CommSpace

A Morning in the Mind...

What makes a blog interesting? Or for that matter what makes a person who blogs, take the time to write them? Expression? Passion? Narcacism? I don't know all of the answers and I guess it would depend on an individual's motivation, but I know that something deep down inside of ME likes to share and spread thoughts, ideas and information.

I've always believed that since we are all here for such a short time, we should really spend our life sharing as much of ourselves as we can. Hopefully along the way we can share perspectives and inspire insight in others....hopefully along the way we can help others grow, achieve their goals and the world will become a better place (key sappy violin music)

We don't live forever, but if we can inspire others, we can "live" through them and their efforts.

Seriously...these are the things that go through my mind.

The mind is a funny thing. One of the current (and I gather reoccuring) debates in Communications is around information overload. Now that we are in the information age, is this finally the age where our minds can simply not process the amount of information being thrown at us? Now I assume that this is not the first time such a debate has occurred and I actually think its the wrong question to be discussing.

We may all know and think of our minds as filters that constantly injest, process and dispose of information.

Want to know how my mind reads when I am monitoring media stories?

Blah, Blah...Iraq...Blah Blah....'Poll says'....Blah Blah...Mets win (GO METS!) ...Blah Blah...Oh, retiree shortfall in NJ, this is going to affect me sooner than I think. .. Blah Blah... Social Mdia...2008 campaign...blah blah...'FDA says'...Blah Blah...YouTube aiming to develop a Corporate version for internal company usage? We've been talking about internal viral videos for over a year now and watch this come along and make it a reality quicker than we could do it within our environment......isn't that always the way?...Blah Blah ... value of internal communications and employee engagement... Blah Blah ...

Well, you get the point. In that example I've gone through 200+ headlines and briefs in less than 5 minutes.

I think perhaps we should be giving our minds (and ourselves) a bit more credit, don't you think?

The medium is the message, right? Heard that before? Remember that the "medium" is not simply the invention or channel itself, but rather more broadly defined by an extention of ourselves. And remember that the "message" is not simply content, but the noticeable change brought about as a result of the extention's stimuli.

Bear with me. This is going somewhere...

Mark Federman describes McLuhan's premise well:

We can know the nature and characteristics of anything we conceive or create (medium) by virtue of the changes - often unnoticed and non-obvious changes - that they effect (message.)that constantly injest, process and dispose of information.

So by McLuhan's definition, anything we conceive or create - our thoughts, innovations, communications channels - are "our media," all of which ultimately stem from our minds

Mind -> Medium -> Message

In many ways, this makes logical sense to me.  Our minds are the most powerful tool that we can possibly have. 

And if we spend more time focusing on people's  minds and their motivations (media), and a little less on the channels and the content themselves,  the potential outcomes (medium) will become easier to explain and predict for.

Having a Baby...and Other Ramblings...

If you can’t tell by the post headline, I am going to be a father VERY soon. How soon you ask? Well we've begun counting down the forthcoming birth of my daughter in weeks as opposed to months, so that should be a sign for you. In any event, we're looking at less than 8 weeks now and we've begun taking these extraordinarily scary baby classes.

I'm convinced that the intent of these classes is to prepare you for every possible thing that could go wrong during your delivery. I've been referring to it as “Scarred Straight,” like those shows from the 80’s that folks used to keep kids from drugs and doing crimes… “this is your brain on drugs…and THIS is your brain after having children…” These classes should really be shown to couples that are thinking about having a baby, as opposed to those who have already taken the plunge.

All I could say to my wife after our 8 hour Lamaze class this past weekend is “I’m sorry for doing this to you.”

Needless to say, all of this is in fun. We’re more excited than ever!

Be sure to check back for more baby rumblings in the near future.Meanwhile, its been quite a while since I last posted thought-provoking links/thoughts for your enjoyment and amusement.

• Looks like HeySpread is an excellent opportunity to help your videos go viral!
• Good article from NY Times journalist Thomas Friedman, who theorizes that when we are all content publishers, we are all public figures...and that helps to foster transparency. I totally get that and subscribe to the belief that transparency is truly demonstrated when the cameras are "on" and we are not aware. Its all about authenticity. I don't think that this is a foreign or new concept by any means. In fact, I think the idea that people and companies can be held even more accountable for their practices is a good thing. My issue is this -> why does it take the proliferation of new media applications to force people and companies to be more concerned with being transparent and/or authentic? Shouldn't you be doing that already? Don't you know what the impact of NOT being transparent can do to your brand / identity / employee-base?
• This speaks to the difficulty of measuring the ROI of social media and social media-related activities. This happens to be VERY timely for my colleagues and I right now, and Shel Holtz provides some strong arguments against attempting to measure blogs, wikis, chat rooms, etc., by traditional measurement means.
• A sobering reminder of how everything internal can get out. Here is a person's posting of an internal Capitol BlueCross memo on the “Sicko” website, allegedly written by Capitol BC’s VP of Corp Comm.
• Web 2.0 applications are not only utilized by the 20-something generation. Look at me for instance :0) Though, I can pretty clearly see my 20's in the rearview I will add.
• Good listing of 21st century communication trends...
• And as always we close with a fun one…Do women actually talk more than men? My wife and I have this argument all of the time...I am still disputing the results of this survey!

Boston thoughts...

Last week, I attended the Summit on Corporate Communications in Boston, which was co-sponsored by the Institute for Public Relations (IPR) and the Arthur W. Page Society. It was a lovely two-and-a-half day affair that included communicators from reputable agencies and companies breaking bread, sharpening our skills, and looking at trending across our field.  As usual, I spent a bit more time handling issues back home than taking in the sites and sounds of the hosting town. However, the conference also provided a well-needed break from the office, and the space to explore some thoughts that I have been having. (Not to mention the fact that I now understand why Boston has such a loyal baseball fan base — you can’t turn anywhere without a game being on or paraphernalia staring you in the face.)

I won’t go into too much detail, as my thoughts haven’t been fully vetted and copy written just yet *lol* However, what I will say is that my conversations w/ colleagues at the conference helped to validate my thinking on our employee communications approach.  Granted, we are a highly regulated and decentralized organization, with many layers of complexity that I probably don’t fully understand — even after 5 years. However, what I do know is that traditional means for employee communications and employee engagement, much like external communications and engagement, has changed…and there is no looking or turning back.  I won’t go into too much detail, as my thoughts haven’t been fully vetted and copy written just yet *lol* However, what I will say is that my conversations w/ colleagues at the conference helped to validate my thinking on our employee communications approach.  Granted, we are a highly regulated and decentralized organization, with many layers of complexity that I probably don’t fully understand — even after 5 years. However, what I do know is that traditional means for employee communications and employee engagement, much like external communications and engagement, has changed…and there is no looking or turning back. 

Good PR is just good PR, right?…and hopefully that will never change. But the way in which we counsel our colleagues, manage not only our reputation internally, but our inherent values and help shape the way that information and dialogue flows throughout the company, will go a long way in impacting how we progress through future change. Now this notion isn’t much different than in years past, right? But I think that the way in which we should be thinking HOW we go about doing these things is the key…

…we must continue to use innovative approaches…the cookie-cutter, mass comm approach just won’t cut it these days…we must force ourselves to be more authentic with one another…otherwise how else will we grow and develop at all levels… we must get better at measuring the value that we bring…its right before our eyes but we can do a better job of understanding the value of our impact across the board… and we MUST not be afraid of experimentation, especially in times of challenge and change when one might be less likely to push the envelope…

I’d like to think that I’ve embraced these thoughts and behaviors over the past few years, but I’m now more willing than ever to put them to the test.  As I learned this past week, that is the measure by which companies - and individuals - are now being held…to be authentic when the cameras are on AND off…and not to simply accept the status quo.

Stepping for Success...

During my college years, I pledged and became a member of a Greek-letter organization. Many know these to be called Fraternities (men) and Sororities (women). The organization that I joined is called Kappa Alpha Psi, Fraternity, Inc. The "Inc." refers to the fact that it is indeed an operating business, in addition to being a Greek-letter organization. Many notable and affluent public figures are and have been members of this fraternity.

My experience being a "Kappa" has taught me so much about responsibility, training for leadership, accountability, and collaborating with others to meet common objectives. The organization, like its counterparts, is run very much like a business and has helped me to develop many professional skill sets prior to my entering the workforce. Let's just say that I have a lot of pride in my accomplishments as a "Kappa" and my affiliation with the organization.

So what does this have to do with work or this blog? We talk a lot about utilizing emerging media to help tell stories, build awareness and create engagement. I wanted to share a "YouTube"-type video with you that showcases one of the most exciting and engaging traditions of historically African American Fraternities, called "Stepping." Here is the Wikipedia definition of "step dancing," which gives you a good idea of what its about. In this video, my "frat" is represented by the guys in red with the canes.

Now if participating in "step dancing" or "stepping" doesn't teach you about teamwork and collaboration, I don't know what does. And for those out there wondering, yes, I USED to step back in college and have even been a part of a few teams that have won competitions. Unfortunately, my stepping days are over. However, the values, training and diverse perspectives that I and hundreds of thousands of others across the world have gotten as a result of these college experiences, really enhances our value to the communities that we live in, and the companies that we work in.   

Our 2006 Trending Issue...

Ladies and gentlemen, communications and technological trends for your approval.

• The future is now! Imagine how this and the spread of Wi-Fi will continue to transform our means for communicating...

• In keeping with the futurist theme, here are some thoughts on the future of technology. The author labels this "integrated communications" but for my communications colleagues, think of it more along the lines of integrated enabling technologies. Many of these ideas shouldn't come as a surprise to anyone, as we can clearly see how we are headed toward this, today.

• If you don't know about sermo.com, get familiar! Its an on-line networking community for physicians to discuss health care trends with one another. They label the site "For Physicians, By Physicians," and its just another example of how social networks are impacting the way in which industry influencers are collaborating and sharing information.

• We've all heard about how the makeup of our workforce is going to shift in the coming 5-10 years as baby boomers retire and create a huge need for younger, qualified employees, but how are we preparing this next generation to contribute and succeed? What if their qualifications and aptitudes are substandard? This article takes a look at this potential problem. My take -> first, if this is indeed the case, it will create an increased bidding process for the highly talented bunch within that generation (supply and demand) and second, a shift in the thinking may develop around what are the most essential and necessary skill sets for business. You will always need "do-ers" as it were, but how and what you "do" most certainly will have to change.

• If you don't read any of the above posts, please read this one ->"The Future of Social Media" by Chris Heuer. Let it sit, digest it, and offer your thoughts. I myself have read it three times and I am still processing it. I'd be very interested in getting the take on this from a few experts in the social media area.

• Finally, we close with blogging coverage (ironic?) of the Edelman/Walmart blogging fiasco. I know that I plan to use this example when talking to my mentees about truth, ethics and transparency in our profession.

Quick links (to be discussed in the future posting):

http://www.womma.org/ethics.htm
http://secondlife.com/
http://www.isrinsight.com/pdf/media/2006engagement.pdf

Straight, no chaser...

Working on a good, thought provoking post for next week. Be on the lookout. Meanwhile, here are some good links from the past week...

• With Google's recent acquisiton of YouTube.com, Yahoo is now looking to acquire Facebook.com, the #2 social networking site in the US. As a good friend of mine always reminds me, social networking sites like Facebook and Myspace are great for what they are, but have also turned into SPAM 2.0 right under our noses. My thinking is that these sites will begin to lose their popularity within the next 18-24 months, as folks find a new, less adverstised medium to connect through. A majority of my friends are on Myspace now and we are generally very behind the curve when it comes to technology, so it has to have reached some zenith for us from a trending standpoint. Speaking of which...

• Stephanie S. recently me this article about the "greying" of MYSPACE, with over 1/2 of visitors now over 35. Not sure that 35+ constitutes as "greying" but perhaps for some. Here is another one on USATODAY.

• Online newspaper readership is up 31% and looks to be pretty consistant across the major US publications. Look at the trending, especially from an age standpoint. Think about your audience and today's increased speed to publish. How will this continue to trend a year from now?

• This post reinforces a discussion that my team recenty had about the crucial need for senior leader involvement in internal communications and the role that we as communications professionals have in working closely with them to maximize impact. Take a look at the numbers.

• How often have YOU 'chased the pig?'

• Finally, I really enjoyed these Ten Simple Rules and think that you will too!

Lost (in translation)...

Don't you hate corporate speak? You know, those funny little words and phrases that we hear so often while at work that we somehow get brainwashed into thinking that people really talk like that?

Hey let's face it, we all get caught up in the cycle and fall victim. Come on, admit it...remember that the first step(s) in a 12 step program to recovery is admittance and acceptance. We are all friends here. I'll even be the first to stand up.

Good evening everyone - my name is Matthew... (hi Matthew)... and I use corporate speak in my conversations and executive communications...

Its pretty well documented that corporate speak does very little to help engage and inform employees. In fact, it can do quite the opposite and actually be damaging to your credibility and the desired end result. So why do we do it? Now, I know that I'm not telling you anything that you don't already know...but WHAT are we going to do about it?

I say its time to STAND UP and revolt against corporate speak! We are all intelligent folks, and we can convey our thoughts, information, messages, etc., without terms like strategic alignment, efficacy, synergy, integrated solutions, streamline efficiencies and the like.

Its time that we develop our own MANIFESTO! Let's have a little fun with it. By commenting to this post (button at the bottom), submit your most hated corporate speak terms and we'll work to develop an Organizational Communications MANIFESTO that denounces the usage of these meaningless phrases and helps to unify us in the brother-(and sister-)hood of honest, straightforward employee communications professionals.

Who's with me?!Let us be free of the chains that bind us."its all for nothing if we don't have our freedom!"

OK, I'm done with my BRAVEHEART moment...seriously, send in some thoughts. We're allowed to have some fun while we work...its part of the HR Policies of Conduct. Once we develop the MANIFESTO we can hang it up on our virtual wall and begin practicing. Let's make it matter!

Lost...

As many of you can see from the calendar, its been a while since the last post. All I can say is that "Life Happens." Personally, its been quite a roller coaster ride this summer with many ups and downs. But I can finally say that I think that I am in a good space now and have learned more about myself this past summer than perhaps the entire previous year.

In addition to that, I suffered a bit of what my good colleague Adriana refers to as "blogger burnout." Quite honestly, I've sat down several times in the past month to post, but continually had trouble deciding what to write about. ONE thing that I have found is that over the last few months, the number of blogs that I monitor has tripled! And with that, about 90% of them don't inspire or interest me in the least...(in fact some of you may be saying the same thing about this blog now - ha ha)

Nonetheless, I'm back and I've got my groove back! Here are a few interesting posts that I've come across in the past month. I hope that you find them as interesting as I do/did.

• Here is yet another example where external blogging helps to create media balance; where the quoted is afforded the equal opportunity for clarification. What a power! Now you wonder why we are fighting so hard to help people understand the value of the medium in these big organizations.

• Not only am I intrigued by the fact that MONSTER is sponsoring a blog (though I shouldn't be surprised - who isn't these days?), I find this particular post to be rather appropriate for this day-in-time. There are some worthwhile articles linked towards the end of the post as well.

• We've got to step up our game on these blogs or run the risk of it being overrun with ad-laden, rudimentary stuff like this...uh-oh, I've already given it more promotion than it deserves...lets just move on...

• Never tell me that I don't give you the good stuff! Here are the twelve questions ("Q12") that Gallup uses to measure the correlation between employee engagement and business results.  Its stood the test of time - valid and reliable. Organizational metrics for your internal communications business case -> absolutely!

• Finally, a good post that Shel Holtz posted during the summer where he reinforces the importance of putting customers ahead of shareholders...hummm, sound familiar?  They term it SVE (Shareholder Value Enhancement) which sounds like a new automobile model to me. In any event, perhaps I've drank the koolaid (American slang for 'been brainwashed') but I firmly agree with the tenets shared here.

That's all for me now, but I promise that we'll be back to the normal posting schedule now that the new season has begun. Things are clearer now...I'm no longer 'LOST.'

Back to the Future...

Ok, so posting from a different timezone isn't exactly the "future." I'm five hours ahead of the good folks back on the East Coast of the US, yet I am hours behind our good folks in EMEA, so it's all really relative. However, another way to look at it is that the more things change, the more they stay the same. Let me explain what I mean...

<rant>

As I continue to do my own new media and blog monitoring, I begin to pick up on current coverage trends and patterns, which helps me discern for myself (and hopefully those of you watching at home) what is "up-and-coming," what is "hot" and what we should be on the lookout for. Now this is nothing new to those that have been doing this longer than I have, which is always something to keep in perspective. While this is a modern form of learning and sharing, media monitoring is something that communications professionals have been doing for ages, and something that (hopefully) we will continue to do for decades after we are gone.

All of the posts/articles that I read about new social media and methods are great as they really help to expand your thinking and means for adapting. But for those that get so consumed and caught up in the "next big thing," there will ALWAYS be a "next big thing," yeah? So its critical that we continue to stay focused on our primary objectives, while being mindful of these newer tools/applications and reinforcing the fundamental purpose of our function.

Now I sincerely believe that these newer communications tools/methodologies/practices are very valuable and will help to shape the way that we engage moving forward, but occasionally the older tools, etc., suit just fine...and sometimes, just sometimes, we are better suited referencing past ideals and applications to get the best sense for what is ahead.

</rant>

As always, thoughts are welcome - let's discuss...

Seven Keys to Unlocking Great PR

Its been a while since I posted, but you can all understand with the workloads that we all carry. With that in mind, I ran across a good blog post that articulates some of the fundamental principles for unlocking great PR in your companies. Many of the points are simple and direct, and I'm sure that none of them will strike you as particularly earth-shattering. However, I often find that I gain more from articles like this because they reinforce what we are already doing, while emphasizing some things that we should be doing more of. You'll see what I mean when you take a look at the post. Its applicable to everything that we do as communications and/or PR professionals. Happy reading!