What a story! Communicators and the (lost) art of storytelling
No matter what path we’ve taken to become communicators or marketers, I’d argue that the most fundamental skill we’ve all worked to develop is that of a storyteller. What I’ve seen in recent years — working with clients –is that storytelling is re-emerging as the most central of core competencies. CCOs and CMOs want more […]
The Communicator’s disconnect: I think I’m great – why don’t you?
A number of years ago, I had the unenviable task of telling a communications employee at an annual review that – despite previous years of relatively strong performance ratings with other mangers — that year fell below expectations. I walked through the specifics, then asked for feedback. The employee sat stunned for a moment, then […]
INTERNAL social media: The treasure behind the firewall
We hear almost every day we about companies that either display great finesse or attract epic public scorn with a Tweet or Facebook post. Social media clearly is cooking on the front burner of just about every external communications and marketing team on the planet. The battle for “likes,” “shares,” clicks and tags is on, […]
Buying the brand of you: Creating personal social media brands
Having spent 17 years working on global consumer foods and beverages, I get what brands are about. But I have to admit that when it comes to creating a “personal digital” brand for social media, it isn’t exactly something that feels all that comfortable – at least at first. After all, communicators and marketers are […]
Outputs or outCOMES? Showing the difference helps you measure up
Your last communications or marketing campaign netted 100,000 click-throughs, 500,000 “likes” and 1 million impressions. You proudly take those numbers to your general manager or marketing partner, and the response is somewhere between watching paint dry and selling hot chocolate in a sauna. It’s just not – well — selling. Whether it’s internal or external […]
Tweet: your job will likely depend on it
In spending a good portion of the last 6 weeks on the road – in markets home and abroad — I took the opportunity to ask some large and small groups of marketing and communications professionals a question: how many of you have a Twitter account? Or are active on Facebook? Last week, I […]
Vulcan Mind-Meld: Communicators and marketers need to think alike
Any child of the 1970s (or beyond) who’s ever watched the sci-fi television series Star Trek knows how first officer Spock could connect the brain of any species to his own simply by placing his hands on the head of a partner and performing the Vulcan Mind Meld. I tried it on my twin sister a […]
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, […]
