The Communication Collective

17/09/2026

Good communication should be able to demonstrate its impact.

We’re sharing this perspective from Mari-Lee Professional because it highlights something that matters across our profession: the importance of measurable results.

Case studies take us beyond saying what communication can achieve. They show what was done, why it was done, how it was measured and, importantly, what changed as a result.

That evidence matters.

It helps demonstrate the strategic value of communication, strengthens accountability and gives organisations an opportunity to learn from what actually worked.

Research. Strategy. Implementation. Measurement. Results.

A valuable reminder that our work should not only tell a good story. We should be able to show the impact behind it.

Case studies available on www.dev-com.co.za

15/09/2026

A message is only effective if it works for the people receiving it.

This is an important reminder from Mari-Lee Professional about the role of message testing in strategic communication.

As communication professionals, we can spend significant time developing, refining and approving messages internally. But internal agreement does not necessarily mean audience understanding.

Testing provides an opportunity to listen before we launch, identify potential gaps and refine communication based on evidence rather than assumption.

A valuable perspective for anyone working in communication, reputation, change or stakeholder engagement.

Read Mari-Lee’s thoughts below.

A message can be strategically sound, beautifully written and approved by everyone in the room, and still fail when it reaches the people it was designed for.

That is why message testing matters.

Before launching a campaign or communicating an important change, testing helps us understand:

• Is the message clear?
• Is it relevant to the audience?
• Does it create the intended response?
• Could anything be misunderstood?
• Does it build trust, or unintentionally create resistance?

Message testing gives organisations an opportunity to listen, learn and refine before investing in full implementation.

It moves decision-making from “we think this will work” to “we have evidence that this resonates.”

Research before you communicate.
Test before you launch.
Measure after you implement.

Because effective communication should never rely on assumption.
Email [email protected] for more information.

07/09/2026

Research can uncover what your customers really think. Reveal gaps between perception and intention. Challenge assumptions inside the organisation. Identify risks before they become problems and uncover opportunities you may never have considered.

Mari Lee uses communication and stakeholder research to help organisations move from “we think” to “we know.”

Because good research isn't about producing another report.
Visit our website www.dev-com.co.za for case studies on research projects we did.

It's about giving leaders evidence they can use to make better decisions, refine strategy, strengthen communication and measure whether it is actually working.

Insight creates clarity.
Clarity informs strategy.
Strategy drives action.

Never underestimate the power of asking the right questions — and listening carefully to the answers.

03/09/2026

Celebrating professional excellence in strategic communication.

We are proud to celebrate Mari Lee, a member of The Communication Collective, on her recognition as a Fellow of the Centre for Strategic Communication Excellence (FCSCE).

This recognition reflects more than 25 years of contribution to the communication profession through strategic consulting, research, teaching, mentoring and the development of communication professionals across Africa.

Mari’s work reflects something we value strongly at The Communication Collective: bringing together deep professional expertise, evidence-based thinking and practical experience to help organisations solve complex communication challenges.

Congratulations, Mari, on this well-deserved recognition and your continued contribution to advancing our profession.

Read more about Mari and her recognition as a CSCE Fellow:
Mari Lee – Fellow of the Centre for Strategic Communication Excellence

02/09/2026

Strong teams need to be able to have difficult conversations.

Unspoken frustrations, unresolved conflict and avoided feedback can quietly affect trust, collaboration and performance.

Through team coaching, I help teams develop the confidence and communication skills to address difficult issues constructively, listen to different perspectives and have honest conversations without damaging relationships.

The goal isn't to eliminate disagreement. It's to help teams navigate it better.
Email [email protected] for more information.

24/08/2026

AI may be saving us time — but is it creating more work for someone else?
“Workslop” is an emerging challenge worth paying attention to: AI-generated work that looks polished and complete, but lacks the thinking, context or quality needed to actually be useful.

For communication professionals, this raises an important question about our role in an AI-enabled workplace.

AI can help us work faster. But professional judgement, critical thinking and accountability cannot be outsourced.

Mari Lee explores this issue in the latest edition of her Communication Means Everything newsletter, including practical ways organisations and communication teams can use AI without compromising the quality of their work.

A thought-provoking read for anyone working with AI — which, increasingly, is all of us. The person pressing SEND is still responsible for the quality.

Read Mari's full article below.

Have you encountered “workslop” yet?

AI was supposed to save us time. But what happens when it saves the sender 20 minutes and creates an hour of work for the person receiving it?

A polished report with very little insight.
A summary that misses the point.
Slides that look impressive but don't help anyone make a decision.
A long email that sounds professional but says remarkably little.

There's now a term for it: workslop — low-quality, mostly AI-generated work that looks complete but shifts the real thinking and cognitive effort onto someone else.

The problem isn't AI. The problem is using AI without judgement.

In my latest Communication Means Everything newsletter, I unpack the emerging research on workslop, what I'm seeing in communication teams, and five practical things organisations can do to ensure AI actually improves productivity rather than simply relocating the work.

My favourite principle?

AI can assist the work. It cannot own the work.

The person pressing SEND is still responsible for the quality.

Read: https://mailchi.mp/marilee/workslop-when-ai-saves-the-sender-time-but-creates-work-for-everyone-else

Have you started seeing workslop in your organisation?

05/08/2026

Reputation isn't something you build when a crisis happens. It's something you build every day.

Mari Lee shares an important reminder: reputation is shaped by the everyday experiences people have with your organisation—not just by your communication during challenging times.

This is why strategic communication, leadership and stakeholder engagement matter long before they're put to the test.

Read Mari's insights below and let us know:
What do you believe has the biggest influence on an organisation's reputation?

Many organisations focus on reputation management only when something goes wrong.

The reality is that your reputation is built long before it's tested.
It's shaped by every stakeholder interaction, every leadership decision, every employee experience and every promise you keep—or fail to keep.

Communication doesn't create a good reputation on its own. It helps ensure your actions, values and purpose are understood consistently.

Because reputation is earned through behaviour and strengthened through communication.

For more information visit my website🌐 www.marilee.co.za

31/07/2026

Are you wondering what the value of corporate communication strategy is?

And if you are a small or medium size business, do you need one?
Yes! No matter the size of your business or strategic outcomes, you need to have one!
We can create one for you, or you can DIY by following the link below.

First, have a clear vision of what a strategy should do. Then acknowledge the challenges being faced and find an approach to overcome them.

Here's a great article about corporate strategy: https://ow.ly/Ef3G50Pla64

By engaging with us, you can avoid common pitfalls that are not considered when implementing strategic plans.

30/07/2026

Many teams are busy.
Fewer are truly aligned.

Through facilitated coaching and team alignment sessions, I help organisations:

✔ Build trust within teams
✔ Improve communication
✔ Clarify roles and expectations
✔ Navigate conflict constructively
✔ Align around shared goals

When people understand each other, they collaborate better.
When they collaborate better, organisations perform better.

Because coaching isn't about fixing people—it's about helping teams perform at their best. Let your team work together.

🌐 www.marilee.co.za or [email protected]

09/10/2024

Mari Lee spoke at the NWU Industry Summit last week. Some key learnings from industry leaders the student's captured shared below.

The School of Communication at the North-West University (NWU) hosted an in-person and hybrid Communication Industry Summit on Wednesday, 2 October for students enrolled on all three campuses. During the summit, industry and academia came together to explore the theme “From Clicks to Connection”...