It has been an inspiring week, both at work and in marathon training – two areas of life that are somehow intertwined. Is it the more rigorous training that is fueling more energy and focus at work? Or is the self-discipline and organization practiced at work making training more productive? Maybe a little of both… Read the rest of this entry »
Today is Day 1 of my personal training program at Fitness Together Fort Myers and so far, I see many parallels between their personalized, one-on-one attention and an effective public relations plan that focuses on achieving client’s goals and objectives.
Those of us in the field of public relations are trained from early on about the importance of creating a thorough, specific crisis communication plan. In most cases we file it away, secure in the fact that it’s there if we need it. For me, that was yesterday. The beauty of a well thought out crisis communication plan? It actually works.
Leaving out names to protect the innocent, no sooner had I completed a crisis plan for a new client than a crisis occurred: a key employee walked off the job without notice. She was the only full time person licensed to manage one of the major functions of this organization and without a replacement, the regulatory agencies warned they would shut down the business within the next two days. To complicate matters, this same employee called the media about the impending shut down and two TV stations got right on it. We had five hours to get control of the situation until the 6 p.m. news. What to do? Refer to our newly minted, trusty crisis plan, of course.
Within two hours, we appointed a spokesperson, drafted a statement for the media, coached the client, contacted the media with a response and set a time with the reporters for an update. The result? While the news stories ran as scheduled, the facts were presented fairly and the points we made in the statement were mentioned right up front. The positive, timely communication with the media allowed the story to be reported accurately with little drama and minimal impact.
Here were the lessons learned:
1. By planning calmly and rationally in advance, we were prepared for the worst.
2. We had an immediate plan to put into action – no time was wasted.
3. Because we were so calm and organized, the client was too – and that made a huge difference in the outcome.
I highly recommend preparing a thorough crisis communication plan for your client’s or organization’s peace of mind – and yours as well! To learn more, visit my website.
Working from our vacation home in the mountains of North Carolina has its pros and cons. For one thing, by creating an advance to-do list of projects that require some thought and concentration, I usually head up here with specific things to accomplish and end up getting a lot more done than I anticipated. Still, the spotty internet connection (and sometimes no service at all!) spurs intense anxiety attacks about what I am missing, unanswered emails and yes, even unviewed Facebook updates.
For this trip I decided since my Sprint aircard is mostly unreliable up here that I would try Verizon’s version — to no avail. Same intermittent connection that throws me off every 15 minutes until it cuts out entirely…perhaps we should have considered a beach house for our getaways?
Today, after my initial hair pulling, hand wringing fit, I decided to take a more positive approach. Surprisingly, I felt much better and discovered five ways to make the most of the time “unplugged.”
1. TIME TO THINK
Aaaah….with the surrounding quiet except for the patter of raindrops, I actually took some time to think about my next writing project — how would I approach it, how I could make it different, what angle I could take. My focus definitely improved with this single-minded effort.
2. TIME TO WRITE
Next, I was able to write an advertorial piece straight through — no stopping to check email because there weren’t any coming in! I was able to finish surprisingly quickly with little editing needed, probably because I was not trying to do several things at once.
3. TIME TO FINISH A CONVERSATION
When I completed the advertorial I actually maintained my side of a short conversation with my husband without once sneaking a peek at my inbox — that way I fully comprehended what he was saying and was able to answer intelligently. (Not be be misunderstood: I do actually uphold my side of personal conversations — just not during business hours!)
4. TIME TO TAKE A WALK
Before moving on to a new project, since the connection was still not working, I took a short walk outside, breathed some fresh mountain air, watched two deer walking the path behind our property and then came in from the rain. Quite refreshing and good to take a little break!
5. TIME TO FEEL HAPPY ABOUT BEING RECONNECTED
While all that was good for a time, a hint of anxiety started to creep back in when I realized I could not finish my next project without some internet research. Packed up my bags and headed a mile away to my aunt’s house where for some reason I can always get a connection. Aaaaah….sweet relief, and happiness to be back up and running! Looking forward to doing it all again tomorrow!
To learn more, please visit me and my firm at www.pkecreative.com
A delightful afternoon in the company of artist Deena Gu Laties happily confirms the fact that the ultimate benefit of social media and online communication lies in real face-to-face human interaction, and hopefully the beginning of a lovely new friendship. Read the rest of this entry »
You do your job every day, performing well and in a professional manner. But what happens when personal feelings sneak up on you and cross that boundary into your work? In some cases, it can make the difference between good and great… Read the rest of this entry »
(Here I am with my sisters Jane and Erica, the birthday girl)
It took awhile to dawn on me, but I just discovered that the issue of work/life balance continues even after your children have left the nest. While I no longer have to balance press conferences with soccer matches, or editorial deadlines with school concerts, I realize that this transition might not mean going full tilt to the “all work” mode…a place where I have been for quite some time, and thought that’s where I was meant to stay.
What caused me to reconsider? A family weekend for my sister’s surprise birthday put more than 1,500 miles between me and my laptop — something that hasn’t happened for more than two years. It’s amazing what you can see when you look up from the computer screen — did you know that the people who have shaped you and been a part of your life forever, have been growing and thinking and becoming more amazing and wonderful while you weren’t watching? It’s true.
In less than 48 hours, here’s what I experienced:
*A joyful airport reunion with one of my sisters;
*Meeting more than 100 of our youngest sister’s friends, work associates and the people that make up her universe today;
*The unbelievable look of shock and surprise when she first saw us — that was worth the whole trip;
*The chance to get better acquainted with my niece and nephews and wonderful brother-in-law;
*The lovely realization that you can enjoy your parents and the adult versions of your siblings even more than during the earlier stages;
*The knowledge that none of this could have occurred by phone, email or social media.
The result? Chances are the 60+ hour work week will continue for quite some time — mostly because I am passionate about what I do and enjoy almost every minute of it. However, I know that I don’t want that to come between me and the life experiences that make a life — so next time it will be much harder to say, “I can’t” and much more important to try to find a way to say, “I can.” It won’t happen overnight — but hopefully I can begin to find my balance.
Learn more about the work side at www.pkecreative.com
We have been talking a lot about Corporate Social Responsibility lately and the role that it plays in company morale, community involvement and public relations. In Southwest Florida, the corporate response to the Susan G. Komen Southwest Florida Race for the Cure is a perfect example. As a PR volunteer, I have seen so many local businesses step up with team sponsorships and donations — one major example is the Southwest Florida Ford Dealers… Read the rest of this entry »
I’ve written before about the exciting, interesting people I meet on a daily basis — one of my favorite aspects of my career in public relations. A great example is my friend and client Randy “RJ” Vann, a Southwest Florida business man and an avid horseman. So what do a drive for solar technology and a passion Paso Fino horses have in common? RJ shows us… Read the rest of this entry »
Last night was the kick off meeting for the 4th annual
Susan G. Komen Southwest Florida Race for the Cure at Galloway Ford in Fort Myers. It was so inspiring… Read the rest of this entry »
