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Visibility, Credibility, and Growth.

From media strategy to reputation management, we explore the trends shaping public perception and share the approaches that drive measurable results for growing brands.

Overcoming the Psychological Barriers to Collaboration

Many of us work in environments that strive to promote collaboration, but have you ever stopped to think about the skills that collaboration demands?

This was the focus of Harvard Professor Francesca Gino’s recent work where she shares her findings in the article titled, “Cracking the Code of Sustained Collaboration: Six new tools for training people to work better together.” It can be found in the November-December 2019 issue of Harvard Business Review.

When building collaboration skills, she first recommends teaching people to listen. This is excellent advice and can help not only when collaborating with co-workers, but also with clients, vendors and partners.

One of my favorite business books is “Just Listen: Discover the Secret to Getting Through to Absolutely Anyone,” written by Mark Goulston. Over the years I’ve used it repeatedly. In addition to providing insight into the persuasion cycle and how listening impacts it, Goulston also includes a variety of questions that can be asked to overcome conflict, deepen relationships and improve empathy with others.

Speaking of empathy, the next suggestion from Gino is that to improve collaboration you must also “train people to practice empathy.” This often begins with self-examination or awareness of your mindset. She explains that when you’re working with others, if you’re judging them, you may begin to arrive at conclusions that can undermine collaboration.

For instance, you may think to yourself, this person isn’t very helpful or caring. Once you start down this path, communication can break down. Instead of judging, seek to understand the other person’s behavior, attitude or beliefs. In the full article, you’ll find ideas on how to do this.

The third tip surrounds feedback. For some of us, this is a loaded term, associated with shortcomings or things that need to be improved. However, according to Gino, “Good collaboration involves giving and receiving feedback well – and from a position of influence rather than authority.” She then goes on to describe the methods for improving feedback loops.

Fourth, to improve collaboration, you may want to “teach people to lead and follow.” As a leader, this can be challenging. When you have lots of experience or want something done a particular way, it can be difficult to cede control to others. However, while initially it might be uncomfortable, relinquishing control allows others to take ownership and share ideas that may not have otherwise surfaced.

The final tips involve the ability to speak with clarity and how to train people to have win-win interactions. Clearly, it’s much harder to collaborate if the other party doesn’t understand what you’re trying to say or why it’s important.

If interactions aren’t win-win, they often fail. In sales, it’s well known that if you want long-term success, deals need to be win-win. When achieved, this means satisfied customers, long-term relationships, repeat business and good referrals. To achieve win-win outcomes you often need to approach interactions or negotiations as partners and not adversaries. Gino reminds us that by investigating each other’s needs often the best outcome can be achieved.

If you want to learn more about these tips, how they’re mutually supportive and interdependent, I highly recommend reading Gino’s article. For more on her work, please check out my other blog: “Rebel with a Cause or Just Good Leadership.”

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Email Signatures – What do They Say About You?

When I first came across this New York Times (NYT) article, What Your Email Signature Says About You, I immediately categorized it as a clickbait story. Upon further review I discovered there was much more behind it.

While I personally refrain from adding quotes, jokes, scriptures, social media links or other items – and quite frankly discount lengthy and promotional email signatures that take up valuable space – I discovered I may be overlooking an opportunity to build rapport, display personality and promote myself, within reason.

However, when it comes to professional emails I tend to draw a more conservative line. Perhaps I could learn to live a little more by way of my email signature but I certainly do not agree with overloading the reader with unnecessary information or links that take away from the intent of the message, including emojis, awards, links to books or anything else you’re selling other than your ideas.

Regardless of preference, David Austern, clinical assistant professor of psychiatry at N.Y.U. Langone Health, affirms that it’s normal to be nervous about writing emails and the potential misperception of the intended tone. Austern reminds us of the nature of our approach, in that we quickly craft emails from behind our laptops and mobile screens, distracted by myriad things happening around us. All the while, these messages have high stakes.

The article summarizes Austern’s guidance and likens our internal thought process to the following: “We want or need something; we’re creating a digital footprint we hope will stand in for the real thing — ourselves. So how do you do it better? (And if someone hates your signature, do they hate you, too?).”

Considering that so much of business and personal communications are happening by way of emails, and other digital platforms, and that most people refrain from showing too much personality over email by risk of it being perceived inaccurately, myself included, it makes it difficult to get a sense of the person on the other side.

Like most things in life, balance is key. The NYT article illustrates a few different takes on how you can use your signature to benefit your career. One of the most common, and nonintrusive, approaches is the “sent from my iPhone” disclaimer. Research shows people are more forgiving of typos when this is included. Some of the clever plays on this generic message mentioned in the article include, “Sent from the road on a tiny robot,” and “Sent from an undisclosed location.”

To embrace this new frontier of opportunity, the one approach I saw in the article that I considered entertaining is connected to personal values. I am a firm believer of work-life balance, and I am very fortunate to work for a company that recognizes the value in this. This is why the example in the article about TV producer Shonda Rhimes resonates with me: “Please Note: I will not engage in work emails after 7 p.m. or on weekends. IF I AM YOUR BOSS, MAY I SUGGEST: PUT DOWN YOUR PHONE.”

It’s incredibly powerful. As Samantha Ettus, founder and CEO of Park Place Payments, reflected, “She’s setting the tone for work-life balance in her organization. It’s an opportunity to say, ‘This is how I manage my busy life, and you can do it, too.’”

Let us all take a page out of Rhimes’ book and embrace the idea of expressing more personality in our emails – you never know what doors it could open. Or at least, dip your toe in the water and try one of the ideas included in the NYT article.

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5 Tips for Achieving Your PR Goals in 2020

Ah, the New Year: a clean slate of 12 months that are full of promise and potential for what the coming year will hold. It’s a popular time for reflection, resolutions and goal setting. Of course, many of us set resolutions that we have absolutely no hope of achieving. Not because we don’t want to, but often because our resolutions are ambitious and require discipline, and we neglect to put a plan in place to ensure we reach these goals.

The world of PR is no different when it comes to approaching goals. Need to boost your brand’s image? Aiming to increase revenue by 12 percent? Looking to reach a new, larger audience? All of these are possible but require strict focus and actionable steps to successfully achieve.

Below, we run through five ways to help PR professionals with lofty ambitions meet their goals.

1: Make a list – and then prioritize

First things first: Identify what you want to achieve and write it down. This is the first step toward making any goal a reality, as you’re transferring the abstract from your thoughts to a tangible list. Suddenly, there’s your goal staring back at you.

Take a page from Warren Buffet, who when it comes to goal setting, recommends listing your top 25 goals and then circling the five that are most important. This will help sharpen your focus on the goals that matter most to you.

Goals are generally supposed to be large and ambitious to push you and give you something to work toward. However, to help ensure that you are successful, be specific with the goals you want to achieve and make sure they are realistic for you to progress toward. Ultimately, you want to set yourself up for success.

2: Establish objectives and set deadlines

As the old saying goes, one must learn to walk before they can run. Break your goal into smaller, actionable objectives you can accomplish that will ultimately help you achieve your goal, and set deadlines for when you’ll meet these objectives. This will establish a plan and create a clear path to success. The deadlines will push you toward making progress and keep you from letting important tasks fall by the wayside. You can visualize where you currently are with your goal, where you need to go next, and where you ultimately hope to land.

For example, say you want to run a marathon. Ultimately, you want to complete a 26-mile race, with race day being your final deadline. This will require a significant amount of training and endurance building leading up to the race. You’ll pick a training program where you schedule four or five runs a week. As you begin training, you’ll start small and gradually increase the lengths of your runs each week. You’ll monitor your pace throughout and eventually build yourself up to doing a trial 20-mile run. Throughout the process, you can evaluate the progress you’ve made and how close you are to accomplishing your goal.

3: Assess where you anticipate successes and difficulties

As you progress toward your goal, some parts of the process will naturally come easier while others will be downright challenging. Brace yourself for encountering hurdles, as you will undoubtedly meet resistance at one point or another, but don’t let this derail your progress.

One of the best ways to handle problems is to address them early on. You may be able to anticipate some of the difficulties you’ll encounter, which will allow you to plan how you’ll manage them.

Maybe you’re looking to boost annual revenue numbers but are aware of a couple calendar windows where business slows down. Explore potential campaigns or promotions you can launch during this timeframe to combat this, or look into getting a jumpstart on those periods where business runs hot and identify ways for extending that engagement further into the cool-down phase.

4: Implement a system for accountability …

Own your accountability – this can be arduous but it will make achieving your goal that much sweeter. Monitor daily how well you’re progressing toward your goal. This will help you determine if your method is working and what approaches need to be refined.

You can incorporate visual aids to maintain visibility on your progress. Using the revenue example, chart your monthly progress and assess how much work you still have ahead. Calendars and daily planners are incredibly useful for tracking deadlines. Also, enlist the help of an accountability partner who will sound off in case you’re neglecting meeting your objectives.

5: … and don’t forget a system for rewards

You’ve done the work, you deserve the spoils. Celebrate your victories big and small. Each checkpoint crossed means you’re one step closer to achieving your larger goal. Brought a new client into the fold? Secured placement in a national publication? Met your revenue numbers for the quarter? Those are all calls for celebration. A lot of planning and groundwork goes into achieving your goals. Appreciate your painstaking efforts in the journey toward your destination.

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2019 at a Glance: Delta-Q Technologies

2019 was an exciting year for our longstanding client, Delta-Q Technologies (Delta-Q). As a leading manufacturer of industrial battery chargers for electric vehicles and industrial equipment, Delta-Q has become a one-stop shop for equipment and battery manufacturers looking to electrify systems and employ safe and efficient charging practices.

This past year, we had the opportunity to raise awareness of Delta-Q’s move into mid-range charging, its high-frequency lithium battery chargers, its 20th anniversary, as well as the company’s presence at a number of industry trade shows. While the bulk of our media relations activities involve announcement and trade show outreach, we continue to work with industry press through proactive pitching to help decision makers in the construction, material handling and floor care – among other segments – to understand how to electrify their equipment systems.  

We are grateful for our partnership with Delta-Q and are looking forward to all 2020 has to offer. Below is a snapshot of some of our 2019 campaigns and the results we secured.

Proactive pitching and inbound inquires

Throughout the year, Delta-Q discussed the benefits of lithium-ion batteries and shared guidance around how to integrate these technologies into equipment and battery-charging systems.  

 OPE Magazine: Taking Charge – 2/20/19

ProMat 2019

In April 2019, Delta-Q showcased its high-frequency lithium ICL Series of battery chargers at ProMat 2019 in Chicago.

 Refrigerated and Frozen Foods: ProMat 2019 delivers thousands of manufacturing, supply chain solutions: Lithium Battery Chargers – 4/16/19

Stackable Charging Software

In September 2019, Delta-Q announced its entry into mid-range power charging through its new stackable charging software. The stackable charging software allows for manufacturers to connect two to six Delta-Q chargers together, providing manufacturers a modular and scalable solution that can be distributed across their vehicle or equipment and deliver up to 7.5kW.

Material Handling Wholesaler: Delta-Q Technologies releases new software capability to provide stackable charging solutions – 9/4/19

GIE+EXPO 2019

Delta-Q showcased its new stackable charging solution to golf and landscape professionals at GIE+EXPO in Louisville, Ky.

Vehicle Charge Interface Module (VCIM)

Complementing the stackable charging system, in December 2019, the company announced the launch of its new Vehicle Charge Interface Module (VCIM), expanding the company’s power charging capabilities to support electric vehicle charging stations. The VCIM is a hardware addition that expands the capabilities of Delta-Q chargers to include compatibility with standard charging stations or Electric Vehicle Supply Equipment (EVSEs).

 Electronic Products and Technology: Delta-Q expands power charging capabilities with VCIM – 12/24/19

As we kick off a new decade, we are excited to continue our partnership with Delta-Q and communicate the impact they are having on the industrial equipment industries.

To learn more about our work with Delta-Q and in the industrial equipment industries, check out the following blog posts:

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Recommended Reading: Start the Year “Wiser, Gentler and Feeling Good.”

Over the holidays, a friend gave me a copy of the book All I Really Need to Know I Learned in Kindergarten, by Robert Fulghum. I read the book in college and loved it at the time; however, given the current social and political state in the U.S. I was glad to be re-introduced to it. The lessons Fulghum wisely yet simply shares are basic and full of common sense, yet particularly relevant and inspirational.

Consider Fulghum’s suggestion about what a better world it would be if “…all governments had a basic policy to always put things back where they found them and to clean up their own mess.”

When you read Fulghum’s list of lessons, consider his vital counsel to take any of the items “and extrapolate it into sophisticated adult terms and apply it to your family life or work or your government or your world…”

I won’t share the full list, but I have excerpted a few of his lessons below that especially resonate for me as a business leader:

  • Share everything.
  • Play fair.
  • Don’t hit people.
  • Clean up your own mess.
  • Don’t take things that aren’t yours.
  • Live a balanced life.
  • When you go out in the world, watch out for traffic, hold hands and stick together.
  • Be aware of wonder.
  • Look

If you haven’t read the book, or perhaps read it years ago, I encourage you to take a look. As stated on the back cover, “… It cannot fail to move everyone who reads it – leaving them wiser, gentler and feeling good.” Seems like a wonderful way to start the year.

Happy New Year!

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Twelve Steps to Deck the Halls on Your Next Project

With the holiday season quickly upon us, we are beginning to hear Christmas carols in our sleep. Whether it’s on the bus ride to work or studying at a coffee shop, I have been showered with holiday cheer in all corners of my life.

The consistent cheer and singing when I leave the house got me thinking of how to honor this special holiday season. While the traditional way of decking the halls does not involve work, I want to offer a spin on this idea and come up with 12 steps to deck the halls on your next project. During my three months at Communiqué PR I’ve learned there are crucial steps that are incredibly helpful in positioning yourself to successfully manage and complete a project. In honor of the holiday season, I developed a 12-step process to successfully completing a project. 

Step 1: Define the Objective

Before diving head first into your project, define the goal. Ask yourself, what are we trying to achieve? What does success look like for this project? A clearly defined objective should serve as the foundation of every project.

Step 2: Establish Expectations

Understating the expectations of the team, and more specifically your role on a project, will ensure the team works effectively and understands how to support the project. Having the support and intelligence of your team will establish a strong sense of motivation to create a successful project. When everyone understands how their contributions will lead to a successful project, each team member will be excited about the work they’re going to provide.

Step 3: Understand the Audience

Who are you trying to reach with this project? Your target audience impacts everything from the type of research you conduct to the writing style. Brush up on key terms that you may need to define for your audience to allow them to fully grasp your content.

Step 4: Clarify the Deadline and Budget

A critical aspect of any project is the deadline. Whether it’s an internal or external deadline, it’s important to ensure you’ll be able to meet the deadline. In addition to knowing when it’s due, in an agency, it’s important to know the time and/or budget allocated to this project and to be conscientious of the impacts your work will have on the budget. 

Step 5: Define Responsibilities

If this is a collaborative project, clearly define what each person’s role will be. Avoid wasting time through repeated tasks. Ownership should be clear from the onset.          

Step 6: Develop a List of Achievable Tasks

Break down your overarching responsibility into smaller, achievable tasks. Not only does this make your life easier, but also allows you to critically analyze each step.

Step 7: Create a Personal Workback Schedule

After breaking down the responsibility into tasks, it’s time to make a schedule. The benefit to creating a schedule is the ability to see the project in the big picture and where you stand in the project in relation to the final deadline. It’s rare to enjoy the luxury of working on one project at time and this step helps balance multiple projects at once.

Step 8: Build in Additional Time

While you are creating the schedule, it’s important to space out your work. Give yourself extra time in case the project is harder than you think or you run into roadblocks. It’s better to have extra time on your hands than to leave things to the last minute. As Benjamin Franklin once said, “You may delay, but time will not.”

Step 9: Review Your Work

In order to reflect attention to detail in your work, be sure to review everything. This is critical before asking anyone to look at your work to ensure you are delivering a high-quality product. If time allows, set the project aside for a day to give yourself a fresh perspective when you look at the content again.

Step 10: Secure Outside Perspective

Seeking feedback from individuals beyond your account team allows your work to rise to a higher level of quality. They may raise questions or perspectives that you and your team members had not considered.

Step 11: Review Again

When you’ve received feedback from outsiders, review their notes and incorporate the helpful advice they’ve provided. Make sure that the new additions flow in your project and continue to address the key objectives. 

Step 12: Submit Project

Now comes the exciting part, submitting the project! Whether the project is going to a client, manager, list of reporters, or a colleague – take a deep breath. All the hard work and dedication you’ve put into the project will shine through as it gets shared.

Bonus Step: Constructive Feedback

Ask for constructive feedback after finishing a project because it will help you succeed in future projects. Although it might be hard to get the courage to ask, it is extremely beneficial and will demonstrate your willingness to learn.

By following these 12 steps, the hope is to put you at ease when the next project comes your way. Although there are always hurdles in each project you complete, it can be useful to follow a guideline that helps you stay on track.

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