Top Takeaways: “Maximizing Impact Regardless of Team Structure”
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Hi! Our August Comm Convo was a wide-ranging discussion about how comms teams can effectively operate in the life science ecosystem. Replay available here. Here are our top 10 takeaways for gaining and maintaining influence no matter the type, size, or shape of your organization: 1. Accept trade-offs in structure. Both centralized and decentralized models have strengths and weaknesses—focus on adaptability and network reach, rather than defending one model. 2. Prove advisory value. Instead of pushing for meeting invites, show business acumen that makes leaders want your perspective. 3. Listen before you solve. In senior discussions, absorb strategy first; then connect it to communications solutions. 4. Build trust early. Learn the culture and language of the business to become a thought partner with influence before a crisis arises. 5. Match structure to reality. Reporting lines should flex with company priorities, whether that’s litigation, fundraising, or CEO bandwidth. 6. Frame cases in leadership’s terms. Position structural needs in ways that resonate with whoever leads—CCO, CFO, or CEO. 7. Treat overwhelm as a signal. When teams can’t prioritize strategically and when there are competing priorities, it often points to structural misalignment. 8. Lead with the “why” of change. Share the rationale for reorganizations when possible so there's understanding of the strategy behind them. 9. Connect across silos. Bridge reporting-line gaps by thinking creatively and building informal networks that foster collaboration. 10. Design systems that enable partnership. Create templates and processes that smooth bureaucratic complexities, from onboarding to campaign execution, and free up time for your team members and partners. Thanks to Suzanne Barston, Robyn Malone, and Roslyn Patterson for your many insights throughout the session. I’m reminded daily how lucky we are to have so many great minds in the T2B community! Don’t miss our next Comm Convo, which will be held September 25th: "Feedback, Feedforward, and Everything in Between." We’ll address how to give—and receive!—constructive feedback that protects relationships and strategic influence. Registration will open soon. Lynnea P.S. - In addition to our September Comm Convo, we’ll also be hosting our virtual Biopharma Comms Forum, The Ripple Effect, on September 18th. Sign up here! |
T2B Monthly
T2B Monthly | August 2025 New meetups, countdown to T2B Virtual Forum, recaps of August convos, and more! I always think August is going to be a quiet month, but between coast-to-coast meetups, a brand-new masterclass, prep for September’s forum, and some memorable conversations over the past few weeks, this newsletter is packed! We have a few “firsts," too: Our first Philly meetup, our first D.C. meetup, and a first look at how September’s Ripple Effect Forum is shaping up. And of course,...
Hi! Our recent seminar with Fullintel (a T2B Pro Perks partner) dug into a question we’re all facing right now: What happens when algorithms, not editors, determine what audiences see? Although AI may be changing the rules around best practices, it’s also giving us new ways to get our stories out there and make them stick. Here are 10 highlights from our discussion: 1. AI is everywhere in life sciences. Professionals in our field use AI at nearly 4x the rate of other industries (31% vs. 8%),...
Hi! As communicators we spend our time crafting stories for executives and putting others in the spotlight. So, it’s easy to forget that we are also a brand, with unique voices and expertise that we bring to the organizations and clients (and of course, ultimately, the patients) we serve. Our Q3 Leadership Lab Masterclass is your reminder to set some time aside to think about your own network – how to build it and how to lean on it. Because the best time to do both of these things is before...