From Fuzzy Metrics to Real Impact: Making Clarity Measurable | Amanda Todd

In this Between the Seasons episode, Pinaki Kathiari and Chris Lee sit down with Amanda Todd, Senior Director of Communications at Temporal Technologies, to unpack why clarity is one of the most critical outcomes of effective internal communication.Amanda shares her “squiggly” path into internal comms, her belief in honesty as a core communications skill, and how working in complex, fast-growing organizations pushed her to rethink how success is measured. Drawing on research and real-world experience, she explains how she helped build a Clarity Index that turns something often seen as “soft” into a measurable business metric.The conversation explores what it really means to communicate for the receiver, not the sender, why personas matter inside organizations just as much as they do in marketing, and how clarity around strategy, roles, career paths, and culture can directly influence engagement, confidence, and retention.This episode is a grounded, practical look at how internal communicators can move beyond vanity metrics, earn credibility with leadership teams, and advocate for the strategic value of their work. In this episode, they discuss:Why clarity should be treated as a core communications outcomeHow honesty builds trust and effectiveness in internal commsWhat it means to communicate for the receiver, not the senderUsing personas to simplify complex organizationsHow a Clarity Index can turn comms into a measurable business driverThe link between clarity, confidence, and employee retentionWhy internal communicators deserve a seat at the strategy table Timestamps00:00 – Welcome to Between the Seasons and today’s topic01:45 – Amanda’s squiggly career path into internal communications03:10 – Navigating complexity and subcultures inside organizations04:15 – Communicating for the receiver, not the sender06:00 – Honesty as a core communications skill07:10 – Introducing clarity as a measurable metric08:40 – Building a Clarity Index and what it measures11:30 – Using data to influence executive teams14:05 – Linking clarity to strategy, engagement, and retention16:30 – Using clarity data to shape communications strategy18:20 – Advice for internal communicators measuring clarity19:45 – Final reflections on clarity and the human side of workConnect with UsPinaki Kathiari – LinkedIn  | Local WisdomChris Lee – LinkedIn | Gallagher CommunicationBree Bartos – LinkedIn | Local WisdomSpecial thanks to digital communication agency Local Wisdom (www.localwisdom.com) for really believing in our mission and making this podcast possible. If this episode made you think differently, laugh, or even yell out loud, we want to hear about it! Connect with us on LinkedIn, and don’t forget to rate, review, and share – maybe with your work bestie… or even your boss if you're feeling bold. We also bring these important conversations to conferences and private workshops, creating space for real, meaningful change. Take the first step at www.whydoesitfeelsowrong.com. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.