Mark Dollins - North Star Comms
@northstarcomms.bsky.social
Corporate & change communicator, coach and partner. Amateur wrestler/coach. Check out https://northstarcomms.com for free communications resources and research.
Pinned
I am excited to join Bluesky and connect!
I’m Mark Dollins, president of North Star Communications Consulting. With 30+ years in comms and clients like Visa and Toyota, I help leaders drive change and engage employees.
Explore free resources at northstarcomms.com and say hello below! 👋🏻
I’m Mark Dollins, president of North Star Communications Consulting. With 30+ years in comms and clients like Visa and Toyota, I help leaders drive change and engage employees.
Explore free resources at northstarcomms.com and say hello below! 👋🏻
Grateful for Gina Anderson’s perspective on the second edition of Engaging Employees through Strategic Communication. The update reflects how strategy, measurement, ethics and AI now shape employee communication.
Instructors: vist.ly/4q6ke
More: vist.ly/4q6kj
Instructors: vist.ly/4q6ke
More: vist.ly/4q6kj
February 3, 2026 at 1:09 PM
Grateful for Gina Anderson’s perspective on the second edition of Engaging Employees through Strategic Communication. The update reflects how strategy, measurement, ethics and AI now shape employee communication.
Instructors: vist.ly/4q6ke
More: vist.ly/4q6kj
Instructors: vist.ly/4q6ke
More: vist.ly/4q6kj
Most organizations are not bad at career development. They are dismissive of it. Treating it as optional slows change and increases disruption. Career development is not an HR program. It is part of how the business functions.
February 2, 2026 at 1:09 PM
Most organizations are not bad at career development. They are dismissive of it. Treating it as optional slows change and increases disruption. Career development is not an HR program. It is part of how the business functions.
AI literacy is becoming a leadership issue, not a tech one. AI adoption moves fast. Standards and expectations lag. The organizations getting this right are not chasing usage. They are building shared literacy, clear expectations and accountability. Read more: vist.ly/4pkny
AI literacy is now a leadership mandate
How leaders can build shared organization-wide standards for safe, effective AI use.
www.fastcompany.com
January 29, 2026 at 1:09 PM
AI literacy is becoming a leadership issue, not a tech one. AI adoption moves fast. Standards and expectations lag. The organizations getting this right are not chasing usage. They are building shared literacy, clear expectations and accountability. Read more: vist.ly/4pkny
Career development was once treated as a benefit. That framing no longer works. Organizations that invest in career development outperform because people are better prepared to adapt. This is no longer an HR initiative. It is a business requirement.
January 28, 2026 at 1:09 PM
Career development was once treated as a benefit. That framing no longer works. Organizations that invest in career development outperform because people are better prepared to adapt. This is no longer an HR initiative. It is a business requirement.
“Connecting with any audience demands discipline, strategy and preparation.” Grateful for Leigh Diffey’s endorsement of the second edition of Engaging Employees Through Strategic Communication.
Preorders for instructors: vist.ly/4pb7n
More: vist.ly/4pb7t
Preorders for instructors: vist.ly/4pb7n
More: vist.ly/4pb7t
January 27, 2026 at 1:09 PM
“Connecting with any audience demands discipline, strategy and preparation.” Grateful for Leigh Diffey’s endorsement of the second edition of Engaging Employees Through Strategic Communication.
Preorders for instructors: vist.ly/4pb7n
More: vist.ly/4pb7t
Preorders for instructors: vist.ly/4pb7n
More: vist.ly/4pb7t
Culture is not built by slogans. It is reinforced by what organizations measure and reward. I contributed to a Forbes Communications Council piece on how internal communication strengthens the link between values, behavior and accountability. North Star overview here: vist.ly/4nruw
20 Tips For Creating Company Culture With Internal Communications - North Star Communications Consulting President Mark Dollins in Forbes
In a Forbes Communications Council article titled "20 Tips for Creating Company Culture With Internal Communications," North Star Communications Consulting President Mark Dollins provides expertise on a key element of building a strong workplace culture.Dollins explains that a company's culture is formed by a chain that connects its values and behaviors. This chain's strength, he says, is dependent on clear accountability and metrics. To reinforce it, internal communicators can utilize compellin
www.northstarcomms.com
January 22, 2026 at 1:09 PM
Culture is not built by slogans. It is reinforced by what organizations measure and reward. I contributed to a Forbes Communications Council piece on how internal communication strengthens the link between values, behavior and accountability. North Star overview here: vist.ly/4nruw
Too many organizations still run employee communication like a kiddie table. Leaders decide. Employees execute. That is not alignment. It is control. Engagement grows when people are treated like partners, not spectators. Worth the read:
vist.ly/4ngpg
vist.ly/4ngpg
Get Rid of the 'Kiddie Table' At Work and Treat Employees Like Engaged Partners
Nix the workplace kiddie table. The healthiest organizations treat employees not as children to be managed, but as adults to be trusted.
www.inc.com
January 20, 2026 at 1:09 PM
Too many organizations still run employee communication like a kiddie table. Leaders decide. Employees execute. That is not alignment. It is control. Engagement grows when people are treated like partners, not spectators. Worth the read:
vist.ly/4ngpg
vist.ly/4ngpg
Your manager isn’t the only one shaping your career. You are, too. Managing up means getting the clarity, support and resources you need, and helping your manager see what strengthens the work. Done well, it benefits both sides.
vist.ly/4ncik
vist.ly/4ncik
Employees who manage up to bosses help the entire organization and their careers
“Managing up…is really about creating the conditions you need to be successful, whether that’s negotiating your workload, giving feedback and actually having it be heard.”
www.hr-brew.com
January 19, 2026 at 1:09 PM
Your manager isn’t the only one shaping your career. You are, too. Managing up means getting the clarity, support and resources you need, and helping your manager see what strengthens the work. Done well, it benefits both sides.
vist.ly/4ncik
vist.ly/4ncik
Trust on creative teams erodes quietly, often through small leadership signals. I shared my perspective on one of the most underestimated trust drivers in a Forbes Communications Council panel article. vist.ly/4mvvz
20 Ways to Build Trust Among Creative Teams | Mark Dollins, North Star
North Star’s Mark Dollins shares 20 proven strategies to build trust, foster collaboration, and strengthen creative teams in Forbes Communications Council.
www.northstarcomms.com
January 15, 2026 at 1:09 PM
Trust on creative teams erodes quietly, often through small leadership signals. I shared my perspective on one of the most underestimated trust drivers in a Forbes Communications Council panel article. vist.ly/4mvvz
Grateful for this recognition from The Enterprise World. From newsrooms to boardrooms, the work has always centered on trust, clarity and readiness for change. Thankful for the people who made the journey possible.
Story: vist.ly/4mr3f
Issue: vist.ly/4mr3n
Story: vist.ly/4mr3f
Issue: vist.ly/4mr3n
January 14, 2026 at 1:09 PM
Grateful for this recognition from The Enterprise World. From newsrooms to boardrooms, the work has always centered on trust, clarity and readiness for change. Thankful for the people who made the journey possible.
Story: vist.ly/4mr3f
Issue: vist.ly/4mr3n
Story: vist.ly/4mr3f
Issue: vist.ly/4mr3n
Employee communication didn’t get promoted overnight. Expectations just changed. Leaders now ask: Are people ready, not just informed? That shift is why the second edition of Engaging Employees Through Strategic Communication had to be written.
January 13, 2026 at 1:09 PM
Employee communication didn’t get promoted overnight. Expectations just changed. Leaders now ask: Are people ready, not just informed? That shift is why the second edition of Engaging Employees Through Strategic Communication had to be written.
New here? Welcome.
I’ve spent 30+ years helping leaders use communication to navigate change with clarity and confidence. I write about employee engagement, leadership communication and what actually works in transformation.
What would be most useful for me to cover this year?
I’ve spent 30+ years helping leaders use communication to navigate change with clarity and confidence. I write about employee engagement, leadership communication and what actually works in transformation.
What would be most useful for me to cover this year?
January 12, 2026 at 1:09 PM
New here? Welcome.
I’ve spent 30+ years helping leaders use communication to navigate change with clarity and confidence. I write about employee engagement, leadership communication and what actually works in transformation.
What would be most useful for me to cover this year?
I’ve spent 30+ years helping leaders use communication to navigate change with clarity and confidence. I write about employee engagement, leadership communication and what actually works in transformation.
What would be most useful for me to cover this year?
Most leadership breakdowns do not start with bad intent. They start with ego. Ego shows up in the rush to simplify, be right instead of useful and speak before listening. During change, those instincts do the most damage. That is why I recommend Ego Is the Enemy.
January 8, 2026 at 1:09 PM
Most leadership breakdowns do not start with bad intent. They start with ego. Ego shows up in the rush to simplify, be right instead of useful and speak before listening. During change, those instincts do the most damage. That is why I recommend Ego Is the Enemy.
Pre-orders are live for the second edition of Engaging Employees through Strategic Communication. Jon Stemmle and I wrote it because the discipline has changed. Professors can pre-order now. Comms pros can learn more ahead of Q1 2026.
Professors: vist.ly/4kpmk
Pros: vist.ly/4kpmr
Professors: vist.ly/4kpmk
Pros: vist.ly/4kpmr
January 6, 2026 at 1:09 PM
Pre-orders are live for the second edition of Engaging Employees through Strategic Communication. Jon Stemmle and I wrote it because the discipline has changed. Professors can pre-order now. Comms pros can learn more ahead of Q1 2026.
Professors: vist.ly/4kpmk
Pros: vist.ly/4kpmr
Professors: vist.ly/4kpmk
Pros: vist.ly/4kpmr
As 2025 wraps up, one thing is clear: change keeps accelerating and clarity matters more than ever. We spent the year helping organizations navigate uncertainty with disciplined, people-first communication. What communication challenges are you anticipating in 2026?
December 31, 2025 at 6:54 PM
As 2025 wraps up, one thing is clear: change keeps accelerating and clarity matters more than ever. We spent the year helping organizations navigate uncertainty with disciplined, people-first communication. What communication challenges are you anticipating in 2026?
Sundays aren’t the new Mondays. If people feel calmer working Sunday night than Tuesday afternoon, that’s not flexibility. It’s friction. Leaders should ask what’s broken during the workweek instead of celebrating weekend work. Your thoughts?
Sundays are the new Mondays
Overachievers and anxious workers are turning the Sunday scaries into an extra day of work.
www.businessinsider.com
December 30, 2025 at 1:43 PM
Sundays aren’t the new Mondays. If people feel calmer working Sunday night than Tuesday afternoon, that’s not flexibility. It’s friction. Leaders should ask what’s broken during the workweek instead of celebrating weekend work. Your thoughts?
Burnout shows up long before performance drops. Research in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine estimates disengagement costs $4K–$21K per employee each year. Workload clarity and real support matter. What’s helped your teams stay engaged?
vist.ly/4js9e
vist.ly/4js9e
December 26, 2025 at 1:09 PM
Burnout shows up long before performance drops. Research in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine estimates disengagement costs $4K–$21K per employee each year. Workload clarity and real support matter. What’s helped your teams stay engaged?
vist.ly/4js9e
vist.ly/4js9e
Research shows employees trust leadership messages less when AI produces them. Leaders must use AI responsibly, maintaining their voice and intent. Authenticity remains central to effective communication. How are you helping leaders maintain authenticity with AI?
December 3, 2025 at 1:09 PM
Research shows employees trust leadership messages less when AI produces them. Leaders must use AI responsibly, maintaining their voice and intent. Authenticity remains central to effective communication. How are you helping leaders maintain authenticity with AI?
Wrestling teaches you to adjust fast. Change communication is no different. Plans help, but real impact comes from how we guide people through uncertainty. Are you certified in a method like Prosci, and has it shaped how you lead change? Full report in comments.
December 2, 2025 at 1:09 PM
Wrestling teaches you to adjust fast. Change communication is no different. Plans help, but real impact comes from how we guide people through uncertainty. Are you certified in a method like Prosci, and has it shaped how you lead change? Full report in comments.
If there are two things I would shout that communicators need to do it's these:
EXPLORE STRATEGIC USES OF AI, NOT JUST FOR PRODUCTIVITY!!
LEARN AND/OR GET CERTIFIED IN CHANGE MANAGEMENT!!!
What would you yell?!
EXPLORE STRATEGIC USES OF AI, NOT JUST FOR PRODUCTIVITY!!
LEARN AND/OR GET CERTIFIED IN CHANGE MANAGEMENT!!!
What would you yell?!
December 1, 2025 at 2:09 PM
If there are two things I would shout that communicators need to do it's these:
EXPLORE STRATEGIC USES OF AI, NOT JUST FOR PRODUCTIVITY!!
LEARN AND/OR GET CERTIFIED IN CHANGE MANAGEMENT!!!
What would you yell?!
EXPLORE STRATEGIC USES OF AI, NOT JUST FOR PRODUCTIVITY!!
LEARN AND/OR GET CERTIFIED IN CHANGE MANAGEMENT!!!
What would you yell?!
Happy Thanksgiving to all who celebrate. I am grateful for the clients, colleagues, students and friends who make this work meaningful. Thank you for the trust, the learning and the conversations we share. Wishing everyone a safe and peaceful day. #Thanksgiving
November 27, 2025 at 2:37 PM
Happy Thanksgiving to all who celebrate. I am grateful for the clients, colleagues, students and friends who make this work meaningful. Thank you for the trust, the learning and the conversations we share. Wishing everyone a safe and peaceful day. #Thanksgiving
McKinsey predicts demand for social and emotional skills will rise 26% in the U.S. by 2030. AI can analyze data, but only empathy, creativity and judgment unlock human potential.
How is your organization preparing leaders to out-human AI?
@forbes.com: vist.ly/4g3sk
How is your organization preparing leaders to out-human AI?
@forbes.com: vist.ly/4g3sk
November 26, 2025 at 2:09 PM
McKinsey predicts demand for social and emotional skills will rise 26% in the U.S. by 2030. AI can analyze data, but only empathy, creativity and judgment unlock human potential.
How is your organization preparing leaders to out-human AI?
@forbes.com: vist.ly/4g3sk
How is your organization preparing leaders to out-human AI?
@forbes.com: vist.ly/4g3sk
Accuracy, transparency, privacy — the ethical guardrails for AI in communications are still forming. Which matters most to you?
Accuracy, transparency, privacy — the ethical guardrails for AI in communications are still forming. Which matters most to you?
Accuracy, transparency, privacy — the ethical guardrails for AI in communications are still forming. Which matters most to you?
vistasocial.com
November 25, 2025 at 2:09 PM
Accuracy, transparency, privacy — the ethical guardrails for AI in communications are still forming. Which matters most to you?
When employees feel valued and trusted, they deliver consistency and care that customers remember. One company improved its eNPS from negative to 61 and saw big jumps in referrals and word-of-mouth. That’s not marketing — that’s culture. Strong brands start inside. vist.ly/4frud
November 24, 2025 at 2:09 PM
When employees feel valued and trusted, they deliver consistency and care that customers remember. One company improved its eNPS from negative to 61 and saw big jumps in referrals and word-of-mouth. That’s not marketing — that’s culture. Strong brands start inside. vist.ly/4frud
The Forbes Communications Council shared 12 KPIs that highlight the real impact of internal comms. From silence as a signal of trust to behavior change as proof of action, these measures show how messages land and where to improve. vist.ly/4fbh9
12 Internal Comms KPIs That Actually Drive Improvement
The right KPIs can surface blind spots, highlight engagement patterns and help you tailor your approach to meet real employee needs.
www.forbes.com
November 20, 2025 at 2:09 PM
The Forbes Communications Council shared 12 KPIs that highlight the real impact of internal comms. From silence as a signal of trust to behavior change as proof of action, these measures show how messages land and where to improve. vist.ly/4fbh9