Expertly Said Davina Stanley on Communications Strategies for Better, Faster Decisions
Mar 20, 2026
Davina Stanley, Director at Clarity First who helps executives and product teams turn messy thinking into clear recommendations. She discusses starting with the decision you need, mapping a one-page message, tailoring communication for senior leaders, when storytelling works versus concise structure, collaborative drafting, and using AI only after your thinking is finalized.
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Lawyer Who Mocked The Method Came Around
- Anecdote: Davina taught thousands of lawyers to present legal advice in 30 seconds and initially grew confident after many successful workshops.
- A skeptical senior partner resisted, left, then returned excited and stayed an hour after the course because it transformed his view.
Start With A One-Sentence Outcome
- Do start by writing a one-sentence communication outcome: who needs to do what as a result of this communication.
- Davina uses that sentence to identify who matters in the room, spot controversies, and decide whether pre-conversations are required before a presentation.
Map Messaging On One Page
- Do map your message on a single page using a structured pattern: one big idea then 2 ways to organize supporting points.
- Davina teaches 10 corporate patterns (two structures × five patterns) so reviewers can read and approve in 15 minutes.
