Are you painting by numbers, or connecting the dots?
One of the most powerful ways in which communicators can contribute unique, strategic value is by connecting the dots in our organizations. Connecting the dots is about cultivating the habit of seeing...
View ArticleAsking the Right Questions
Here are the questions I recommend as arsenal for every strategic communicator heading into a tough meeting or assignment: What does success look like? Why this, why now? What are the project or...
View ArticleOutside-in Thinking
Top-flight strategic communicators bring what I call ‘outside-in’ thinking to their organizations. That is, the ability and instinct to see how an issue, initiative or activity will play out among...
View ArticleMeasurement Matters
If you’re operating in an organizational culture that’s highly focused on measurement, think about what gets measured and how that information is valued. It usually makes sense to follow the existing...
View ArticleBest Practices in Stakeholder Communications
The simple truth is that not all audiences are created equal. Some audiences have a vested interest, or “stake” in your organization. Each stakeholder relationship is unique in its form and substance....
View ArticleWhy do most communication strategies fail?
As a strategic communications junkie, one of the saddest realities to face is that most communications strategies fail. Yes, you read that correctly. The majority of communications strategies fail,...
View ArticleA Shift in Thinking: From Activities to Results
One of the easiest ways you can immediately enhance your strategic value as a communicator is to make a shift in the way you think about your function. Communicators generally focus on the very real...
View ArticleCommunications Begins at Home
Among the wealth of material written about strategic communications planning, virtually nothing is said about how communications advisors operate on their ‘home turf’, in relation to their internal...
View ArticleTake Credit Where Credit Is Due
Sometimes it’s hard for communicators to take credit for big picture outcomes such as the number of new members recruited, rate of client satisfaction, revenue, or influence leading to a regulatory...
View ArticleThe Value of Leadership
The communications industry is no different than any other when it comes to the necessity and relevance of leadership. It’s what internal clients are looking for, and it’s also the unique space where...
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