GAIL HACKSTON
Strategic Communicator. System Thinker. Problem Solver.
|
Hi, I’m Gail.
I help leaders diagnose and fix problems in their organisations – and move quickly to action and results. Most of that work happens through the lens of communication. I’m a strategic and systemic communication consultant with almost three decades of experience supporting leaders and organisations through transformation, complexity, and scale. My work combines systems thinking, action learning, behavioural insight, narrative strategy, and change communications. |
Communications as system
Communication as a function has evolved rapidly in the last few years. Many organisations now treat it as a strategic capability rather than a tactical service. That shift is welcome, but another evolution is already underway.
We need to start seeing communications as complex, adaptive, and ever-present: a function, a skill, a message, a narrative, a behaviour, a signal, a rumour, a relationship. It’s the connective tissue through which meaning, direction, and coordination flow.
When it’s strong, organisations move. When it isn’t, they stall.
We need to start seeing communications as complex, adaptive, and ever-present: a function, a skill, a message, a narrative, a behaviour, a signal, a rumour, a relationship. It’s the connective tissue through which meaning, direction, and coordination flow.
When it’s strong, organisations move. When it isn’t, they stall.
In this context, my mission is simple:
Connect humans. Reduce friction. Transform how organisations communicate.
Connect humans. Reduce friction. Transform how organisations communicate.
What I do
I work with leaders and organisations who are ready to see their communication system clearly - and change it for the better. My work typically sits in a few core areas:
1. Diagnose, fix, and reset communication functions - I work with leaders and communication teams to identify what’s working, what’s not, and what the function should be doing. Once clarity is established, I help move the operating model, skills, and practices to that point.
2. Support failing or struggling programmes and projects - I’m often brought into situations where complexity has tipped into chaos, where alignment has broken down, or where trust needs rebuilding. My job is to restore clarity, strengthen relationships, and create the conditions for coordinated action.
3. Facilitate workshops and breakthroughs - I design and run practical, high-focus sessions that help leaders and teams make sense of what’s happening, align around shared priorities, and move quickly to decisions and action.
4. Train and mentor leaders and communicators - I support leaders who want to strengthen their communication practice and communicators who want to operate at a more strategic and systemic level.
1. Diagnose, fix, and reset communication functions - I work with leaders and communication teams to identify what’s working, what’s not, and what the function should be doing. Once clarity is established, I help move the operating model, skills, and practices to that point.
2. Support failing or struggling programmes and projects - I’m often brought into situations where complexity has tipped into chaos, where alignment has broken down, or where trust needs rebuilding. My job is to restore clarity, strengthen relationships, and create the conditions for coordinated action.
3. Facilitate workshops and breakthroughs - I design and run practical, high-focus sessions that help leaders and teams make sense of what’s happening, align around shared priorities, and move quickly to decisions and action.
4. Train and mentor leaders and communicators - I support leaders who want to strengthen their communication practice and communicators who want to operate at a more strategic and systemic level.
How to work with me
- Communications Consulting - I’m available on a fractional or interim basis and am currently taking on new clients. This can be short-term, programme-focused, or structured as a longer-term retainer.
- Functional Reviews and Resets - A clear, structured diagnosis of how communication works in your organisation – and a practical roadmap for strengthening it.
- Workshops - Including Action Accelerators – intensive, outcome-driven sessions designed to cut through noise, unlock breakthroughs, and move teams to coordinated action.
- Training - I offer training in systemic communication, internal and strategic communication, leadership communication, and employee-to-influencer content development.
- Action Learning Facilitation - I’m a trained action learning facilitator and can introduce action learning into teams or set up ongoing action learning sets focused on solving real organisational problems.
Let's Connect
If you’re exploring how to strengthen communication in your organisation, I’d be happy to talk. A short conversation is often enough to see what’s really going on and what support might help.