Surviving the Christmas Party Season

Brisbane Times journalist Shannon Molloy asks Message Stix's Karen Williams for hints and tips on how to make the most of the fun times over Christmas...and hold your head high on Monday morning! Visit: http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/news/business/christmas-cheer-can-produce-a-legal-hangover/2008/12/01/1227979933717.html

Congratulations MDA!

Congratulations to our wonderful client - Multicultural Development Association Inc. who were the recipients of the 'Community Based Organisation Category' award at this year's Queensland Multicultural Awards. Pictured are Fraser Power (Chairman - MDA Board), Kerrin Benson (CEO - MDA) and Karen Williams of Message Stix at the awards ceremony which was held on November 26 at Parliament House. Look forward to working together in 2009!

Welcome Nikki!

The Message Stix team would like to extend a warm welcome to Nikki Swann - our newest Senior Consultant. Nikki will be working with an exciting new Message Stix client - Macarthur Coal. Nikki is an incredibly experienced change manager and an org psych to boot! Nikki, we are delighted to have you on board. Look forward to hearing of great results for Macarthur Coal!

Keynote Speaker - Thynne & Mac National Conference

Karen Williams of Message Stix is delighted to announce she will be Keynote Speaker at Thynne & Macartney's annual national conference. The group's partners will be gathering to learn a lot more about 'Feedback - How to Give it, How to Take it'. More proof indeed that this workshop is continuing to arouse interest from all sectors. If you would like to know more about our feedback workshop, contact us at info@messagestix.com.au .

Helping Macarthur to 'dig coal'

Message Stix is delighted to be working with our new client - Macarthur Coal. It's going to be a busy time...but we are up for the challenge!

An important cause

From October 1, Message Stix is providing direct financial assistance to The Smith Family's 'Learning for Life' program - which gives disadvantaged Australian children a chance to make the most of their education. This important cause is well worth your support too! For more information, visit: https://www.thesmithfamily.com.au

Keynote speaker for Ark Group

If you are in Sydney in November 2008, stop by to see Karen Williams present the highly acclaimed Message Stix workshop 'Feedback - How to Give it, How to Take it' workshop at the Ark Group Conference. For more info visit: http://www.arkgroupaustralia.com.au/events.htm . To know more about the feedback workshop, visit: http://www.messagestix.com.au/ .

Congratulations to the stellar team driving the iQuEST project! To Lisa Ryan (University of Sunshine Coast) and Dr Julie Davis (QUT) - what a successful forum! Message Stix is proud to be associated with this important work.

The AIG Boardroom Experience...

Karen Williams and John Mills (Pitcher Partners) will be presenting "Staff - How to Get Them, How to Keep Them" to Australian Industry Group on August 28th. For tips on staff retention, contact us at http://www.messagestix.com.au/ .

Very...illuminating...

Hi there, Message Stix is once again in the limelight. The College of Organisational Psychologists have picked up our recommendations for managing staff through times of great change - such as a merger or acqusition. To read more, visit: http://admin.psychology.org.au/Assets/Files/Illuminations%202008-06.pdf

What's Your Office Personality Type?

Check out our article at: http://www.shesaid.com.au/article/2008/06/16/2927_featured_story.php

To know more about managing different personalities in your workplace, contact us at www.messagestix.com.au

Karen Williams of Message Stix will join a stellar line-up of presenters, including 'Sunrise' favourite David Koch at the 2008 'Big' Small Business Solutions one day seminar. Following national interest in the Message Stix 'Feedback - How to Give it, How to Take it' workshop series, Karen will be facilitating a breakout workshop at the event. She’ll give you a good understanding of how to communicate effectively with employees, bosses, suppliers, clients and future prospects. Good business = good communication! To book a place at this important event, visit: http://www.smallbusinesssolutions.qld.gov.au/content/standard.asp?name=Seminar_Program or contact us at www.messagestix.com.au .

New Team Member!

Welcome Mel Nolan to the Message Stix team! Mel brings to our organisation extensive experience in both public and private sectors. Adept at his craft and recognised by state and national industry bodies for his capability in identifying opportunities for innovation, Mel has considerable and demonstrated knowledge and experience working on customer service initiatives in large change programs. Mel is working at Suncorp. Welcome!

Local Buy, Local Pride

Message Stix is proud to announce that it has been awarded preferred supplier status by Local Buy, the Local Government Association of Queensland owned and controlled procurement arm. Message Stix has been selected to provide independent marketing and communication consulting services to government bodies across Queensland. For more information about Message Stix services visit: www.messagestix.com.au

JJJ invite to talk back

The esteemed Triple J current affairs program, Hack, has invited Karen Williams to guest present during a talkback segment this afternoon at 5.30 p.m. Topic covers navigating your way through difficult or courageous conversations with your boss. Tune in!

For she's a jolly good (AIPF) fellow...

Karen Williams has been appointed a Fellow of the Australian Institute of Professional Facilitators. Founded in 2006, AIPF provides professional growth and networking opportunities for learning and development professionals and also helps Human Resources/Training and Development specialists source the best learning outcomes for their organisation. For further information about AIPF, visit: http://www.aipf.com.au/ . Want to engage one of our talented facilitators? Visit: http://www.messagestix.com.au/contact_us.htm .

Facing up to Feedback

It is a challenge to face up to feedback – harder still if you are the boss. In response to requests from a number of clients, Message Stix has developed a unique feedback coaching workshop entitled:

‘Feedback – How to Give It, How to Take It’.

This workshop is designed to help managers and staff identify and make the most of feedback opportunities. If you would like to know more or arrange a feedback workshop for your organisation, please contact http://www.messagestix.com.au/contact_us.htm .

Office Horrorscopes...goes live!

Be listening to 4BC radio on Monday, April 21 to hear Karen Williams live to air discussing 'Office Horrorscopes'. This hot topic, which has already been profiled in Brisbane's City News, MX Magazine and Gold Coast Bulletin, highlights the criticality in taking time to consider the right ‘fit’ for new employees - identify and recruit the right people up front and organisations can save themselves a whole lot of heartache.

As featured in Australian Women Online...

Australian Women Online is an online magazine and news blog for women. It features those stories often overlooked by other women’s magazines, including the personal and professional stories of Australian women who are making their mark in their chosen field. Karen Williams of Message Stix is currently front page! Visit: http://www.australianwomenonline.com/?p=417

HRBS give us a plug!

Our fantastic friends at HR Business Solutions are giving us a plug...so we're giving them one back! Subscribers to the Australian Institute of Project Management would have seen Karen's piece covering the culture of change through the Mergers and Acquisitions process. Tina and her team did - and they support our approach so strongly that they have placed the article on their website for their clients to view. Check out: http://hrbs.com.au/documents/MergersandAcquisitions.pdf Thanks HRBS!

Learn, Lead and Succeed...with Westpac

The dynamic Westpac Women's Markets teams have launched a unique program of nationwide events - The Learn, Lead and Succeed Business Event Series. It was developed by Westpac from discussions and feedback from over a decade of supporting the individual needs of Australian businesswomen. Karen Williams has been invited to attend the exclusive and intensive Brisbane event on April 29.

GITC Agreement Renewed

The Department of Public Works has confirmed its renewal of Message Stix's GITC Agreement. This agreement is part of a wider framework which manages Government procurement for ICT products and services and aims to simplify the purchasing process. The GITC terms and conditions are designed to remove uncertainties and inconsistencies in contractual procurement arrangements.

Pitcher Partners present...

Leading full service accounting and advisory firm, Pitcher Partners, has invited Karen Williams to present at its premier breakfast event on April 1, 2008 at the Brisbane Club. Karen will be discussing staff retention strategies with a number of key Pitcher Partners and Message Stix clients. What a great opportunity!

MDA continues in 2008!

Multicultural Development Association has confirmed that Message Stix will continue to provide its leadership development program in 2008! Thanks Kerrin and your team - it is great working with you and supporting the important contribution you make to Brisbane's regarding refugees. Megan - really proud of your efforts with the MDA team.

A smooth transition for Euro RSCG

Great feedback from the Euro RSCG / Red Agency team:

Message Stix was engaged by The Corporate Advantage (now Red Agency) in 2007 to facilitate a strategic growth and change process within the organisation. This multi-faceted project involved client and staff research, change management strategy and planning, and business counsel through a corporate merger. Karen Williams from Message Stix led this engagement and impressed all involved with her professionalism, acute understanding of business needs and priorities and her strategic guidance throughout this project. I would have no hesitation in recommending Karen and the Message Stix team to any organisation requiring high level organisational change management input or strategic human resource advice. Anita Caulfield, Principal, Red Agency

Trilby Misso give us a wrap!

After a successful round of presentations, CEO Graeme McFadyen has had great things to say about Message Stix:

“Since we are a large employer of Gen Ys we wanted a program that focused on differences in communication styles. Message Stix delivered a program that was both informative and fun. Karen Williams understands and communicates the message very well. Highly recommended.”
Graham McFayden, CEO, Trilby Misso Lawyers

Message Stix has signed with 612 ABC Brisbane! Really looking forward to working with the team!