Impact Factory

We often tell people not to judge a book by its cover.

Yet in recruitment, networking and professional relationships, first impressions are formed in seconds - and increasingly, they happen online.

In her latest article, our Co-Founding Director, Jo Ellen Grzyb, explores the role LinkedIn profile photos play in shaping perceptions of credibility, professionalism and trust.

It's a timely reminder that personal brand isn't about self-promotion; it's about ensuring the impression you create aligns with the value you bring.

At Impact Factory, we've spent 35 years helping people communicate with greater impact, influence and authenticity.

What makes this conversation particularly interesting is that it raises a bigger question: how much of our professional success is determined by competence, and how much by how that competence is perceived?

Whether you're actively job searching, building your profile as a leader, or simply reflecting on how you show up professionally, this article offers valuable insight into the subtle signals we send-and the assumptions others make.

Read more in the comments below.

Last week, we welcomed delegates from four very different organisations to our 5-Day Communicate with Impact course.

An oil and gas company.
A multinational telecommunications business.
An energy provider.
An investment firm.

Different sectors. Different challenges. Different day jobs.

Yet what struck us was how similar the communication challenges were.

How do you influence without authority?
How do you deliver difficult messages while maintaining relationships?
How do you create buy-in when people have competing priorities?
How do you communicate with confidence when the stakes are high?

These are the questions we explored throughout the programme, alongside developing self-awareness, creating compelling key messages, building influence, handling conflict, and presenting with impact.

The course is designed to help people understand how communication really works and develop the confidence, tools and awareness to create the impact they choose.

One thing we see time and again:
Communication challenges are rarely industry-specific.

The ability to listen, influence, challenge, inspire and connect is becoming a universal leadership skill.

So we're curious:
What's the biggest communication challenge facing leaders in your organisation right now?

It's always wonderful to hear from people after they've attended one of our courses and discover how they're applying what they've learned in their everyday work.

We recently received a lovely message from someone who joined one of our recent Communication Skills Open Courses. They shared that they had been putting the learning into practice and recently presented at a major seminar in Paris.

Afterwards, several people commented on how clear, engaging and impactful their presentations were, and how well their message came across.

For us, that's what great learning is all about. Not what happens in the training room, but what happens afterwards when people take new ideas, make them their own and see real results.

Thank you for sharing your experience with us. Feedback like this is why we love what we do.

What do Star Wars, Little Red Riding Hood, elevator pitches, and fire safety have in common?

Recently, we had the pleasure of working with the team at Chubb Fire & Security on a Storytelling and Communication programme designed to help them communicate with greater impact and build stronger connections through stories.

Together, we explored how storytelling can influence decision-making, bring messages to life, and make communication more memorable.

Through practical exercises, delegates experimented with different ways to structure stories, engage audiences, build rapport, and tailor messages to what matters most to their listeners.

A huge thank you to everyone at Chubb who took part. Your openness, energy, and willingness to experiment made it a fantastic programme to facilitate.

We love seeing how storytelling can transform communication from simply sharing information to creating genuine connection and impact.