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Showing posts from 2017

Overlooking the importance of transparency hurts your brand

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In today’s world you never know when a crisis is going to hit. I watch organizations and brands struggle with this publicly and as a communications professional, it’s one of those things I hope and pray won’t happen to me. However, in a culture dominated by a 24-hour news cycle and social media, the likelihood is not if but when. How a company or organization acts or doesn’t act when a crisis hits will have lasting effects. We have best practices that help inform how we should proactively respond, yet somehow organizations still miss the importance of being transparent, showing empathy, and being apologetic. In my home state of Connecticut, the University of Hartford has made national news with what seems like their inadequate handling of alleged racism between two students. In the video linked, you’ll notice the story headline highlights “bullying,” but as this story has evolved and more facts have been reported, Brianna Rae Brochu, the student accused of harass

Stop looking for success; instead bring value to others

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“Try not to become a man of success. Rather become a man of value.” ― Albert Einstein   I really love the above quote from Einstein. In two simple sentences, he covers a lot of ground. His words help push my own thinking on the differences between success and value. When it comes to your work, what percentage of your time is focused on winning and having your project be a success? Is it more or less than 50 percent? Take a minute to think about your answer. Now here’s your follow-up question. Do you prioritize success over value and if so, what may you be missing as a result? Einstein’s quote reminds me to press pause on my notion to drive for success and instead think of how my work helps to bring value to others. How we understand and perceive the differences matters to how we deliver on our individual goals. When you hear of success, recognition tends to follow. While our reputations are built on successful outcomes if we’re not careful, success can inflate our egos

Keep your content factual

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There was fake news and now we’ve moved onto alternative facts. Media coverage of Spicer’s comments on the attendance for   President Trump’s inauguration numbers and his declaration he lost the popular vote by three to five million due to illegals voting is a real time reminder of how quickly and easily one can be put on the defensive. When your message is not factual and people perceive you’re disingenuous, you lose control of it. In this social and digital age, content has the potential to go from zero to viral in a click of a button. As content enthusiasts, it’s what we aspire to do for our clients, however, at the heart of effective communications is trust and relationship building, when those begin to fray your audience can turn against you can quickly. Thanks to social channels, discontent of one can become millions within minutes. These tidal waves in our distribution channels remind us how high the stakes are. Getting your message right is key and having yo

Make time in 2017

Here’s a riddle for you. What’s more precious than gold, but cannot be bought, earned, or saved? If you said time, you’re correct. I don’t doubt each of us has a running list of tasks to do, people to see and places to go. We live in a fast-pace on the go culture and we do our best to keep pace with it. Time is the one thing we all can’t ever get enough of. Have you said to yourself, “I need to find the time?” As a new mom with twins, I’ve had to make a lot of adjustments. I knew this going in, but how it’s played out in practice differs from the many theories I received before they were born. Joining the parenthood continues to be a learning and rewarding experience. However, the sleepless nights, endless list of house chores compounded with trying to find a moment of peace with my husband or times to connect with family, friends and personal interests has left me feeling like I’m on a never ending roller coaster ride. Lucky for me I have a mom who acts as my emergency brake and