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Communications Business AdvisorAuthor: Tara McDonagh
Hosted by Tara McDonagh, a Corporate Communications expert with nearly 30 years of experience for some of the biggest brands around, the Communications Business Advisor Podcast addresses the misunderstood and oversimplified field of communications in the corporate world, and elevates the reputation of the field and the people in it as Critical Business Advisors, never order takers. The Communications Business Advisor podcast is a place to share our vision for the field, discuss the challenges we face, and approaches to elevate our field and ourselves as critical advisors. Episode topics include everything from teaching executives how to treat us, to measurement that matters, the differences between internal communications and public relations (and what's the same), to team organizational structures that work, building a business case for budget, and interviews with Chief Communications Officers in a series called "Path to CCO." Join Tara McDonagh in the movement to prove that our value as a business area is not only helpful, it's imperative to a company's success. Tara McDonagh is a PRSA Women of Impact finalist in the Industry Champion / Thought Leader category, recognized for her contributions to elevating communications professionals into strategic business advisors and advancing the communications profession. Find more at www.taramcdonagh.com or follow Tara on LinkedIn where she writes about Communications topics for our field five days a week at: www.linkedin.com/in/taramurraymcdonagh Language: en Genres: Business, Careers, Management Contact email: Get it Feed URL: Get it iTunes ID: Get it Trailer: |
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Episode 47: Authority. What this Season was Really about.
Episode 47
Monday, 18 May, 2026
In this season finale of the Communications Business Advisor podcast, Tara McDonagh reflects on the themes that shaped the season and what they ultimately revealed about authority in the communications field. What started as a conversation about authority evolved into something much deeper: the hidden dynamics keeping communications leaders stuck, the "helper trap" limiting advancement, and the difference between building a strategy and creating real organizational behavior change. In this episode, Tara explores: Why authority became the defining theme of the season The evolution from "No" → "Partner" → "Authority" as yearly guiding concepts How the "helper trap" limits communications leaders Why communications strategy is really about behavior change What authority looks like in practice inside organizations Real client examples of transformation through strategy and structural change The difference between being respected and having authority A new framework to assess communications authority and potential growth People often come for the strategy. What they're really building is authority. Because the real shift isn't the document, the messaging, or even the structure. It's how communications is experienced, engaged, and valued inside the organization. Visit taramcdonagh.com to learn more about working with Tara or sign up for her newsletter on advancing as a Communications Business Advisor, Level Up: Be Extra, and her Raise the Tide™ emails for women in the field. This episode is sponsored by Raise the Tide™, a professional development ecosystem for women in communications — helping them grow, connect, and lead with confidence through mentorship, coaching, professional development, and community. If you found this episode valuable, please rate and review — it helps more communicators find the show and strengthens our collective voice. Until next time, keep advising. Always keep advising.
