Public Relations

3 biggest communication challenges of 2012

February 6, 2012

When asked to identify the greatest challenges we expect to face this year as corporate communicators, our IABC WestFair communicators presented a picture of life in the trenches, where responsibilities were anything but predictable and change was the only constant. Not surprisingly, the effective use of social media topped the list, followed closely by change [...]

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6 Ways Sarah Palin Uses Social Media to Stir the Beltway Status Quo

January 7, 2011

Sarah Palin’s unprecedented use of social media to set the agenda in Washington is something communication strategists and leaders should study, regardless of their political persuasion. “I tweet; that’s just the way I roll,” says Palin, somewhat annoyingly. But she’s no shrinking violet and doesn’t need our permission to speak out. Some say she should [...]

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Who controls the message now?

July 5, 2010

It’s a new day for public relations and communication strategy, as social media channels continue to pave the way for a more consensual, grassroots decision-making model. A newspaper press release once meant a lot in the court of public opinion—communicators used it to help shape the message. But who controls the message now? When actor [...]

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Eight good ways to break bad news

April 6, 2010

A client asked about the best way to share bad news, so I tried to share some useful guidelines. Much of this could apply to a manager sharing difficult news with a direct report, as it could to a corporate communicator with change management communication responsibilities. Be empathetic: Stating the facts simply and directly is [...]

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Local Coffee Shop Uses Social Media To Fight Injustice

January 14, 2010

You’ve heard it before: Individuals using social media to hold people and organizations to a higher level of accountability and transparency for perceived injustices—leveraging their network and the power of an engaged community to bring about change. An airline passenger with a smart phone Tweets about the fact that he’s been stuck on a tarmac [...]

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Four communication principles organizations can use to avoid the Tiger Woods effect in 2010

December 28, 2009

Public relations is counter-intuitive in the sense that it’s a study of what you’re communicating by choosing not to communicate. We’re not taught to think this way, and to do so seems slightly paranoid. Here’s a couple of communication principles organizations and senior leaders can put into practice in order to avoid the fallout—the Tiger [...]

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Part 2-Corporate Zombies: Coming to a Cubicle Near You (A Tale of Innovation and Near-Misses)

November 11, 2009

How do you feel about near-misses? Ok for horseshoes and hand grenades, eh? Well, in part two of our discussion about the cost of failing to keep employees engaged during an economic downturn—the cost of creating corporate zombies—I’d like to discuss one simple premise of employee motivation that applies to our present environment where so [...]

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The Cost Of Creating Corporate Zombies In A Down Economy

November 5, 2009

Is anyone talking about this? In looking for ways to innovate and grow their business right now have any companies thought of placing a renewed emphasis on employee engagement? Along with profit-to-earning-ratio calculations and the slashing of expenses are businesses calculating the total cost of owning a disengaged talent pool? The opportunity cost of failing [...]

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