I have some exciting news. I’m changing the name of my business to “Scientific Leadership Pathways, LLC.”
Or perhaps it’s more accurate to say, it’s exciting for ME. But is it exciting for YOU?
Sure, you may be pleased for me (thank you!) but you don’t read this newsletter just to get the latest Rachel news (unless you’re my mom 😉).
Why does it matter to you that I changed my business name?
That’s the most important question to answer before any communication: why what you’re saying matters to your listener.
I know, it’s so easy to get skip this step when it’s a topic you know a lot about and you’re really interested in. There’s always so much to be said, even for me in this example.
So I first decided what NOT to communicate:
-How I executed the name change: It’s not relevant since you’re probably not a small business owner, even though there’s a funny story involved.
-My thought process: Taking the audience through every step of the journey risks watering down the message.
-All of my ideas! There are a lot, so I selected what’s most relevant for you.
Then I thought about what might be useful for you to know:
I changed my business name to “Scientific Leadership Pathways” to reflect my focus on helping biotech leaders become as confident in their people leadership as they are in their technical expertise.
Over the last few years I’ve discovered the power of individual leadership / executive coaching to produce lasting change and growth. And, I also know that 1×1 coaching isn’t an investment everyone is ready to make.
So, in 2025, I’m expanding my offerings with a new program for early and mid career science-trained professionals who are taking on new managerial or leadership responsibilities and want to grow to fit these new responsibilities and be ready for future roles.
If you’re interested in being part of the pilot program – more input into the topics covered, more 1×1 time with me! – reply to this email to be on the interest list.
My intention here was to get to the essence of the message – the part that impacts you, the reader. How did I do?
You can practice the same focus for your next communication. These questions can help you decide what to include or not include:
- What does your audience care about?
- What don’t they care about and don’t need to know?
- For each piece of data ask yourself whether it supports the main message. If it doesn’t, remove it or put it in backup for that one person you know is going to ask anyway 🙂.
If you become known for consistently providing valuable information, your listeners will be grateful, and your leadership reputation will grow.
