By Pinaki Kathiari
Chief Executive Officer
25 Years of Local Wisdom
There are people within organizations who need to improve communication with their audiences, but they face a big challenge: they’re overwhelmed by chaos, obstacles, and an endless to-do list. Managing communication effectively is exhausting, and though they’re committed to solving this, they’re missing key resources and support to do it well and rest easy at night. Leaders who truly care about their employees should care about internal communications – because effective communication directly affects employee well-being, which ultimately benefits the company’s bottom line.
Does this sound familiar?
At Local Wisdom, we understand the frustration that comes from limited support, constant resistance, and the fatigue of managing the countless details involved in effective communication. No one should have to endure workplace stress that leads to anxiety, burnout, or exhaustion.
With 25 years of experience, we’ve helped clients launch, manage, and scale their communications, developing strategy and strategic resources to gain buy-in, strengthening team collaboration, and demonstrating that a company that genuinely cares about its people is destined to succeed.
Our success over the years comes from the promises that we make to clients (whether they know it or not):
- We’ll free you up to focus on what’s important.
- We’ll adapt and support you through roadblocks.
- We’ll keep your data and privacy secure.
- We’ll be upfront about our ability to meet your needs.
- We’ll stay in regular contact to drive your objectives forward.
- We’ll bring positivity and fun to the process.
When you work with us, your job is easier and less stressful as we handle the daily tasks and clear obstacles from your path. This means more time to focus on fulfilling, game-changing work for your organization. Most importantly, you’ll avoid being mired in details, feeling isolated, or becoming seen as just an order-taker instead of a strategic partner. Your leaders will avoid costly missteps, a disengaged culture, and ineffective, overlooked communications.
Because caring about internal communications is caring about your employees.
As we celebrate 25 years of Local Wisdom, we reflect on all we have accomplished.
It’s really remarkable to see our company’s growth.
Local Wisdom was founded in 1999 by four Rutgers computer scientists huddled in a basement, finding ways to bridge business, design, and technology.
Today, we’re a team of designers, coders, writers, sports fans, pet lovers, gamers, and musicians. Learn more about our team here (it’s the most talked about page on our website). Local Wisdom is what it is today because of our people. They’re really next-level, unique, intelligent, talented, compassionate, friendly folks.
Our team has a lot of wisdom to share, and we asked them for the best or most helpful guidance they’ve received during their professional careers.
Below are some of those insights.
“It’s nice to be important, but it’s more important to be nice.”
– Michael Alfaro, Co-Founder & Chief Technology Officer
“Focus on your own work and don’t worry what everyone else is doing.”
– Brielle Saracini, Marketing Manager & Strategist
“Be a duck. Look like you’re smooth sailing on the surface, but underneath paddle like heck to get from point A to point B.”
– Anonymous
“You’re just going to have to make the decision. If you’re wrong, I’ll yell at you, but you have to make the decision.”
– Anonymous, reflecting on a conversation with a former boss.
To elaborate: This guidance pushed me to be comfortable making decisions independently and running with them. P.S. He never yelled at me.
“Sometimes the best ideas are the most random of ideas.”
– Brielle Saracini, commenting on how Internal Communications Manager & Strategist Lauren Moran mailed a potato.
More on that (and the importance of being a people-first company) here.
“Don’t let people look over you. Be your own hype man.”
– Alexis Alston, Internal Communications Consultant.
In other words, don’t be afraid to toot your own horn. Your accomplishments speak volumes to other professionals. It shows them your value in a workplace setting. Why wouldn’t you want to share your elevator pitch? It can open doors you’d never thought could be opened by just sharing the good you do and have done at work.
“What you get out of a thing often looks a lot like what you brought in with you.”
– Bill Kuehler, Co-Founder and Managing Partner at Local Wisdom’s sister company, Resource Hero.
Some additional insight relating to this quote: When approaching a topic, identify your current perspective. Then, intentionally seek out and engage with viewpoints or arguments that challenge or contradict your own. Doing so helps you keep your mind open and prevent you from being trapped in an echo chamber.
“Remember, when someone asks something of you, they likely view it as the most important thing you’ll be doing because it’s the most important to them. Be respectful when you must push back or level set expectations to not seem dismissive. They wouldn’t have asked for your help if they didn’t think their ask was necessary.”
– Anonymous
So you heard from the team, but what is my favorite quote? It’s about how treating your people well, with respect, and as humans instead of resources actually makes a difference in the bottom line.
It’s also just the right thing to do. You can read more about it here – but I’ll close the post with it, too.
“Sincere and specific employee recognition is by far the best ROI that I have ever seen.”
Let’s talk! If you’re in communications and you can use our services, contact us.
Our approach is straightforward: first, we schedule time to understand your needs and see if we’re the right fit. Then, we craft a custom plan, refine it together, and work with you to secure necessary approvals. Once we’re aligned, we unite as a single team, providing everyone with what they need to move forward. Together, we co-create, adapt to challenges, and work efficiently. Throughout, we stay in touch, gather feedback, and celebrate victories.
If you’d like to explore ideas, compare notes, or get an objective opinion, connect with me on LinkedIn (and please add an intro message so I know you’re connecting from this article).
