Quarterback or receiver? Behaviors & perceptions of a strategist
More than one communications pro has come to me with a clear, compelling and consistent question: “How do I move from being perceived as reactive to being viewed as proactive and strategic?” My two-part question back is this: “Well, are you a quarterback or a receiver, and are you sure it’s perception?” You don’t have to […]
Unstitching the “Scarlet T”: 5 tips to help eliminate the dreaded Typo
We’ve all been there: a press release, or organizational change announcement that we’ve seen a dozen times in the last 3 days. We’ve agonized over every quote, headline, job title and legal review and proofed it so many times that it’s practically tattooed on the inside of our eyelids. Sure that we’re delivering that high-quality […]
Austin Powers’ words of wisdom on development: it’s about behavior
Austin Powers had it right. The big screen icon’s immortal words, “Oh, behave,” aren’t just for attracting a potential mate. They work for marketing and communications career growth and team effectiveness, too. I spend a fair bit of time these days helping companies identify technical marketing and communications competencies that will help their people grow, […]
Is there science behind being “global”? Turns out, there actually is.
Raise your hand if you’ve got “global” in your title, or if you want a job that has it. It seems no matter where you look these days, going – and being — global is en vogue. I don’t mean the magazine or the Madonna kind. I’m talking about the career version, and it turns […]
Make your communication plan shine: Identify and mitigate risks
Let’s say you have the luxury of a few days or weeks before you have to launch a major communications plan. You’ve thought through the full range of constituents, tailored your messaging to the last target, and sequenced your timing to the second. It’s the perfect plan, and you’re ready to rock. Or are you? […]
Know the business? Yeah, yeah… Communicators don’t have a choice
Be honest. What do you REALLY know about the business you’re in? Sure, we know we’re supposed to understand the strategies driving the business and the results they deliver. And it’s quite en vogue to say we’re on top of the latest quarterly earnings, but I’ve come to learn that many communicators really don’t understand […]
Head in the sand with a new communications boss?
Ask a room filled with communicators, “Who’s had a new functional boss or CCO in the last 12 months?” and you’re likely to see a majority of hands go up quickly. It’s the next shuffling of the deck chairs to align talent and opportunity. Two strategies quickly emerge for those getting new managers: get out […]
A.D.A.P.T.! 5 key steps to keeping your communications talent
Whether you manage communications professionals or want to believe there’s runway for your own growth, there are 5 components of talent development for communications professionals that will tell you whether you’re in a world-class organization that values and grows talent — or, um, let’s just say someplace else. If you want an easy way to […]
Turning communications careers inside out: the generalist emerges
Okay, you know who you are, Mr. or Ms. Internal or External Communications expert. You love what you do on one side of the internal vs. external communications fence. You view the “other side” as boring, limited, and/or frightening. You’re perfectly happy doing what you’re doing and want to keep doing just that for the […]
Stop the press! What to do when your communication plan is yanked
How many times have we put the finishing touches on a well-thought-out communications/PR assignment, only to have someone in a position of power pull the plug as we’re about to launch – or worse yet, after we’ve begun? We thought we had alignment, but wonder: where did we go wrong? The likely truth is that […]
