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Under investigation: learning comms lessons from the Line of Duty leaders 

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Under investigation: learning comms lessons from the Line of Duty leaders 

Rug-pull twists you don’t see coming, ever changing plot lines, complex curve balls and constantly changing goal posts…

Sounds familiar?

Yes, Line of Duty has gripped the nation with its ever-unfolding plotlines, but we could also be describing a week in your average organisation.

There’s always a new challenge to manage, unexpected complications to consider and different perspectives to deal with.

With so many opposing agendas, people pushing the story in their preferred direction and conflicting objectives to achieve, communication can become confused.

Simplifying a message and getting absolute clarity is tough as things move fast and there can be all manner of different colleagues and stakeholders coming at things from their own corner.

  • What is the truth? What is factually correct and what isn’t?
  • What is the single most important message we need to share?
  • How can we promote the right behaviours to manage complex communication?

The bold and brilliant characters from Line of Duty can teach us a lot about commendable communication. A lot of this boils down to clear and present comms basics and a foundation in professionalism and integrity.

So in this era of fast moving facts and constantly changing priorities, what can we learn from the experts at AC-12?

A lesson in trust and honesty

Ted Hastings, chief of AC-12 is a man with morals of iron. He’s well known for his direct approach, his black-and-white view of the law and his commitment to truth and justice. The epitome of integrity.

Rachel Miller of All Things IC often refers to the importance of ‘a single source of truth – a place employees know they can go to get reliable and honest answers and information’. When facts are unclear or a crisis is unfolding, a reliable internal source of truth is vital.

How well do you know your lines of communication? Can they always be trusted? When was the last time you audited your internal comms channels and asked employees where they head for to get the cold hard facts? Be confident that this actually exists and that employees have a trusted source of information during chaotic times.

A lesson in ethics and fairness

Just like a comms department, a lot of information flows through Detective Sergeant Steve Arnott.

And he’s well known for doing the right thing with that information. After refusing to collude with his fellow colleagues following the shooting of an innocent man in the early days, Arnott has certainly proven himself as another of AC-12’s moral compasses.

Steve Arnott’s word is his bond, but can we say the same for everyone? Communication is all about people and people can make mistakes, particularly when the way ahead is unclear.

Prioritising fair and ethical behaviour is something worth remembering and being confident that you’re running an ethically sound ship will help to sail your people through choppy waters.

Does your organisation have a code of ethics? Is it clear and transparent? Does it make sense? Is it promoted continually or hidden away in a handbook? Regular training in ethical behaviour ensures that when under pressure, facing time challenges or managing conflicting points of view, people know how to do the right thing.

A lesson in persistence

Along with Steve’s resolute commitment to honesty and integrity, his relentless persistence is a force to be reckoned with.

Like a dog with a bone he keeps on going until he gets to the truth of the matter.

He never stops questioning and this journalistic quality is a useful strength for internal comms pros. Never take things at face value when it comes to reaching the heart of any message.

A lesson in confidence and bravery

DS Kate Fleming prides herself on being the consummate professional. She’s trained to the highest standard in her chosen field and continues to develop herself and her career. She’s confident in the choices she makes and her position within AC-12.

It can sometimes be hard to stand up and be decisive, to be brave enough to give our opinions and share our point of view, even with the most senior colleagues in our organisations.

As comms pros, we should have faith in our own abilities and be confident that we’re trained to make the right decisions, however complex the situation may be. Being present at the right conversations and saying what we think is vital for maintaining and protecting our positions.

Kate Fleming has had to face some tough decisions, often under challenging and pressing circumstances. But taking a bold and confident approach to those situations has paid off.

The Alpha-Bravo-Charlies of communication

Meaningful, honest and effective communication can be hard to achieve when unpredictable plots and turbulent twists are constantly unravelling. While we’re not tackling crime and corruption within our ranks, we can still practice the fundamental behaviours of trusted, ethical and confident communication.

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Jo Hobbs — Communications Manager

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Louise Burnard, Head of Marketing and Communications UK — Be | Shaping the Future

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Dr Anna Batho — Clinical Psychologist – Critical Care, UCLH

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Georgia Beech — Internal Communications Specialist, Ocado Group

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Sarah Wright, Head of Communications and Campaigns — NEA

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Alana Khaytin, Communications Specialist — Braskem America

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Sara Langston, Patient Engagement & Marketing Manager — italk

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Steph Tranter, Hybrid Exec Coach & Psychologist — StephTranter.com

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Alexander Mills, Communications Manager — South Yorkshire Fire & Rescue

“Alive were professional, friendly and great to work with. Most importantly they were creative, helping us to bring an extremely important safety campaign to life.”

Jack Grasby — South Yorkshire Fire & Rescue

“The (Alive) team were able to creatively pull together and document (in just over 2minutes) everything our service has achieved over the last few months, from thousands of prescriptions deliveries to hundreds of phone calls made to the vulnerable. The final product was so powerful and reflective of what our service has and continues to achieve. It couldn’t have been better received within the service – thanks Alive for once again helping us to communicate our vision!’”

Emma Wright — South Yorkshire & Rescue

“We worked with the team at Alive to create our staff recognition video.
At a time like this, its never been more important to share the amazing work that our staff have done and continue to do on a daily basis under very difficult circumstances. We wanted to shout about this and recognise that when the time came, South Yorkshire Fire & Rescue stepped up to the plate. We didn’t want an ordinary thank you post on social media or a basic email sent out internally, we wanted something special. Enter Alive. ”

Emma Wright — South Yorkshire Fire & Rescue

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Jack Ford, Head of Marketing — streamGO

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Keren McCarron, Head of Corporate Affairs & Communications — KP Snacks

“Boom!
Thank you so much. Incredible work done at incredible speed by incredible people.
Outstanding work as ever and what a turnaround. As for the concepts – wow. These are that good it would be an insult to describe them as just good. It’s a joke, quite frankly. This is exactly the Alive effect I was after. Right now I feel like I am living in an Alive With Ideas wonderland. Thank you!”

Jack Grasby, Campaigns Manager — SYFR

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Amy Lilja, IC Manager — Hennepin Healthcare

“Alive were there to help when we were working every hour to respond to the coronavirus outbreak. They gave us the creativity, ideas and support we needed to deliver campaigns which empowered our residents in the most difficult time most of us have ever seen, personally and professionally. The team understood what we needed, worked closely with us and delivered fast without any compromise on quality. Working with Alive has been a joy in the darkest of times and I have no doubt will have helped to save lives. Thanks team x”

Julie Odams, Assistant Director of Communications & Customers — Derbyshire County Council

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Gavin Buckle — B&Q
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