Jacquie Molloy - About Jacquie

About Jacquie

At a Glance

20 years' experience in corporate communications
30 years' writing experience: corporate business, not-for-profit, creative, marketing communications and academic. One size does not fit all.
Extensive experience as both practitioner and consultant-adviser in all areas of communications: as writer, editor, speaker, facilitator, thought partner, coach.
7 years as a communications specialist with McKinsey & Company (Australia, Asia and Europe).
13 years as an independent writer, speaker, facilitator and consultant.
Theatre background and trained in stagecraft and voice.
GradDip Arts Management from the Victorian College of the Arts in 1999, giving me a strong foundation for my work with Boards of all kinds and especially not-for-profit Boards.
BA(Hons) in Language & Performance.

Passionate advocate for animals and the conservation of their (and our!) habitats
Proud to be a volunteer guide at Melbourne Zoo.

You can learn more about me, my services and how I work with clients below in the 'Interview with Jacquie'.

Interview with Jacquie

I understand that you might want to learn more about me and what I do.

Here are the most common questions in one place. Yes, it’s comprehensive – but, as someone who also invests in personal and professional development, I know I appreciate it when there’s an easy way to find out more information.

Thank you for your interest and for your time.

How long have you been doing what you do — how did you get to become a ‘corporate communications expert’?

My pedigree is impeccable: 7 years working in a communications specialist role with McKinsey & Company in Australia, Asia and Europe and 13 years working as an independent writer, speaker, workshop facilitator and consultant.

If you are familiar with McKinsey & Company’s operations, you will know the 6-monthly performance review system instils a disciplined approach to delivering results and performing well as a team member (on any number of teams) as well as making professional and personal development a priority — all of which continues to serve me in my own business.

I have 30 years’ writing experience: creative, marketing communications, academic, not-for-profit and corporate business — and I understand the different styles and requirements of each: one size does not fit all.

And I have extensive experience as both practitioner and consultant-adviser in all areas of communications: as writer, editor, speaker, facilitator, thought partner, coach, team member. My clients respect and appreciate that I can do — and have done — everything that I am asking of, and advising, them.

In addition, my early background was in theatre and I am trained in both stagecraft and voice. This is an enormous influence in how I work with clients — especially in presentation and speech rehearsals. I use creative techniques to ‘unlock’ and relax anxious professionals and watch them become comfortable and authentic as speakers. It also adds energy and some fun to our work together!

In addition to my BA (Hons) in Language, Literature & Performance, I completed a Grad Dip in Arts Management at the Victorian College of the Arts in 1999. This provided me with a strong foundation for my work with Boards of all kinds and especially not-for-profit Boards. I have worked with Boards and individual Directors to streamline board communications and processes; to identify skills required and put in place the programs to develop them; to recommend succession models; and to play devil’s advocate to ensure board operations focus on governing rather than managing.

Today, because of my 20 years of working with Boards, CEOs and Senior Managers, I am able to provide those who are new to senior management and Board positions with a unique perspective of what their CEO and Chair are looking for and what they value highly.

Who are your clients & how have you worked with them?

Given my background, it’s probably not surprising to learn that a lot of the work I have done with organisations and leaders over the last 20 years has happened under the blanket of confidentiality agreements. I don't mind that though because most of my clients come to me by way of a word-of-mouth referral and I think that says a lot about my level of professionalism. My reputation rests on my ability to not only do my job but do so with discretion and integrity, honouring the commitment to confidentiality when it is required.

Not all my clients require confidentiality of course. And I will add more testimonials and recommendations to this site. You can go ahead and read some testimonials now.

I can tell you that I have worked in these sectors:

Arts
Banking, Insurance & Investment
Community Health Care and support services
Conservation & Environment
Technology
Government
Management Consulting
Mining
Retail and Consumer Goods
Sports
Telecommunications
Travel and Transportation

And I can tell you this:

I have helped dozens of Corporate Clients to win business and further their reputations by working with them to structure, write & test compelling competitive proposals within tight time frames. The resultant business has often generated professional fees for my clients in excess of $200,000 per month.
I have helped hundreds of clients — probably thousands by now in fact — to save time, and enhance their professional reputations, by adopting a tried and tested way to approach a ‘blank screen’ and generate a clear & logical outline for a report or presentation that can then be completed — simply and systematically.
I have helped countless corporate professionals to save time — and increase their 'worth' at meetings, during offsites, and through their written communications — by getting to the nub of the matter quickly and challenging & determining a) what are the critical messages or answers to convey in this communication? and b) how can we do that in a way that is both logical and compelling for this intended audience or reader?
I have helped hundreds of corporate professionals — especially those with early tenure or in their first year of a new position — to position themselves more professionally within their organisation through our work together.
I have coached and rehearsed hundreds of clients to deliver presentations and speeches, making it an experience that they don't just survive but one that is engaging (and successful!) for them and their audiences.

What happens if you’ve never worked with someone in my particular industry or sector before?

There have been numerous ‘first times’ for me over the last 20 years. Because of this, I can honestly say it doesn't matter which industry, or whether it’s the first time or not, because it has never been an issue.

I’m used to working with senior people who always have less time than they would like. They rely on me to be mindful of that and help the process along rather than take it backwards. I know how to ask the right questions to get started quickly.

How are you different from other coaches?

First, please understand that when I use the word ‘coach’ it is shorthand for coach-trusted adviser-problem solver-expert. In addition, there are four important ways that I am different from many other coaches.

1. I am not a generalist; I am not a one-size-fits-all ‘communications trainer' or ‘writing coach’ or ‘speaking coach’.

I specialise in working with first-time Senior Managers and first-time, or aspiring, Board Directors. And, even though I will make exceptions to this depending on the client’s circumstances, there are shared characteristics among all my clients:

My clients hold ‘pivotal roles’ and need to make a valuable contribution to their organisation, the industry and/or the community at large and acknowledge they need excellent communications skills to do this.
My clients must interact with the most senior people in business and industry and government leaders.
My clients receive a lot of information — formal and informal — and have many, often competing, objectives & responsibilities in their role and need to know how to streamline their tasks and to know what will serve them best in their interactions and communications.

2. I am also a practitioner: I write; I speak and present; I facilitate workshops and planning sessions; I need to contribute to, and lead, meetings. Not only that, I do it in the same world that you do — I know what your business requires from you, who is reading what you write, and who is sitting in your presentations, workshops and meetings.

That means I’m not one of those coaches who likes to advise without any sense of what it really takes. I’m all for providing motivation & encouragement (and I do!) but what’s especially important for you to know is that when I recommend an action to take or suggest a new way of doing something, it’s because I have done it, or could do it, and know that it is most likely to work for you in this situation.

3. I understand your business and offer integrated support. My experience and background mean that I don't disassociate the communications from your commercial business objectives. When we talk, we talk about the whole picture and you know you don't have to try and work out for yourself how to apply the communications skills and advice to your ‘real’ world.

4. I invest in my own professional development regularly and often. I don’t have much time for ‘coaches’ who claim to be experts and then do nothing (as if being an expert is like reaching a mountain top: once you’re there, that’s it). Every real expert and successful leader recognises the importance of continued personal and professional development. Enough said.

For what type of executive or senior manager are your services NOT going to work?

I am selective about who I work with. That’s because I know there are some people who aren't suited for my programs or my style and they won't necessarily get the results that they say they want. That’s not to say they will never be ready but this kind of work works best when there is a preparedness to change and to work hard without excuses.

It’s like any other commitment, right?

Some people are very good at recognising the need to be strong and powerful communicators and that it makes good business sense to get the support of an expert to help you build the skills and get the feedback that will make a real difference to what you do and how you do it.

But it’s good to remember that writing, presenting, speaking in public, speaking ‘truth to power’ — these are all activities that get tied up with personal confidence and esteem.

Some people feel too uncomfortable with any process that challenges what they’re doing now. They’ve become very good at building a wall to protect themselves and prefer to stay behind it if at all possible. It’s pretty normal and natural human behaviour by the way — after all, we all have our own comfort zones in our personal and professional lives and we know that there needs to be 100% commitment to our effort when we do decide to challenge or change that. So there’s certainly no judgement from me.

But if you want to work with me, you’ve probably made the decision to lead. And you know to do that that you will need to be consistently excellent in all your communications — on the page, on the speaking stage and in meetings.

If you want to work with me, there’s a good chance you already have some ‘communications heroes’ in your life: writers and speakers (even screenwriters and characters) that get your juices flowing. They are individuals who might be witty or have a great way with words; they might be able to get to the point quickly and are insightful in their comments and contributions in meetings; or they might tell their story effortlessly, regardless of how many people are in the room or what’s at stake. And you’d like to be one of them.

And if you want to work with me, you’ll have already made the decision that you will invest in your own professional and personal development. You know that there’s only one person who can really make sure that you achieve your business objectives as well as the personal goals you have set for yourself in this role.

But if someone is telling you that you need to work with me, or someone like me, and you don't feel ready yet, or you feel a bit annoyed they even brought it up, or you doubt that communications is an important part of the ‘real work of business’, that’s OK. Think about it though and make your decision from a considered point of view, not from a defensive reaction.

If you feel you’re not quite ready to commit to doing what it takes to become the best communicator you can be, can I suggest that you sign up for my fortnightly newsletter. There’s no obligation — financial or otherwise — attached to it and it’s a great first step to take. You’ll get information and advice in each one that will help you to improve your communications at your own pace. You can do so here.

If I work with you, what results can I expect?

Some people think of communications as the ‘soft’, nice to have, part of business (vs the ‘hard’ numbers, facts, ‘things that really matter’). But I think more people now are starting to realise that communications, good communications, are really the foundation for everything else. So as you get stronger in your communications — on the page, on the stage and in meetings — it’s not at all uncommon for there to be results above and beyond what you were expecting.

Let’s start with what you sign up for.

Depending on the program you choose, here are some of the results & benefits you can expect from working with me:

1. Be a better writer

Know how to tackle the blank screen/blank page in a systematic and organised way
Prepare high-quality reports & other written communications in much less time
Be more persuasive
Write more compelling prose than the usual clichéd corporate jargon.

2. Be a better speaker

Know how to create and tell a story
Influence others
Feel — and be — more confident
Be recognised as a speaker of interest

3. Have successful interactions with the CEO and Board

Be clear about what they really want to know, when & why — and in what format
Know how to ‘cut to the chase’
Know when to be a maverick and when to observe
Know how to position and ‘sell’ new ideas and initiatives.

4. Be recognised as a vital and contributing Board Director

Understand and uphold your role and responsibilities — and actively support the Board as a whole to fulfill its roles and responsibilities
Know how to participate and interject — and when not to
Know the best way to prepare and deliver board reports and supporting documentation
Understand how to influence the culture of the Board, if at all.

These are just the basic results. But even this short list makes it clear why this work often leads to my clients being asked to (or raising their hands to) stretch into bigger goals & projects. It happens because they’re recognised by their CEO or Chair as being capable of more.

In addition, my clients report that working with me has led to higher performance all round — not just in what we classify as ‘communications skills’.

Many experience an increase in their personal passion for the role, which in turn leads to their demonstrating stronger leadership qualities.

One of the greatest results, from my perspective, is that my senior manager clients often get much better at identifying and then nurturing talent in their teams. This is perfect! In a program that helps them to improve their communications with their peers and leaders, it turns out that one of the greatest benefits is that they are able to ‘pass it on’ and pull others forward. What could be better?

How quickly can I expect results?

Dare I say it: immediately! From our first meeting or call you will get clear feedback or recommendations that you can use to start to improve the way you prepare or deliver your communications.

One client — a new senior manager — had this response to our first 60-minute feedback session: ‘you’ve just given me lessons for life!’

After that, the hits just keep on coming!

You refer to your 5-step Executive Communications System — can you tell me more about that?

Together, these 5 steps are a process that I use to help senior managers and Board Directors to develop stronger, better communications skills: on the page, on the stage and in meetings.

These 5 steps are the backbone of the Executive Mentor Program. Some of these steps play a part in the other programs I offer, but the Mentor program is the place where we delve into each of them to truly make a positive and lasting difference for you and your business communications.

Here are the 5 steps:

Get clear on where you are now in your current role: What are your communications skills & practices? What do you need to make an impact in your role over the next 6 or 12 months? What is required to ensure your business strategy and supporting projects are successful? In this step, I work with you to review your current writing & speaking and give you clear & actionable feedback, including quick next steps to start making an impact immediately.
Agree on a set of communications goals for the next 6 to 12 months that serve your business objectives as well as your overall career plan — and outline the right approach to reach them. An important part of this step is to help you to identify your communications heroes for writing and speaking, how they influence your aspirations, and how they can help to model an approach.
Ground your work with a tried and true approach to creating a logical structure and persuasive arguments. In this step, I teach you how to structure writing and presentations in a way that is empirically logical and persuasive. This is a tried and true approach that is simple and repeatable.
Build a relevant toolkit to enable you to consistently prepare and deliver excellent communications: on the page, on the stage and in meetings. This step is specifically tailored to your communications goals and career aspirations so that you can master the handful of techniques, practices & skills that will give you the results you want.
Master how to translate your ‘write and speak’ communications skills to live, interactive situations and meetings. If you are a first-time, or aspiring, Senior Manager or Board Director, this is a crucial step to ‘round out’ your communications skills — everyone in a senior role needs to know and put into practice these meeting and facilitation skills.

Is there a way I can get a ‘taste’ first?

If you are keen to start but just not sure which service or program is right for you then we can schedule a time to talk. You can do that by emailing me here. I’d be happy to talk to you in more detail about the programs and help you find the right solution for you.

If you want a free taste, then you can sign up for my (free) fortnightly newsletter. In it I share advice and information to improve your communications. It’s also the place where I first announce new programs and group learning opportunities such as teleseminars, mp3 downloads and workshops — so you’ll always know what’s going on.

I know I want to work with you. How do I get started?

That’s great! Email right now to set up a call or meeting so we can get started.

I know I will be able to claim this out of my professional development budget so can I ask you to bill my organisation directly?

There is no question that the investment you make to work with me is a bona fide professional development expense that you will be able to claim. Whether you claim this through your own means or bill your organisation is your choice.

Either way, upon payment, I provide you with a tax receipt for these purposes.

If you have arranged for your organisation to pay me directly, that is no problem at all, and I can submit an invoice to you to arrange for payment.

For all my programs there is a one-time upfront payment option (that will always represent best value to you as I like to reward my clients who pay upfront and in full) and for some programs I will offer a second option that involves an upfront deposit plus regular monthly payments on agreed dates.

I still have a couple of questions, can I call you?

Why don't you email those questions to me and then we can set up a call time for me to answer them. I look forward to talking with you very soon.

You can also reach me on +61 (0)407 314897

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Thank you again for your time and interest. I hope this information has been helpful.