What is ABOVE THE LINE?
“Communication works for those who work at it.” - John Powell, Academy Award-nominated film score composer.
The aim of Above the Line is to help people get better at communication.
The best leaders are inevitably brilliant communicators - it’s impossible to inspire people if you can't connect with them.
Effective communication skills are a core competency for everyone, but in my almost-20 years working in corporate communications and media training, I’ve observed that access to communication training is usually reserved for those already in senior leadership positions. This is the gap that Above the Line will address.
Communication is critical to most aspects of work and life. It can help bring ideas to life, unlock human potential, develop and deepen relationships, lift teams and productivity, implement strategy and effectively apply innovation. Good communication skills are also essential to optimal wellbeing.
Strong communication skills are consistently highlighted by CEOs as critical for high-performing individuals, teams and businesses. This will amplify as AI infiltrates our lives more: the ability to differentiate yourself and communicate your value has never been more important.
While the relevance of Above the Line's content will extend beyond the workplace (because improving communication skills uplifts almost every area of your life), it’s interesting to consider research from the world's largest employee benefits consulting firm Towers Watson: businesses with highly effective communicators have a 47 per cent higher total return to shareholders compared to companies with less effective communicators, and businesses with strong communication practices are 3.5 times more likely to significantly outperform industry peers.
How can Above the Line help?
Above the Line is communications coaching broken down into weekly words with practical tips and takeaways, exercises based on our proven communications training formula, masterclasses, a community and coaching opportunities.
There will be lots of free content, and some available to paid subscribers only. Occasionally my weekly words will be an in-depth look at the more esoteric aspects of communication: like how your words influence your actions, or the importance of your inner dialogue. These posts are intended to help expand your thinking or challenge a perspective.
I am most fulfilled when I’m helping people. I love hearing results from people I've helped with communications training - their excitement over a project that finally got approved, a promotion, team dynamics finding flow, improved relationships or seeing more recognition for their value and expertise.
That's why I started Above the Line, to help more people access communication support. I hope you find it helpful.
How to join the Above the Line community
Free subscription
Access to most editions of weekly words (newsletter). Some editions of the newsletter will include parts that are accessible to paid subscribers only.
Paid subscription $11 per month or $111 per year (AUD)
Access to all weekly words newsletters including the full archive, occasional special posts, masterclasses, community discussion and the opportunity to direct content topic areas. There will be a minimum of five masterclasses per year.
Founding member subscription $555 (AUD)
I have a limited number of founding member allocations that will include all of the benefits that paid subscribers receive, plus a 75-minute communications coaching session. This session can be tailored however you wish: it can be one of my standard training sessions or we can work on a specific area, event or opportunity. It's totally up to you!
*Please contact me if you would like to arrange a discounted rate for multiple subscriptions: larissawebster01@gmail.com
If you think Above the Line would be helpful for a team member, friend or colleague, you can also gift a subscription by clicking here.
More about me
Hailing from Australia and currently based in Europe, I’ve spent my 20-year career in corporate communications roles across not-for-profits, government and multi-national organisations. Managing high performance teams and advising leaders on communications strategy for high profile projects and corporate initiatives, I’ve worked across the spectrum of media, communications and stakeholder relations in business.
In early 2022 I stepped out of corporate to establish my consultancy, where I coach leaders to help them improve their communications, support organisations with communications needs and work with Andrea Clarke from The New IQ in her business, Future Fit.
I’m a former professional athlete, having represented Australia in water polo and played professionally in Europe for three years. I learned a lot about effective communication during my time in sport!
I am the first to admit, I have not mastered all the skills I teach and do not always walk the talk - I’m often in the trenches too. But I do have a lot of experience educating people and am deeply passionate about the transformative power of effective communication. And I know that the learning is in the doing and the teaching.
Thanks for being here and supporting me, I look forward to connecting and providing as much value as possible.
Here’s a throwback to me playing water polo over a decade ago!
To find out more about the company that provides the tech for this newsletter, visit Substack.com.
