Oct 28, 2020How to Tailor Your Communication So Your Audience Actually Hears YouYou’ve probably heard that riddle about a tree that falls in the forest… If no one is there to hear the tree fall, it doesn’t make a sound. I think of communication the same way. Words are always more about the receiver than the sender. How people take and interpret…Complex Communication5 min readComplex Communication5 min read
Oct 21, 2020Three Ways to Recover and Learn from a Communication FailPeople hate making mistakes. But the people around them hate when they don’t own up to it. Personally, I’ve always felt that made the true difference between a good (i.e., reliable and effective) communicator and a bad one. Even the most trained and finessed voice will slip up now and…Complex Communication4 min readComplex Communication4 min read
Sep 23, 2020Media Relations Part 3: Learn How Not to Screw Up Your Crisis ResponseThink of the most careless thing you’ve ever said. Something you wished you could take back as soon as it popped out. Once you’ve identified it, think about it for a good 30 seconds. Seems like an eternity, doesn’t it? And that’s only inside your own head. For most of…Media Relations5 min readMedia Relations5 min read
Sep 7, 2020Media Relations Part 2: Learn What You Need to Know Before Talking with a ReporterFor clients who want to know how best to talk to reporters, whether in the middle of a crisis or transition for their company, or even with positive news coverage for an event or a new hire, I first draw them back to the basics. I start by asking them…Media Relations5 min readMedia Relations5 min read
Aug 25, 2020Why You Never Accomplish Anything at Your MeetingsAre your company meetings an adrenaline shot, or do you dread them? If you’re the person who runs meetings, this self-check-in will be the difference between bolstering your team’s cohesion and productivity and giving them another task that makes them feel bogged-down and overbooked. If you’re a participant in one…Effective Communication4 min readEffective Communication4 min read
Aug 24, 2020Media Relations Part 1: Learn How to Develop Your MessageYou probably won’t get to the end of this article. In the time it took you to read that sentence, two seconds have passed. …Media Relations5 min readMedia Relations5 min read
Jul 29, 2020The Cure for Groupthink: GameologyWhen playing strategic war games, I always tell clients: You’re fighting generations of history. What do I mean by this? In my last post, we explored groupthink’s threat toward the functionality, effectiveness and survival of businesses. We identified what groupthink means and what signs point to it. Illusions of invulnerability…Complex Communication4 min readComplex Communication4 min read
Jul 16, 2020School Districts: Over-Communicate to Build TrustAs parents and students get ready to return to school in the fall, school districts play the primary role in mitigating fears and building confidence that schools are safe and prepared. Striking the right tone in your messaging is as important as presenting consistent, factual and concise information. Think of…Complex Communication3 min readComplex Communication3 min read
Jun 17, 2020Groupthink Could Destroy Your BusinessDo you know what stops people from speaking up at meetings? And when people do speak up with ideas that go against the grain, what stops all of us from pausing and considering that we may be wrong, or at least that we should take some time to consider their…Groupthink5 min readGroupthink5 min read
Jun 15, 2020Survey Reveals Parents’ Top Concerns About Returning to School Since COVID-19Parents across the nation are increasingly concerned about sending their children to school in the fall. In fact, when asked how concerned they were about their children returning, 89% of parents indicated they were concerned about their child’s safety at school in relation to COVID-19. …Complex Communication4 min readComplex Communication4 min read
