Why Problem-Solving Is the Most Valuable Strategic Skill in PR and Change Leadership

A pair of white hands managing a Rubic's Cube mind-puzzle game

I've spent over two decades working in PR, public affairs, campaigning, crisis comms, and change communications – and enjoyed (almost!) every minute of it. I've worked in-house, agency, perm, and interim. Every moment has been incredibly valuable, enabling me to learn, stay curious, and ultimately shape me into the leader I am today. Crucially, it enables me to support organisations and clients, whatever the challenge.

How do I do this? Do I possess a superpower? Am I a magician? Is there a secret club or cunning plan I execute relentlessly? Absolutely not. Across every discipline and in every role, I’ve found one skill that consistently outperforms experience, creativity, or even contacts: problem-solving.

Whether you're in the middle of a PR campaign, driving a policy push, trying to calm internal comms during a major transformation, or navigating shifting political ground, the environment is rarely predictable. And when there’s no time for long onboarding, what organisations need most is someone who can step in, assess quickly, strategise clearly, and move things forward.

That’s what excellent problem-solvers do and it's a core skill for interim and fractional professionals. When I'm working on an FTC, I don’t just rock up – I solve problems. And not just reactively. The best strategic contractors bring clarity, cut through noise, and identify what’s actually blocking momentum. The real power here is that interims, fractionals,and consulting specialists aren’t weighed down by internal politics. We’re here to do the job, help the organisation, support the team, solve the problem, and move on. If there’s any superpower in contracting, I’d say this is the secret sauce.

It’s not about being a ‘fixer’ in the traditional sense, and it’s certainly not about breaking things and leaving a trail of devastation behind you. It’s about asking the right questions, focusing on the right problems, and getting results – whether that means crafting the right narrative to win stakeholder support, navigating media under pressure, providing calm advice and counsel, or aligning teams during structural change.

Problem-solving also underpins successful communications. People don’t remember the slickest pitch – they remember the person who helped make things make sense. Someone who spotted the issue early, translated it clearly, and gave them confidence. That applies whether you’re building public trust, influencing policy, supporting a leader giving a public speech, or steadying an organisation through change.

Now more than ever, fractional, interim and consulting talent offers enormous value. Why? Because you get senior-level expertise without the delay. You get pace without panic. And you get someone whose job is to deliver clarity – not just capacity.

If that sounds like what your organisation needs, give us a shout.Visit www.summitcommunications.co.uk to learn more or get in touch to explore how we can support your next phase of growth, crisis, or change.