From Pitch to Press: Rediscovering Media Relations Fundamentals
One of the biggest challenges communicators struggle with – in media relations – is the consistent and recurring ability to capture a journalist/writer’s attention. Journalists face an overwhelming amount of communication daily. Breaking through the noise and making a lasting impression on journalists has become increasingly difficult. Between physically rushing for press conferences and interviews, […]
Solving for information silos in your organisation
If an organisation was mapped out, information silos represent various perils that the adventurers (in this case the communicator) must take to get to their destination. In an organisation, information is an asset that can impact decision-making. It can affect guidance on direction and alter an organisations trajectory when it comes to goals and outcomes. […]
Setting up your own communications agency
A never-ending workday, even when you have physically left the office. That is actually made worse by the relentless march of technology and the assumption that yet another direct chat/team management/notification-ping app will solve what is fundamentally a resource issue. Unrealistic demands on your time and bandwidth driven by high workload and stress. Amplified by […]
Dealing with information gaps
We have shared before about how to share and receive briefs. A brief ensures alignment between stakeholders at various levels such as leadership, management, and external parties. This alignment is important because of the nature of ownership created through participating in a joint or team decision. The bigger goal here is alignment. Alignment helps with […]
How to hold an after-action review post-campaign?
If you are new to the organisation or have just taken over a new scope. There’s lots of excitement at the start. You are aware of some gaps and look to create plans to plug them. There are loads of publicly available information from the internet, and anecdotal sharing from the team. However, as you […]
Presenting the results of your campaign
You have just completed a campaign. You are feeling proud, somewhat accomplished, satisfied with how it went. You look around and see your stakeholder. Full of energy, you walk over to share the results. The stakeholder goes “mmm…” in a somewhat evasive manner. Starts to look around the room/venue/space. You bring up how the team […]
Make the customer your foundation
Businesses are often forced to be reactive. They react to real-time shifts in direction, approach, solution-ing and preferences regardless of whether it aligns with pre-determined goals, objectives and outcomes. Many of these reactions are unplanned and committed to with good intentions. However, reactive decisions mean businesses are unable to plan or strategise for the long-term, […]
Applying first principles to strategic communications
Using first principles thinking can be very effective when it comes to understanding and breaking down complicated situations and challenges into smaller elements. This is what practitioners do on a daily basis. Greek philosopher Aristotle defined and explained first principles as “the first basis from which a thing is known.” Using first principles thinking can […]