Cuttlefish Communication

02/06/2026

You can be the smartest person in the room and still struggle to get your message across when the pressure is on.

High-pressure situations can change the way we think, speak and respond and often, the challenge isn't a lack of expertise. It's knowing how to communicate that expertise clearly and confidently.

In our latest blog, we explore why great communicators aren't born with natural confidence, they're built through preparation, structure and practice.

So, what do you need to practice to get there?

Read the blog to discover why the best communicators prepare more than they perform. 👉 https://heymelcomms.training/blog/speak-confidently
[Image description: A gold mostly transparent background of a tv presenter in front of a camera. On top of this is a white rectangle with the words in black: "SPEAK MORE CONFIDENTLY in front of the media, public and during presentations". The first three words are bold, and above this in a black circle is the words: "HOW TO" in gold. Beneath this is a black graphic of stars, and the Cuttlefish logo in black in the bottom left.]

01/06/2026

What do you do when you love horses but can’t deal with the mud, the vet bills, and the 5am feeds?

If you’re Kerri from South Australia’s Barossa Valley, you collect them. In miniature. About 200 of them.

In the latest episode of ‘Wait, You Do What?’, I sat down with Kerri — professional show dog photographer and devoted model horse collector since 1997 — to talk about a hobby that’s way more fascinating (and valuable) than most people realise.

Here’s a taste of what we got into:

- Why she nearly cried telling me about a Phar Lap model she sold... that’s now worth $1,500

- How one Breyer horse sold for 20,000 USD at auction — for a single model horse

- There are model horse SHOWS, with breed classes, performance classes (tiny hand-stitched saddles and all), and community members across Australia and New Zealand

- And yes, there is a trophy called the Horse’s Arse Award. Kerri has won it. She has no regrets.

This one’s a great reminder that the hobbies that look a little quirky from the outside are often the ones with the most heart, the most artistry, and the most cracking communities behind them.

Listen here: https://www.buzzsprout.com/2612623/episodes/19263675

31/05/2026

If you want your language to cut through, be understood, and be memorable for all the right reasons, then there are three outcomes you should aim for:

- simple
- authentic
- tailored.

And it's important to get your language right, because if people can't understand your message, think it sounds like BS, or seems irrelevant or non-caring, then they will simply turn away to one of the millions of other things vying for their attention.

The SAT Triangle model is something I teach in my second book, 'Less Chatter, More Matter'. The beauty of the triangle is that you can dial up or dial down these elements if you need to, depending on the audience and the context.

But if you're ticking all three boxes at some level, then you know you're on the right track.

What's a good lesson you've learned about the language choices we make when communicating? Please share in the comments!

[Image description: Yellow tile with black headline text that reads: The Language Triangle. There is a hand drawn black-and-white image of a triangle with the words 'simple', 'authentic' and 'tailored' at the three points.]

31/05/2026

When are you comfortable interacting with AI, and when does it give you the ick?

We are currently conducting research on AI use - specifically, what people are 'ok' and 'not ok' with.

All responses are anonymous and treated confidentially. So if you've got just five minutes to spare, we'd love your thoughts.

And once you're done, why not share it with others to complete?

Take the survey here:

Thanks for dropping by! If we haven't met, my name is Mel Loy, the owner of Cuttlefish, a change communication agency based in Brisbane, Australia. I am conducting research on the use of AI - specifically, what you find comfortable or uncomfortable. Your responses are anonymous and will be treated c...

28/05/2026

How do you create a compelling 'case for why' during change?

A few weeks ago at Rethink Change I presented my new framework for developing and delivering your story (not case) for why.

Because it's not just about the message, it's also about how and when it's received.

On the left side of the diagram is the 'change architecture' (those familiar with Nudge theory will remember this). A lot of this is usually out of our control.

On the right side are the tools we have at our disposal.

Then in developing the story, we need to consider:
- the macro context driving the change - what's happening in the big, wide world that's impacting the business?
- the micro context - what's happening inside the business?

After that, it's about tailoring that 'why' for your different audiences, and getting very specific and tangible for each.

This was part one of the framework - I've also got a little matrix that I drew to show how to message your 'why'. But I'll share that later.

In the meantime, what do you think? Honest feedback always appreciated, because it's a new toy I'm playing with!

28/05/2026

Yep, we’re still on AI.

Why? Because AI is changing the communications profession faster than most organisations are prepared for.

Tasks that once took hours can now be done in minutes. Emails, reports, presentations, videos, social posts… increasingly generated by AI tools. Though while that creates efficiency, it also raises a big question for communicators:
Where do we fit in now?

In this episode of the Less Chatter, More Matter podcast, we explore what communicators need to do to stay relevant in an AI-driven world, and why our future is far bigger than simply “creating content.”

Listen in here: https://www.heymelcomms.training/172 🎧
[Video imagery description: Mel in front of her microphone talking to the camera.]

26/05/2026

A lot of the work communicators used to spend hours on can now be done in minutes with the help of AI.
.. which made a lot of us wonder: what does this mean for my job? Well, good news: this isn’t the end of the profession, it's just a shift in what we’re valued for.

The real question is no longer “how much content can we produce?” but “how do we help organisations build trust in a world where content is everywhere?”

This blog explores why communications is moving from content production to trust building, and what that means for the role of communicators moving forward.

👉 Read the full piece for the five ways the profession is evolving and the capabilities that matter most now. https://heymelcomms.training/blog/ai-comms-pro
[Image description: A gold background with a white rounded square in front. On the white square is a picture of Mel presenting, and beneath it in green is the title: "What AI really means for the communications profession". The black Cuttlefish logo is in the top right.]

26/05/2026

You've got great advice and ideas, but getting senior leaders to listen is proving to be a BIG roadblock...

Sound familiar?

If so, you're not alone! Been there, done that.

Which is why I'm facilitating this one-hour virtual masterclass next week.

We're going to delve into the psychology of influence, and practical ways you can get senior leaders to tune in and really listen and value your thoughts.

Here's the details:
- Thursday, 4 June
- 12-1pm AEST
- Virtual session
- Lots of tips, tools and fun things!

If this sounds like something that would help you, click here: https://cuttlefish.group/shop/p/influencing-getting-senior-leaders-to-listen

[Image description: Gif of a animated young girl with red hair and braces tapping on the screen, with a caption reading: Hello anyone there.]

25/05/2026

Gatekeeping is usually a 'bad' word; in this instance, we're telling you that you, as a communicator, should do more of it.

Not to worry though. We’ve given you all the ins and outs of why you should, alongside some big tips on your brand and it’s impact when it comes to the age of AI.

All of these magnificent insights can be accessed in this handy newsletter, right here: 👉: https://mailchi.mp/heymelcomms/25-5-26

Who would've thought you could sign up for a FREE newsletter with FREE resources, insights, tips and tricks... we did. So sign up here: https://training.us6.list-manage.com/profile?u=a4e0f5f80596568d857875e0d&id=89b2354fad&e=%5BUNIQID%5D&c=742f306292.
[Image description: A half black background with a white 'ripped paper' bottom graphic in the lower half. Over it is two hands 'cheersing' their Cuttlefish branded glasses together. At the top is the title in gold, "GET THE TEA" and at the bottom, under the hands, is the sub title in black: "(in our latest newsletter). The black Cuttlefish logo is on the right hand's wrist.]

25/05/2026

"If we're not playing, we forget how to play. And then life becomes very, very serious."

That's Cathryn Lloyd — creative facilitator, PhD, founder of Maverick Minds — and in this week's episode, she made me think hard about how much we underestimate the power of making things with our hands.

Cathryn's hobby is collage. And not casually — in 2022 she committed to one postcard-sized collage every day for a full year, using only materials she already had at home. The result became a full exhibition. The stories she wrote alongside each piece resonated so deeply with people that strangers kept coming back to look again.

If you've been meaning to try something creative but keep putting it off, this episode is your sign. 🎨

You can find Wait, You Do What? on your podcast app of choice, or here's a direct link to the episode: https://www.buzzsprout.com/2612623/episodes/19228449