Posts filed under 'Corporate Communications'
Don’t become an “I specialist”
By Richard Thomas
Newly minted PR/corporate communication consultants often experience an identity crisis of sorts, particularly when striking out on their own.
They spend 10 years, maybe 15, with the same organization and now they are hanging out their shingle. But it can be tough to make a clean break, both physically and mentally.
Think about it: you’ve been accustomed to a certain profile or reputation within the organization; every day people recognized and acknowledged you. What is more, your achievements and abilities were known to senior management.
But now, under the name of your own consultancy, you have to prove yourself all over again, and to every new client. In addition, there is the competition you didn’t have to face before. It’s tough on the ego.
To make things easier, it’s very tempting to turn around and hope for an opportunity to supply services to your former employer. This may work for a while and help to offset the initial panic of starting with no clients, but don’t let it become a crutch. It’s a bit like leaving home but pitching a tent on the back lawn.
You need to cut the cord, and this includes not constantly referring to what you did “back when I was at the ABC Corporation…”
Prospective clients are turned off when a consultant defines his or her experience in terms of a past employer. They can’t help wondering whether they may end up getting a repeat of your past efforts rather than something fresh and specific to their company’s needs. What is worse, you’ll come across as an “I specialist”, someone who put himself at the centre of the story.
You can supply clients with anecdotal evidence of your past achievements in more subtle ways once they have actually become clients. Until then, listen and learn. It’s about them not you.
Richard Thomas is VP Professional Development, the International Association of Business Communicators (IABC) Barbados
Add comment March 16, 2010
Plan communication before the crisis, warns IABC Barbados president
When a crisis hits, companies without a crisis communication plan may lose control of the story while management and the legal department are still agonising over the press release, says the head of a local organisation for corporate communicators.
“You can’t wait until the crisis is upon you to start figuring out how you will communicate with stakeholders and the wider public,” warns Christal McIntosh, president of the Barbados chapter of the International Association of Business Communicators (IABC).
“You need a written plan that anticipates the major crises that could affect your company, and spells out who is going to do what and by when, if any of those crises occur.”
McIntosh says the advent of social media has dramatically altered the speed at which companies have been accustomed to communicate when a crisis happens.
“Forget about arranging a press conference for later in the day, or operating according to the timelines of traditional news media,” she says. “By the time the legal department has decided what you should say for the seven o’clock news and for tomorrow’s newspapers, the story of your crisis – whether accurate or not – will have already travelled around the world via text messages, blog sites, or even U-Tube.”
McIntosh says corporate communicators need to factor social media into their crisis communication plans. To this end, IABC Barbados is hosting a teleseminar for the association’s members and other communication professionals entitled “When social media and crisis communications collide”.
The seminar is scheduled for 6.00 p.m. on Thursday, February 25th, at the Christie Room, Barbados Light & Power Annex, Garrison Hill, and will cost $40 for non-members.
Professionals interested in registering should call 626-6728.
1 comment February 19, 2010
IABC Barbados Presents Crisis Communication Teleseminar in February
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THE CRISIS COMMUNICATION PLAN Without one you can lose control of the story – FAST! |
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IABC Barbados Invites You To:
“When Social Media and Crisis Communications Collide”
This hour-long teleseminar will reveal valuable tips on how to approach the task of developing a crisis communication plan that recognises the speed of today’s social media. It is presented by Gerard Braud, of Braud Communications, New Orleans. An IABC member, Gerard specialises in developing and writing crisis communication plans for organisations including hospitals, universities, and corporations. Come prepared to listen, learn, and share your own experiences. Date: Thursday, February 25th, 2010 Time: 6.00 p.m. – 8.30 p.m. Location: Christie Room, Barbados Light & Power Annex; Garrison Hill, St, Michael Fee: Non-members $40; members $25 Light refreshments will be served. For catering purposes, please confirm attendance by Monday, February 22nd.
To register contact Richard Thomas – VP Professional Development at 626-6728 or email richard.thomas@bb.pwc.com.
Improving organizational effectiveness through strategic communication |
Add comment February 16, 2010
Lukaszewski to Conduct Seminar in Barbados
James E. Lukaszewski, voted by The Corporate Legal Times as one of the top ‘28 experts to call when all hell breaks loose’, will conduct a one day seminar in Barbados on June 18 at the Savannah Hotel in Hastings entitled, ‘Does the boss listen to you?’
Continue Reading Add comment May 16, 2009
Employees Need New Communication Diet
Thomas told the group that communication professionals have a major role to play in encouraging management to change the menu. “You have to convince your CEO and senior executives that employees can be far more productive and involved in the business if they understand what its strategies and goals are, and what issues it is facing, particularly in the marketplace.”
Continue Reading Add comment May 6, 2009
