Lessons that shaped our year in communications
We’ve shared a record number of blogs this year (well – 17 is a record for us!) As we wrap up 2025, we wondered which blogs have most resonated with our readers.
We found seven themes on our blog that people found most useful in 2025. As we navigate turbulent times, these seven blogs can help with decisions, approaches, and big thinking. So… for your delectation – here they are, all in one place. Enjoy!
1. Kindness resonates.
Kindness is not decorative. It shapes how people collaborate, how leaders show up and how messages land. When kindness is embedded into everyday practice rather than added on top, it strengthens trust and improves collective thinking.
Read more: Kindness is More Than a Nice-to-Have
2. Putting pressure on yourself doesn’t help your career.
Starting an impact career often feels overwhelming, but pressure doesn’t help move you forward. Purpose becomes clearer when you understand your strengths, your working style and the conditions in which you do your best work. And following what you enjoy and want to contribute to matters more than having prestigious names on your CV.
More info: Where Should You Start Your Impact Career? A Cheat Sheet to Help You Decide
3. Closing an organisation is hard, but sometimes necessary.
Closing an organisation is one of the hardest responsibilities a leader can face. Fear, responsibility and emotions come with difficult decisions that leaders have to take. But endings can be acts of integrity and care, as we explored in our blog: When the Ground Fell Away: What I Learned From Closing My Organisation in a Funding Crisis
4. Be present as a facilitator.
Facilitation mistakes often come from good intentions such as wanting to help, wanting to create comfort or trying to avoid silence. The most effective facilitators bring a lighter touch, clear listening and more room for the group to think together. Presence, not perfection, is what makes the difference.
Full blog: 5 Common Facilitation Mistakes and How to Avoid Them With Confidence
5. Simple, consistent habits can make or break your partnerships.
Great client-agency partnerships don’t happen by accident. Success factors include clarity, responsiveness, mutual trust and regular communication. When both sides treat communications as strategic work rather than a series of outputs, the partnership becomes smoother and more impactful for everyone.
More info here: How to Make Sure Your Comms Agency Partnership Goes Right: Five Things Our Clients Do Really Well
6. A supportive culture helps new starters settle in.
This behind-the-scenes reflection from a new team member showed how thoughtful onboarding, transparent communication and everyday systems shape the client experience. Small internal practices can create workplaces where people feel supported and able to think more clearly.
Full blog: Three Weeks at AMS: What I Have Learned and How I Am Making Life Easier for Our Clients
7. Know your audience!
Many organisations still try to speak to everyone… and therefore reach nobody on a deeper level. Communications are more powerful when specific, focused and built around the real needs and motivations of the audience. Clarity always strengthens impact.
Full blog: NGOs Are Talking to Everyone and No One
If these themes have sparked a thought, raised a question or highlighted a communications hurdle you’re navigating right now, we’d love to support you as you head into 2026.
Whether that’s refining your messaging, strengthening partnerships, or finding more clarity and confidence in how you communicate your impact; you can explore our Communications and Strategy services, and if you’d like to talk through what you need, contact us (or reach out to us on LinkedIn).
