcript: Hi. I’m Donald Macintyre. As a former journalist at Time magazine and Bloomberg News, knowing how to communicate information quickly and clearly was a big part of the job. When I moved into corporate communications, leading teams at international banks in Asia, I realized that poor writing was a real obstacle to better performance in the world of business.
Is poor communication costing you money?
What about your company? How many times do you get a poorly worded email and spend five minutes trying to figure out what it means? If everyone on your team is wasting time on emails like that… well, that’s a cost and it adds up fast.
Poor communication can also mean missed sales, project delays, even a higher cost of capital.
How can you help your team communicate better?
Writing training is part of the solution. But to make the lessons really stick, clear communication has to become part of your corporate culture. HR can start giving writing tests to job candidates. Team leads should make communication skills part of the annual performance review. And leaders need to set an example – and get everybody else on board!
If you would like to learn more how you can improve the way your teams communicate, please contact the Tantalus Group.
Want to know more?
Contact Donald at Donald@thetantalusgroup.com
Speak to Tantalus about arrange an introductory chat with Tantalus about our well reviewed writing program for your executives, coms or marketing teams.
Donald Macintyre | Senior Consultant | Vancouver, Canada
Donald Macintyre is a communications professional and former Time magazine correspondent with more than 20 years of experience working in Europe and Asia. He has led communication teams at major banks in Japan and Singapore, advising senior leaders on organizational and change communication and developing innovative content to drive staff engagement. As head of communications for Standard Chartered’s global retail banking business, he led a team that supported business process and culture change for 30,000+ employees across 30 markets in Asia, Africa and the Middle East.
Obsessive about good writing, he also created a style guide for the bank and developed writing training courses for mid-level managers and front-line staff. In an earlier career in journalism, Donald worked for Bloomberg and Time magazine in Tokyo and was later based in Seoul for six years as Time’s first permanent bureau chief for North and South Korea. He speaks French, Italian and Japanese and he’s working on his Korean.
The Tantalus Group is a global firm that specializes in management consulting services. We advise leaders on business opportunities and threats, from strategy, marketing, communications, organization and digital, to business transformation, change management, sustainability and mergers and acquisitions. Our management consulting services cut across all sectors and geographies.
We have a team of strategy and management consultants in Asia, Europe and North America and draw on decades of practical experience advising CEOs, CFOs, CCOs and executive committees. We also work closely with teams within companies, to deliver management consulting services to tailored to the unique demands of working in a fast-paced, changing global environment.
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Communications for leaders: People skills are the fundamental building blocks of future leadership
Global engagement guru Charlie Miller explains how people skills with communications at the very core are now recognised as the essential route to leadership success. Failure to communicate effectively both internally and externally is costing businesses an estimated $2 trillion a year in the United States alone! The benefits from effective stakeholder engagement with clear, engaging and compelling communications are written large on the bottom line.
Transcript: Hi, I’m Charlie Miller. And my passion is to help business leaders become better communicators. Why? Well, it directly impacts the bottom line. Too often we find poor leadership communication, damaging teams and businesses. It creates dysfunctional culture with confusion and a lack of trust and respect. This undermines morale and motivation and ultimately impacts productivity and performance. The misalignment, the disengagement, the consequent waste that we see is costing businesses $2 trillion dollars a year in the United States alone.
What makes a leader an effective communicator?
Well, the best leaders are authentic and empathetic and they can inspire and motivate through effective communication. It leads to greater involvement and engagement. We see greater productivity and performance. And of course, ultimately more business success. Employees need to be inspired and to trust their leaders. Employees need to understand what’s required of them, how they’re doing and how, what they do on a daily basis fits into the overall strategy and supports that overall strategy and vision. So people skills are really the building blocks of future leadership with communication at the very core – interpersonal skills, cultural intelligence, emotional intelligence, the ability to communicate what is relevant and helpful in a clear, engaging and compelling way.
How can you help leaders become more effective communicators?
I’ve been working with global companies in the media for more than 40 years. Much of it, advising and supporting CEOs and senior leadership with their communications. At Tantalus, today, we are supporting businesses around the world, developing their leaders with stronger communication and people skills. The essentials for all stakeholder engagement, whether external or internal. Increasingly, successful companies are hiring and promoting their future leaders on the basis of these skills rather than just technical knowledge and expertise. So the question is, are your leaders leading or are they just managing? Perhaps we can help?
Want to know more?
Contact Charlie at charlie@thetantalusgroup.com
Speak to Tantalus about arrange an introductory chat with Tantalus about our well reviewed writing program for your executives, coms or marketing teams.
Charlie Miller
Charlie Miller | Senior Consultant | Chicago, USACharlie Miller brings four decades of global experience as a highly regarded communications professional and award-winning journalist. He is a leader in strategic communications, managing teams and advising senior executives around the world on external relations, brand and reputation management, stakeholder engagement, issues and crisis management.
Charlie led Boeing’s global communications team for more than 12 years in 40 focus markets to help drive business growth by advancing proactive stakeholder engagement and optimizing reputation as a preferred and trusted partner with strong outward focused communications and tight issues and crisis management.
Earlier, Charlie headed media relations at BAE Systems, Europe’s biggest defense company, following a 20-year career in journalism. As a reporter, he covered Geopolitics and Defense with frequent assignments in conflict zones, including the 1991 Gulf War. He received the “UK Scoop of the Year” award for breaking the news of the death of Princess Diana in 1997.
Charlie is British, lives in Chicago, and still plays the occasional game of cricket when he returns to his home village in the UK. He is proud to be President of the 240-year-old cricket club.
The Tantalus Group is a global firm that specializes in management consulting services. We advise leaders on business opportunities and threats, from strategy, marketing, communications, organization and digital, to business transformation, change management, sustainability and mergers and acquisitions. Our management consulting services cut across all sectors and geographies.
We have a team of strategy and management consultants in Asia, Europe and North America and draw on decades of practical experience advising CEOs, CFOs, CCOs and executive committees. We also work closely with teams within companies, to deliver management consulting services to tailored to the unique demands of working in a fast-paced, changing global environment.
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Effective Business Communications
Tantalus communications expert Robin Tickle invites you to discuss how to protect your business’ reputation and improve performance.
Transcript
My name is Robin Tickle. I’m a Tantalus Senior Consultant based in Switzerland. I really enjoy serving as trusted advisor to our clients helping them navigate business and reputational challenges in the current geopolitical environment.
I have 30 years international experience in both Strategic Communications and Management, advising top business executives and government ministers. One of my key strengths is combining big picture strategic vision with strong focus on operational execution.
I started my professional life as a political analyst at UBS before becoming involved in intergovernmental free trade negotiations. I was then appointed as Head of Communications of the Swiss Ministry of Economic Affairs and later joined the Nestle Group where I was head of Corporate Communications for 10 years.
Conversations with clients mostly start with issues requiring urgent attention but they often later changed to wider more fundamental discussions on ways to improve business performance. So whatever business or reputational challenges you face I’m very much looking forward to starting a conversation with you.
Speak to Tantalus about arrange an introductory chat with Tantalus about our well reviewed writing program for your executives, coms or marketing teams.
Robin Tickle
Robin Tickle | Senior Consultant | Geneva, SwitzerlandRobin is a senior leader with over 30 years’ international experience in strategic communications in both business and government, advising top executives on external affairs, reputation management, stakeholder relations, sensitive issues and risk management, combining big-picture strategic vision with a focus on strong operational execution.
Robin was Nestlé’s head of corporate communications for 10 years. In this capacity, he managed a team of 20 people at headquarters and exercised functional leadership over a further 140 corporate communications professionals across the world, dealing with countless global and local crises involving issues such as food safety, human rights in supply chains and the environment. Earlier Robin was head of communications of Switzerland’s Ministry of Economic Affairs and council secretary of the European Free Trade Association (EFTA). His first job was with UBS where he specialised in country risk and geopolitical forecasting. Robin is a graduate of Queens’ College, Cambridge, and holds a Board Director Diploma from IMD in Lausanne. He is trilingual in English, French and German, fluent in Italian and has some Arabic.
The Tantalus Group is a global firm that specializes in management consulting services. We advise leaders on business opportunities and threats, from strategy, marketing, communications, organization and digital, to business transformation, change management, sustainability and mergers and acquisitions. Our management consulting services cut across all sectors and geographies.
We have a team of strategy and management consultants in Asia, Europe and North America and draw on decades of practical experience advising CEOs, CFOs, CCOs and executive committees. We also work closely with teams within companies, to deliver management consulting services to tailored to the unique demands of working in a fast-paced, changing global environment.
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The power of clear, simple language
Tantalus communications expert David Woodruff explains the real costs of using unclear language.
David has nearly four decades of experience in senior communications and media roles in the United States and Europe. Learn the power of clear efficient language in the video below, then arrange an introductory chat with Tantalus about ways to improve communications in your organization including writing programs for your executives, coms or marketing teams.
Transcript
I’m David Woodruff. I spent more than 30 years working in international media and global companies. I wrote stories for the front page of the Wall Street Journal and the cover of Business Week Magazine. And I was a Communications leader in companies as diverse as McKinsey, Shell, and Novartis.
I see many organizations struggle to explain what they’re doing, and why, using simple straightforward language. Research shows this inability to communicate clearly has a real cost. It affects company valuations and the cost of capital for instance. Along with my colleagues at the Tantalus Group I’m helping companies work more efficiently to build relationships with customers and other stakeholders.
I run training programs to teach people to use language more effectively, how to craft texts that inspire or persuade, and how to tell compelling stories that grab people’s attention. If your company has difficulty conveying your strategy and success stories you’re not alone. Our world is overwhelmed with always-on communications. Breaking through all that noise requires both clarity and creativity. Alas those two ingredients are often in short supply in businesses. Many companies are held back by a lethal mixture of muddled thinking, murky jargon, and deeply ingrained corporate speak. In this environment important communications are often dead on arrival.
Writing effectively isn’t black magic. It’s a skill that can be learned and it’s a crucial skill if you want to break through the noise and reap the benefits that come from clear engaging communications.
Speak to Tantalus about arrange an introductory chat with Tantalus about our well reviewed writing program for your executives, coms or marketing teams.
David Woodruff
David Woodruff | Senior Consultant | Basel, SwitzerlandDavid has nearly four decades of experience in senior communications and media roles in the United States and Europe. He has been a trusted advisor to leaders in several multinational organizations and harnessed powerful storytelling to build reputation, shape public opinion and motivate people. David had communications leadership roles at Royal Dutch Shell, Novartis and the Organization for Co-operation and Economic Development. He is an experienced speechwriter and multimedia storyteller, and recently completed a multi-year project to create a life sciences museum in Basel, Switzerland. He is also an experienced communications skills trainer, coach and mentor.
David began his career as a journalist and was a staff correspondent for BusinessWeek magazine and the Wall Street Journal. He was also a senior editor of the McKinsey Quarterly management magazine. David enjoys cycling, hiking and skiing and is an enthusiastic amateur photographer. He speaks English, German and French and lives near Basel with his wife and two teenage children.
The Tantalus Group is a global firm that specializes in management consulting services. We advise leaders on business opportunities and threats, from strategy, marketing, communications, organization and digital, to business transformation, change management, sustainability and mergers and acquisitions. Our management consulting services cut across all sectors and geographies.
We have a team of strategy and management consultants in Asia, Europe and North America and draw on decades of practical experience advising CEOs, CFOs, CCOs and executive committees. We also work closely with teams within companies, to deliver management consulting services to tailored to the unique demands of working in a fast-paced, changing global environment.
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Adding power to your prose to connect with customers
Better writing can help your business – and save you money.
Fresh off a writing course for a renewable energy company in Abu Dhabi and what struck me was how many participants struggled with active vs passive voice. While most knew the difference, they weren’t confident using the active voice.
It’s hard to blame them. Like some invasive species, the passive has colonized the corporate world. We’re constantly exposed to sentences like: Supply chains were hampered by the pandemic. Gas prices were raised. The plan was implemented. But let the active voice work its magic and you get: The pandemic hampered supply chains. Gas prices rose. The company implemented the plan. Now the focus is on the agent carrying out the action – the writing is more direct, a little punchier and usually shorter.
Clear writing saves time and money
As passive sentences pile up, they start to choke your writing and bore your readers. That’s along with the jargon and buzzwords that also plague business writing. Sloppy communication costs money, too – at least $400 billion a year, according to one survey of US business. And when GE Aviation decided to start making lawyers use plain English instead of legalese, they calculated it took 60% less time to negotiate contracts. And clients were happy.
When GE Aviation decided to start making lawyers use plain English instead of legalese, they calculated it took 60% less time to negotiate contracts.
In Abu Dhabi, participants found it easier to spot jargon than make passive sentences active. But they saw how it added muscle to their writing and soon got the hang of it. To be clear, the passive is fine in small doses. It’s often a better choice when you want to put the focus on the object of the action. The president was re-elected. Obviously voters did the re-electing and we care more about the outcome. The passive can also be a way to avoid pointing fingers. Mistakes were made in handling the customer’s account (be careful though – this suggests a lack of accountability).
Active sentences are a better choice for business
The point I tried to drive home in Abu Dhabi is that the passive shouldn’t be your default mode. And in business writing, active sentences are a better choice 90% of the time. They add power and impact to your prose and, most importantly, your customers will be grateful (especially if you clear out some of that jargon as well).
At The Tantalus Group, we work with several blue chip brands to sharpen writing skills. This can start with an audit of a communications team. We also offer training programs to teach employees to write better and one-on-one workshops with CEOs to improve to their storytelling.
If you’re interested in a writing program for your executives, coms or marketing teams, please reach out to sanne@thetantalusgroup.com.
The Tantalus Group is a global firm that specializes in management consulting services. We advise leaders on business opportunities and threats, from strategy, marketing, communications, organization and digital, to business transformation, change management, sustainability and mergers and acquisitions. Our management consulting services cut across all sectors and geographies.
We have a team of strategy and management consultants in Asia, Europe and North America and draw on decades of practical experience advising CEOs, CFOs, CCOs and executive committees. We also work closely with teams within companies, to deliver management consulting services to tailored to the unique demands of working in a fast-paced, changing global environment.
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Conversation Asia: Where is the best place for startups in Asia – Hong Kong or Singapore?
Where’s the best place for startups in Asia – Hong Kong or Singapore? Both are thriving business hubs and great places to live. In this second installment of “Conversation Asia,” Donald Macintyre’s & Dick Wright look at the technology sectors in Hong Kong and Singapore. Both cities are vying to become hubs for tech innovation in the region. Where would you launch your start-up?
Dick Wright: Hi Donald. Our last conversation sure got us off to a heated start! People had strong views on whether Hong Kong or Singapore was the best place to set up a regional Asia Pacific headquarters. I guess it was pretty much a toss-up. But I’ll tell you, the hiking trails in Hong Kong make it the place for me.
Donald Macintyre: That’s the Canadian in you coming out, Dick. We also got lots of comments on the technology start-up scene in both markets – what say we dig a little deeper into that? Now, I’m willing to grant you Hong Kong has the better hiking trails but when it comes to starting a tech venture, clearly Singapore wins hands down as the best place for startups in Asia.
Dick: Not so fast, Donald. The start-up scene in Hong Kong is hot – and you’ve got everything you need from ideation to funding. A complete ecosystem, to use the mot du jour. For me, the best start-up resource in Hong Kong is a website called StartMeUp.HK. It’s a ‘one stop shop’ for the start-up scene in the city – which is great if you are used to the traditional government red tape and hard-to-find resources. They understand the entrepreneur’s headspace – no time to waste, need everything laid out, whether it’s for incubation programs, workspace, government support programs or even VCs.
Donald: Dick, I know Hong Kong is trying hard. But it takes more than a fancy website to build an ecosystem. You need the R&D infrastructure, the government grants, the generous tax breaks. Does Hong Kong have a big pool of investors and talent? Singapore has all that and more. There are lots of studies of the world’s best startup ecoysystems but to name just one – by the research group Startup Genome – Singapore ranked in the top 20 worldwide, tied with Stockholm for 17th place. Hong Kong back in the pack at 31st.
Singapore ranked in the top 20 worldwide, tied with Stockholm for 17th place. Hong Kong back in the pack at 31st.
Donald MacintyreDick: StartMeUp lists all government and public funding in one place – it’s great! But look, you can slice and dice this lots of ways. The reality is Hong Kong is full of major facilities that make it the best place for startups in Asia. The largest is the Hong Kong Science & Technology Park. They want to turn Hong Kong a regional hub for innovation and IT development. And they’ve been successful because they keep a sharp focus on a few areas like bio-tech, artificial intelligence and robotics. The other big one is Cyberport. They do “traditional“ technologies like smart living, digital entertainment/e-sports and cybersecurity, and some emerging technologies like AI, big data & blockchain. So they complement each other.
Donald: Incubators are important. But Singapore has more startups – just over 4,000. Hong Kong is just under. Hong Kong has a few more unicorns – 18 to 12, although the numbers keep changing. But you need to step back and look at the direction of travel, the culture you’re building for the long term. I’ve heard Hong Kong hasn’t quite made the shift in mindset you need to become a real centre of innovation. A survey by the government’s own Hong Kong Trade Development Council found startups have trouble raising funds in the private market. And sure, the government is handing out money but startups complain it takes too much paperwork to get your hands on it.
Where would you rather Launch your start-up? Singapore or Honk Kong? Dick: You have a point there. Singapore has done a good job of encouraging that entrepreneurial mindset. But it’s going to have a problem with talent, isn’t it? It’s not as welcoming to expats as it used to be and it’s a lot harder to bring in foreign talent. Here in Hong Kong, expats are still welcome. Plus there are at least five universities offering sciences programs that feed into the tech scene. So the talent pool is there.
Donald: Well, I have to say Hong Kong has been doing a pretty good job of driving away expats recently. The political crackdown and the handling of the pandemic have taken the shine off for a lot of people. You’re right, though, Singapore wants to keep the good jobs for the locals – and that’s understandable. But it’s shortsighted. You need that diversity and openness to fuel innovation and build companies that can be successful internationally.
Dick: I love it when you argue my case. And we haven’t even talked about Hong Kong’s world leading position in market capital fund raising. Donald, did you realise that Hong Kong is the world’s largest IPO center for biotech companies after New York? It’s a leading clinical trial hub in Asia, with a long history of medical companies doing business here. So that’s a big reason to be here.
Polytechnic university of Hong Kong Donald: Hong Kong does have a bigger stock market, true. So if you’re a later-stage start-up then maybe you’re looking at Hong Kong. But I don’t have to move my start-up to Hong Kong to do my IPO there. Besides, that’s way down the road – we’re talking about taking that idea scratched on the back of a napkin and turning it into a living, breathing and – eventually – profitable company. When nobody knows who you are, that access to government funding and a pool of investors is crucial. In Singapore, you’ve got that.
Dick: So can we agree Singapore and Hong Kong both have their pros and cons? And maybe the verdict isn’t in yet.
Donald: I don’t think it is. And we haven’t look at whether getting closer to China helps or hinders Hong Kong’s startup scene. Maybe we’ll leave that for another day?
Dick: Let’s. I’ve got some hiking to do…
Have your experienced launching a start-up in Singapore or Hong Kong?
Continue the conversation and connect with Dick and Donald on LinkedIn.Is Hong Kong or Singapore best for startups in Asia? Fast Facts
Singapore:
Strategically located north of the Singapore Strait, one of the world’s busiest commercial routes, this small island city-state has a GDP of 340 billion U.S. dollars and a population of just under 6 million. Singapore is a stable and prosperous global financial hub.
Hong Kong:
A special administrative region of China, this city is a bustling trade and financial hub with a GDP of 346 billion U.S. dollars and a population of about 7.5 million. Chinese and Western influences keep the culture and economy vibrant.
Donald Macintyre | Senior Consultant | Vancouver, Canada
Donald Macintyre is a communications professional and former Time magazine correspondent with more than 20 years of experience working in Europe and Asia. He has led communication teams at major banks in Japan and Singapore, advising senior leaders on organizational and change communication and developing innovative content to drive staff engagement.
As head of communications for Standard Chartered’s global retail banking business, he led a team that supported business process and culture change for 30,000+ employees across 30 markets in Asia, Africa and the Middle East. Obsessive about good writing, he also created a style guide for the bank and developed writing training courses for mid-level managers and front-line staff. In an earlier career in journalism, Donald worked for Bloomberg and Time magazine in Tokyo and was later based in Seoul for six years as Time’s first permanent bureau chief for North and South Korea. He speaks French, Italian and Japanese and he’s working on his Korean.
Dick Wright | Senior Consultant | Hong Kong, SAR P.R.C.
Dick has been working out of Hong Kong and across the Asia Pacific for over 24 years. During that time, he has worked in agency with Hill & Knowlton and in-house with Lucent Technologies, Alcatel and BT Global Services. During these years he developed a two-pronged expertise of crisis issues management and media skills training, alongside a Telecommunications technology focus working as a part of Asia Pacific and global teams.
He has extensive experience in ‘real’ crisis comms situations. These include extensive redundancy communications, hands-on crisis situations including FCPA and labour issue work in China and employee issues in Guatemala with US owners and Chinese contractors. He has also built four day training programs with hundreds of participants, across multiple cities. He was a registered Lobbyist in Ottawa for the Government Business Consulting Group where he focused on big pharma patent protection, open skies between Canada/US and procurement issues in expanding private business opportunities in the government procurement process. Dick has an MBA from Kellogg/HKUST, a degree in Asian Management and a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science, English & Economics. He speaks English, some French and basic Cantonese.
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