Global PR survey seeks your views

The Global Alliance for Public Relations and Communication Management, has launched an international survey to identify and explore the key trends and advocacy priorities of public relations professionals around the world and is inviting communication professionals from around the world to participate.

The survey is open until 16 December 2011 and the results will be shared in early 2012.

If you would like to take part in the survey, click here.

Melitta

By | October 27th, 2011|Other resources|0 Comments

Sometimes the old methods are the best

With so many communication methods to choose from, email, Twitter, Facebook, Sharepoint…we can sometimes be overwhelmed with choice. However, older methods of communication still have a place in society as Canada’s Harold Hackett has been proving.

Over the last two decades, he has sent out more than 4,800 messages in a bottle from his Canadian home along the Atlantic coastline.

Every message asks for the finder to send a response back to Hackett, and since 1996 he has received an impressive 3,100 responses from all over the world, each one with a different story to tell.

The emotions involved in receiving an unexpected personal letter, mean that the older communication methods still have a valuable role to play. Though as Harold has sometimes waited up to 13 years for a reply, there is still something to be said for the speed of new media!

You can watch a video of Harold talking about his messages in bottle on the BBC News website >

Melitta

By | October 23rd, 2011|Other resources|0 Comments

Survey reveals how to master video conferencing

A recent global survey by Australia’s 1080 Group that asked close to 1,200 professionals key questions about how they use video conferencing, has given some surprising insights. Here are some of the highlights:

  • Productivity is the top reason for using Video Conferencing, with money saving coming second.
  • Value depends on your own communication or organisation needs, with Europeans valuing the ability to communicate more regularly with peers, while industries such as Financial Services value it as a ‘green’ alternative to physical travel.
  • Cultural issues are the biggest barrier to video conferencing usage, with an “Inability or unwillingness to use new technology” and “entrenchment of the current way we do things” taking the top two spots by a wide margin.
  • The need for good examples to learn from. A number of insights pointed to the experiential nature of meeting and collaborating virtually. Sadly, some people disparage the communication medium because they see others using it unsuccessfully. The main gripe was presenters that “have distracting mannerisms or gestures.”
  • It’s growing fast! Despite the issues respondents predicted that video conferencing will grow by 211% in 2012!
To read more about the lessons learned from the survey, follow the below link to download the resulting white Paper, which includes a useful checklist.

 

Melitta

By | October 19th, 2011|Other resources|0 Comments

How to generate Facebook activity

Facebook has released the results of a study it conducted looking into which types of posts draw the most most engagement—“likes,” comments and sharing. The company looked specifically at journalists’ pages and the activity they prompted from readers.

Some of the results are as you might expect, with posts that include questions or photographs attracting the most comments, but there were also some interesting results that can help other companies and bloggers to boost activity relating to their own posts.

For example, the study found that comments posted later in the week, between Thursday and Sunday, those including personal reflections and comments with four to five lines sparked the most interest and feedback from readers.

For more highlights from the study, visit www.facebook.com

Melitta

By | July 18th, 2011|Other resources|0 Comments

How can you make the complex clear?

The question of  how to make corporate communication messages clear in a systematic, managed manner is currently being tackled in a new study by the Global Alliance and the University of St. Gallen.

Through case studies, literature reviews, best practices and a survey, the partners aim to shed some light on how organisations can move from complicated, overloaded and messy messages to communication that has a clear context, a logical structure, essential elements and creates resonance with audiences.

Communicators who fill out the 10 minute survey on ‘Clarity in Communication’ can participate in a free 45-minute webinar on how to communicate clearly or can get a copy of the final study.

If you would like to take part in the survey click here >

Melitta

By | June 20th, 2011|Other resources|0 Comments

The Uncommon Sense of Internal Communication

A new ebook titled ‘The Uncommon Sense of Internal Communication’, created by Russell-Oliver Brooklands, the IC professional behind the Internal Communication Model, is now available for download and sets out to answer some of the many paradoxical questions surrounding Internal Communication.

When introducing the book Brooklands said, “Originally drafted under the working title: “Why everybody’s rubbish and it’s no one’s fault”, the book compassionately challenges a number of widespread unconscious assumptions, and shines a light on various cultural blindspots. In the process, it helps make sense of why so many people, even at the top of organisations, seem to struggle with IC. And it provides practical steps that can be taken to help them think about it in new ways – so IC professionals can start making a bigger difference.”

‘The Uncommon Sense of Internal Communication’ is currently available to download free of charge from www.internalcommunicationmodel.com, with a number of versions available depending on your global location and IC view point.

Happy reading!

Melitta

By | June 17th, 2011|Other resources|0 Comments

Conference: Who are these Global Nomads, these super chameleons ?

An interesting conference which may be of interest to communicators:

When: Wednesday 25 May 2011

Where:  Centre Patronal, Paudex, VD

Entry free of charge

Lake Geneva is a global region with nearly half of its population made up of foreigners, representing some 180 nationalities and a host of NGOs, UN organizations and multinational corporations. Not surprisingly Lake Geneva region is home to a large number of Global Nomads.

An efficient nomadic leader should be at home on every continent with highly developed intercultural sensitivity. These highly mobile leaders meet the needs of the hyper-globalized economy and have what every multinational company seeks : innate intercultural instincts, mobility and adaptability. Yesterday, the top manager was the one who travelled. Today, with hyper-globalization, even the local manager needs the skills of a global leader.

These  global nomads present a challenge to HR managers and coaches. How do we support them in the workplace to leverage their unique skills and help them feel grounded and fulfilled? Equally important is supporting their family’s integration.

What is the difference between a Global Nomadic Leader and an expatriate? How to recruit and retain Global Nomads? How can we help his insertion and the one of his entourage? Is it necessary to integrate them in a purely multicultural environment ? What projects should be assigned to them? How is globalization impacting leadership ?

More information >>

By | May 11th, 2011|Other resources|0 Comments

Twitter turns five

This week, the enormously popular microblogging site, Twitter, celebrated its fifth birthday prompting many publications and websites to look back at the rise of the social networking tool.

With roughly 200 million users, Twitter has become what many regard as a ‘powerful tool for democracy’ offering insights into the minds of people around the world – from business leaders to celebrities to plain ordinary folk.

Perhaps the greatest impact Twitter has had is its ability to change the way we communicate – news is spread much faster and, in several cases, the site has helped to replace mainstream media as the primary source of information for people (particularly when it comes to crisis situations).

CNN had a particularly interesting article looking at five key ways Twitter has changed the way we communicate, which it sees as:

1. Making a fast flow of information faster

2. Allowing celebrities to communicate with their public directly

3. Creating new ‘thought leaders’ from all walks of life

4. Enabling ‘event’ participant to discuss it together in real time

5. (Over)simplifing the conversation

For more, you can read the full article online >

Melitta

By | March 25th, 2011|Other resources|0 Comments

Leaders must communicate with depth and care, says new report

The Employee Engagement Report 2011, which explores global workplace attitudes, revealed that trust in executives has a stronger correlation to employee engagement than trust in immediate managers. Half of employees who trust senior leaders are engaged compared to 40% of those who trust their direct boss and 33% of the North American workforce overall.

These findings are consistent with pre-recession findings. Highlighting that trust in leadership is an important factor in achieving high levels of engagement.

It’s harder to build trust with people who you rarely see or have never met, explained Christopher Rice, CEO of BlessingWhite, the consultancy responsible for the survey. “Most immediate supervisors and managers can demonstrate trustworthiness in their daily actions and become known beyond their titles. Executives don’t have that luxury. The workforce scrutinizes what they do see and hear – and will draw the most unexpected, unfortunate conclusions if leaders do not communicate carefully.”

The authors of the report, urge business leaders to demonstrate consistency in words and actions, communicate often and with depth, and create a culture that drives results and engagement.

For more information, download a copy of the report >

Melitta

 

 

By | February 24th, 2011|Other resources|0 Comments

CIPR launched a guide for using statistics in communication

Using statistics can help to achieve public relations goals whether raising awareness, informing decision making or influencing behaviour.

In the latest best practice guide issued by the CIPR (Chartered Institute of Public Relations), communicators can gain valuable advice on using statistics effectively, including the communication of survey results. This guidance can help achieve day-to-day goals and contribute over time to an enhanced reputation.

You can download a copy of the guidelines via the CIPR website >

Melitta

By | February 22nd, 2011|Other resources|0 Comments