You know what spreads fast? Gossip.

And that’s exactly how your internal presentations should work. Not the toxic kind — but the sticky, retellable, easy-to-repeat kind. The kind of story that travels from meeting to meeting without you in the room and still lands the way you meant it to.

Too many internal decks require their creator to personally sherpa the message from team to team. That’s a fail. Your real goal should be to create a presentation so clear and simple that it becomes contagious. Even better — contagious and accurate. You want your audience not only to “get it,” but to become carriers of your story. Ambassadors, even.

Let’s break down what gossip gets right, and how we can borrow its best traits for internal communication.

When it comes to early communication about change, getting the message right is critical. Change inherently stirs emotions—uncertainty, excitement, fear, and hope. Our message must address these emotions head-on, guiding our audience from resistance to acceptance. 

One of the most critical steps is clearly explaining the Why behind it. Why is change necessary? Why now? Why is this the right path? Without a compelling and well-articulated “Why,” even the best strategies will face resistance.

Over the years, I’ve developed a framework I call “Hook / Scare / Comfort / Inspire” to craft a message that answers these questions. It connects the logic of the change to the emotions of the people who will execute it.

In a world where more is often mistaken for better, the true effectiveness lies in how much you can remove while still retaining the essence of what matters. Whether it’s crafting a concise email, delivering a powerful presentation, or defining a focused strategy, simplicity isn’t just a stylistic choice—it’s a necessity.

In today’s business world, we’re drowning in data. We track nearly everything, constantly analyzing the numbers. Yet, the sheer volume of data can be so overwhelming that it often leads to a shortage of actionable insights.

All that data is worthless—or worse—if we don’t produce thoughtful analysis and carefully craft communication of our findings in ways that enable decision-makers to react to the data rather than try to analyze it themselves.

To navigate the data deluge and extract meaningful insights, I’ve found a framework that consistently produces effective analysis. It’s all about achieving F.A.M.E., baby!

We need to focus on four key attributes: Focused, Actionable, Manageable, and Enlightening.

Here, in my experience, are the keys to achieving FAME in analysis: