We can all agree that this year has been a year of rapid change in policy communications. But what of the future?
Join us for our free breakfast discussion
Date: Tuesday 2 December 2025
Time: 09:30–11:00
Venue: Silver Square, 35 Square de Meeus, B1000, Brussels.
Cost: Free, including breakfast.
Places are limited, so please RSVP by 25 November to info@formativecoms.com.
This informal discussion will get you thinking about the essential skills your staff should be developing for policy communications and management in an AI-enhanced workplace. As a taster this is inspired by our recent article “Learning in 2026: Clear Thinking, Smart Communication.”
Join us for our free breakfast discussion on Tuesday 2 December 2025
Here is an opportunity to exchange ideas with each other and help shape the next-generation of training. We plan to talk about the following:
- Thinking critically and making better decisions under pressure
- Communicating clearly and with empathy
- Building confident, self-managing teams
Helen Dunnett and I also have our own ideas to share from the programmes we have been running with policy organisations. It’s been evolving rapidly this year. You will come away with new ideas that will shape your own organisation’s learning and development priorities for 2026.
The importance of new thinking skills in policy communications
The need for clear thinking and effective communication has never been more critical. I have long believed that investing in the development of young professionals is key to helping organisations have stronger collaboration with key opinion formers, clients and members. This belief inspired us to start developing new training along the lines of “Thinking Clearly, Communicating Smartly,” which aims to help policy staff with the future skills they need to thrive in an AI-enhanced workplace. We’re still in the testing stage – so read on. It’s all a bit new!
At the heart of this training is the idea of helping young policy officers to think critically, solve problems creatively and communicate with precision. It should free up leadership by developing staff who can self-manage their work, make sound decisions independently, and know when to ask for guidance. That’s the theory anyway.
Course content
We are planning to include these areas in this new training:
Critical Thinking & Analysis
- How to sit back, consider a problem and ask better questions
- Identify assumptions and bias and tailor your solution to your target audience
Creativity and empathy
- Reflect on lessons and patterns from previous attempts to take forward initiatives
- Understand the perspectives of other people in the room
Clear and articulate communications
- Ability to package information into what, who, why and the implications
- Be able to respond to challenges and difficult questions under pressure
What excites me most about this is its future focus. In a dreamlike era where AI tools are becoming commonplace, our human skills like empathy, creativity and thoughtful communication stand out as invaluable. This training is designed to sharpen these exact capabilities through three interactive modules that cover critical thinking and analysis, creativity paired with empathy, and the art of articulate communication.
I have seen how organisations that invest in these skills gain more engaged teams who are prepared to carry the business forward.
And the outcome?
For those working in public affairs, advocacy, or communications who want to stay ahead in this changing landscape, this course offers practical tools and insights that can be applied immediately. From asking better questions to handling difficult conversations with tact and empathy, the learning journey is comprehensive and designed to deliver real value.
If you are interested – let’s talk
At Formative Communications, we also ensure our materials are updated and tailored to the groups of people we are with. If you are looking to equip your team with the skills to think clearly and communicate smartly in today’s complex, AI-assisted environment, this workshop is the perfect place to start.
