We believe that everyone has a good story to tell.

We respond to one another’s stories – the tragedy and the comedy, the frailty and heroism – because we see ourselves in them. And we recount stories – about ourselves, about our companies and institutions, about our families and even our foes – because we have important solutions to share.

What’s our story?

Robin Stevens Payes, author and principal of WordsWork Communications, has been telling stories – and acting in them – studying improvisation from the age of six to share stories, to write, learning the basis of language and grammar through foreign language study, and later, in college and graduate school, applying a social and cultural lens to interpret and convey stories accurately through the media.

Ms. Payes consults with leaders, policymakers, marketing and public policy experts to define, create, and implement social marketing campaigns. To increase effectiveness of clients’ communications to various audiences, she specializes in applying neuroscience that integrates advances in brain science to increase understanding and promote healthy behaviors. With a 25-year background in television, journalism, public relations, and theatre, Ms. Payes coaches leaders to increase their effectiveness in communicating with a wide variety of audiences through the use of storytelling, metaphor, and improvisation techniques. She enables leaders and organizations to tell their story in ways that move people and impact behavior. Storytelling can change minds. Using analysis, goal-setting and messaging, clients get out their messages – accurately, persuasively and successfully - across media and direct-to-audience for maximum impact.

When she is not helping shape the words, images and actions into messages that will make her clients’ achievements shine, Payes writes fiction, acts, blogs and tweets.