Question 1

Who is Unna Reitamo, and what does Navigating North do?

Accepted Answer

I am an experienced communications and change management professional, and the founder of Navigating North. Navigating North helps companies in challenging communications, transformation and change situations by providing senior-level communications advice, sparring and hands-on support.

I have over 20 years of experience in communications, both as a consultant and in leadership roles. At Cargotec, I was responsible for corporate and change communications, working on areas including merger planning, the partial demerger, preparations for the listings of Kalmar and Hiab, and communications for various M&A transactions. Before Cargotec, I worked as a Senior Crisis Communications advisor and communications consultant at Ellun Kanat, as well as in different communications, brand and marketing roles at IBM.

My company Navigating North specialises in situations that call for an experienced communications professional who combines strategic thinking with hands-on execution, for example in corporate restructurings, organisational change, transformations, crises and executive communications.

Question 2

How do you recognise an experienced communications advisor?

Accepted Answer

An experienced communications advisor combines relevant experience, strategic thinking and the ability to turn ideas into action. A senior communications advisor is likely to have experience of similar situations, organisations and projects, as well as the ability to grasp the bigger picture quickly.

A good communications advisor knows how to ask the right follow-up questions, identifies the key communications challenges and is prepared to challenge leadership thinking when needed. Rather than arriving with one-size-fits-all communications solutions, an insightful advisor helps clarify what the situation actually requires and how to get there.

Question 3

When does it make sense to bring in outside communications expertise?

Accepted Answer

It makes sense to consider outside communications support when an organisation needs more experienced expertise, additional resources or an outside perspective for a demanding communications situation. This need may relate, for example, to a corporate restructuring, organisational change, transformation, crisis, executive communications or another significant change initiative.

An outside communications advisor can also be valuable when your own team needs sparring on a specific project, or wants to develop its communications capabilities and expertise. Help may also be needed due to personnel changes, a temporary resource gap or an exceptional workload.

Question 4

What does change communications mean in practice during a major transformation?

Accepted Answer

Change communications is a tool for driving change through, not just a way of informing people. In a major transformation, its role is to help people understand why the change is happening, what it means in practice, how it will proceed and what is expected.

Successful change communications requires consistent key messages, well-timed communication, clarity, and opportunities for questions and discussion. Line managers also play a key role in bringing the change into everyday organisational life, and need clear communications support to do so.

The aim of change communications is not simply to announce the change, but to support people in understanding, accepting and implementing it, while keeping business disruption to a minimum.

Question 5

When is outside communications support needed in a crisis?

Accepted Answer

External crisis communications support is valuable when a situation is complex or unusual for the organisation. External professional with an objective view can help in building situational awareness and understanding the overall context. Support may also be needed when the team's resources or skills are not sufficient to manage a fast-moving or round-the-clock crisis.

An experienced outside communications advisor brings, above all, an objective outside perspective, experience of similar situations and the ability to produce the necessary communications solutions quickly. They can help, for example, with building situational awareness, preparing key messages and Q&A, sparring with leadership, stakeholder communications and media relations.

The communications partner for change
that matters

Clients turn to me when

Communications challenges in sight?

Q&A

The communications partner for change that matters

Clients turn to me when

Communications challenges in sight?

Q&A

The communications partner for change
that matters