I have a nagging feeling that when growing up, I may have – very occasionally and of course unjustly – been thought of as ‘a little bit of a know-all’ or maybe even a tad ‘bossy’. However, I like to think that I was showing early natural talent, and I must have been destined for a role in Insight & Strategy. Family members that I’m connected with on LinkedIn should not feel compelled to contribute here!You may be blessed with good observational skills and a desire to understand, but I’ve learnt over time that insightfulness is more and it often comes with experience and the confidence to question and, importantly, to listen.So far in my career, I’ve been fortunate enough to have worked with high profile clients like Audi, Marks & Spencer, Alfa Romeo and McDonalds, as well as small businesses, and leading providers in custodial services, health and social care. And what has been consistent across them all is that to create a communications approach that drives great results, requires two things. Firstly, the ability to ‘dive in’ and get a deep understanding of them, the world in which they operate and what makes their customers, service users and other audiences tick. And then, the ability to ‘pull back’ to an objective viewpoint, knitting those different perspectives together to see the horizon and recommend a clear way forward to reach those goals. So please forgive me, if I ask a lot of questions and make suggestions. I’m not being nosey or bossy, I’m being insightful and strategic!