In case you didn't know, 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 https://t.co/kUIQojgqix and say hello below! 👋🏻

Employee engagement is at a 10-year low. Grateful for Steve Soltis’ perspective on why strategy, story and culture must work together in the second edition of Engaging Employees through Strategic Communication. Instructors: https://t.co/rTxgDcaYxm More: https://t.co/EiENZPsf6l

Wrapping up competition at the Open Masters Games in Abu Dhabi with a gold in Jiu-Jitsu and a silver in Beach Wrestling. Stepping outside my comfort zone in multiple disciplines was both challenging and rewarding. Grateful for the coaches and competitors who made it worthwhile.

Medals are great, but shiny metal isn’t what I see. I see people and hours. Experimentation, failure, exhaustion and exhilaration. Every mat, treadmill and mile shaped the journey. Step back from the result. See the team and the effort. Be grateful. Lead from there.

At the Open Masters Games, I competed in Beach Wrestling, a growing discipline in the sport. In this case, Beach Wrestling was the brand. Representing the US carries responsibility - I hope I did it justice. What brand are you prepared to represent 24/7?

I won gold in my age division at the Mubadala Sports Arena. Shout out to my instructor, Reynaldo Aloy. Moments like this remind me that progress is never solo. Teams, partners & coaches matter. Look ahead, but take time to look back and say thanks.

Some people might see my age as a liability. Me? I see it as an advantage. The Abu Dhabi Masters Games gave me the chance to test that preparation in real competition, alongside athletes from around the world.

Abu Dhabi, high above the city, and a reminder worth sharing. Progress is rarely linear. Adaptability, collaboration and grit matter. Shoutout to the @WFP and to Michele Quintaglie and Kelly Walden for life-saving work. Donation link: https://t.co/Q48XKRsfn5

Abu Dhabi has been a blast so far. Sharing a few photos from the Open Masters Games. I am competing in Beach Wrestling and Jiu-Jitsu. I made it to the finals in Beach Wrestling and still have Jiu-Jitsu coming up later this week. I was also interviewed about my replaced joints.

Grateful for Gina Anderson’s perspective on the second edition of Engaging Employees through Strategic Communication. The update reflects how strategy, measurement, ethics & AI now shape employee communication. Instructors: https://t.co/OyA7NpuwAn Info: https://t.co/Ni95iIl3Yz

Workplace Learning Report:

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.

Workplace Learning Report:

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: https://t.co/QEkh4ge9f2 More: https://t.co/S5NIj0r6zB

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You didn’t click the first time. You might want to now. If you work in communications, this one’s for you. Link in the comments.

Culture is not built by slogans. It is reinforced by what organizations measure and reward. I contributed to a @ForbesCommCncl piece on how internal communication strengthens the link between values, behavior and accountability. North Star overview here: https://t.co/yifDKAacyG

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: https://t.co/ILHdibRQAW

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. https://t.co/KR6sBluVz8