Circle Of Fellows

You cannot discuss internal communications these days without someone asking about the blurring of the line between internal and external. When done well, there has never been a clear boundary between internal and external, since they are designed to achieve common objectives. When strategized to work together, along with all facets of external communication, this is known as “integrated communication,” a system that coordinates and harmonizes messages from various senders and to various audiences. It is composed of rules (including policies, procedures, and formats) and tools (including distribution channels, styles, and timelines). How to make this work was the subject of an hour-long conversation on May 21, 2020,with four IABC Fellows: Priya Bates, Diane Gayeski, Angela Sinickas, and Stacy Wilson.Continue Reading → The post Circle of Fellows #57: Managing the Integrated Communication System appeared first on FIR Podcast Network.

Organizations with high-performance leadership are better equipped to develop, maintain, and retain individuals, teams, business units, and the whole organization’s culture. These organizations are also in a better position to manage change. The characteristics of high-performing leadership range from leaders’ behaviors and beliefs to what they say and when they choose to act. The role of communication in leading change and creating a high-performance leadership environment will be the focus of the next Circle of Fellows conversation. Participating in episode 56 were be Priya Bates, Amanda Hamilton-Attwell, Ned Lundquist, and Stacy Wilson.Continue Reading → The post Circle of Fellows #56: Change and High-Performance Leadership appeared first on FIR Podcast Network.

Bosses: True Stories of the Good, the Bad and the Ugly is a candid and provocative new book in which communication and leadership expert Roger D’Aprix (also an IABC Fellow) asserts that many leaders are ignoring the proper selection, training, development, and ongoing support of the mid-level bosses they entrust to manage company talent. Roger joined four IABC Fellows and moderator Shel Holtz on March 19 for a conversation about bosses, their communication role, and how organizational communicators can help improve the culture of management in their organizations. In addition to Roger and Shel, Fellows participating in this conversation included Bish Mukherjee, Jim Shaffer, Angela Sinickas, and Stacy Wilson.Continue Reading → The post Circle of Fellows #55: Bosses — True Stories of the Good, the Bad, and the Ugly appeared first on FIR Podcast Network.

Communications — internal and external — are cost centers. Other cost centers, like Human Resources, have transformed themselves from bureaucratic necessary expenses to vital business partners whose work directly affects business performance. Communications can (and does) have a direct effect on business when managed and measured strategically, but far too many communication functions still focus on message outputs than on improving productivity or other business elements that matter to the company’s leadership. In episode 54 of Circle of Fellows, four IABC Fellows discussed how communicators can make this transition from a cost center to vital business partner. Shel Holtz moderated the panel that included Priya Bates, Neil Griffiths, Ned Lundquist, and Jim Shaffer.Continue Reading → The post Circle of Fellows #54: The Business Impact of Communication appeared first on FIR Podcast Network.

A lot of organizations talk a good game about transparency but when push comes to shove, they can still seem secretive and opaque. Clearly, transparency doesn’t mean making every scrap of information available. Share your employees’ health records and you’ll be subject to penalties under HIPAA (in the U.S.). Reveal plans for product launches and... Continue Reading → The post Circle of Fellows #53: Communication and Transparency appeared first on FIR Podcast Network.

For many communicators, work is all about the craft of producing articles, posts, videos, and other content. Moving into the leadership ranks, however, requires more than great tactical skills and, in fact, more than great strategic planning capabilities. Senior-level communicators regularly advise and coach the company’s executives (and others) on how to communicate effectively, both in general and about specific issues. In episode 52 of the “Circle of Fellows” broadcast, four IABC Fellows discussed how to acquire coaching skills and apply them with company leaders. IABC Fellows participating in the discussion included Amanda Hamilton-Attwell, Jim Lukaszewski, Jim Shaffer, and Angela Sinickas.Continue Reading → The post Circle of Fellows #52: On Being a Great Adviser and Coach appeared first on FIR Podcast Network.

The news is full of cyber-attacks on organizations large and small, exposing sensitive customer and other information, forcing companies to pay ransoms to retrieve locked data, and creating public relations nightmares. In episode 51 of IABC’s Circle of Fellows broadcast, five IABC Fellows discussed the PR and internal communication aspects of cyber-attacks, including… The steps to prepare for a data breach Understanding your IT leaders and keeping the lines of communication open and clear Educating your employees about cybersecurity: What they need to know and do Recovering trust following a cyberattack: the road to reputational recovery. IABC Fellows participating in the discussion, moderated by Shel Holtz, included Priya Bates, John Deveney, Martha Muzychka, and Sheri Rosen.Continue Reading → The post Circle of Fellows #51: The Looming Risk of Cyber-Attack — Are You Prepared? appeared first on FIR Podcast Network.

Communicators who lack specific expertise and/or resources inside the organization often turn to external consultants to help with everything from strategic planning to project execution. That relationship can be amazing, delivering exceptional results. It can also be a minefield, causing sleepless nights, unsatisfying results, and even diminished trust in the communicator from company leadership. In episode 50 of Circle of Fellows, four IABC Fellows discussed the consultant/client relationship, including… How to hire and manage an array of consultants in a gig economy How to build and maintain a corporate client base as an independent consultant Top five ways for consultants to build loyalty with their clients, and keep them coming back Continue Reading → The post Circle of Fellows #50: Shaping the Client/Consultant Relationship appeared first on FIR Podcast Network.

With dramatic, unpredictable change as a constant in business and technology, how can communication professionals help build resilient organizations and increase the resilience of employees in enterprise transformations? On episode 49 of Circle of Fellows, four IABC Fellows discussed the role of communication in facilitating changeContinue Reading → The post Circle of Fellows #49: Ensuring Your Organization is Change Ready appeared first on FIR Podcast Network.

The media landscape in which communicators operate is in constant flux. The various kinds of changes the environment goes through can be tumultuous, making it challenging for communicators to maintain alignment between their strategies and the channels and platforms available. Three IABC Fellows -- John Deveney, Brad Whitworth, and Stacy Wilson -- discussed these challenges as they relate to both internal and external communication on episode 48 of Circle of Fellows, the monthly panel discussion from IABC.Continue Reading → The post Circle of Fellows #48: Communicating in an Ever-changing Media Environment appeared first on FIR Podcast Network.

With so much data available, it can be difficult to determine what information is actually useful to track to measure the success of your communication activities.  What and how to measure in order to best inform your work and demonstrate communication impact is the next topic for discussion on Circle of Fellows. Episode #47 of the broadcast will explore measurement for both internal and external communication activities. IABC Fellows Neil Griffiths, Jim Shaffer, Angela Sinickas, and Stacy Wilson participated in a panel discussion moderated by Shel Holtz that explored various dimensions of metrics in communication, from measuring communication effectiveness to sharing information derived from data.Continue Reading → The post Circle of Fellows #47: Cracking the Metrics Code appeared first on FIR Podcast Network.

According to a study conducted by MIT Sloan Management Review and The Boston Consulting Group, three-quarters of executives believe that artificial intelligence (AI) will enable their companies to move into new businesses, and roughly 85% believe AI will allow their companies to obtain or sustain a competitive advantage. At noon ET on Thursday, June 20, a panel of Fellows from the International Association of Business Communicators will look at how AI is maturing and what it means to your company and communication practice. Four IABC Fellows -- Roger D’Aprix, Amanda Hamilton-Attwell, Mary Hills, and Ned Lundquist -- gathered for a conversation about the issues facing communicators as AI continues to evolve.Continue Reading → The post Circle of Fellows #46: Communicating With and About AI appeared first on FIR Podcast Network.

In May’s Circle of Fellows panel, four IABC Fellows explore the steps organizations need to take to mitigate the risk of reputational crises and address the challenges of consumer activism in highly politicized environments by listening to your customers, understanding their concerns and shaping communication to build trust, clarify and dispel myths.Continue Reading → The post Circle of Fellows #45: Consumer Activism appeared first on FIR Podcast Network.

On April 18, four IABC Fellows gathered to discuss the evolution of communication from support service to value contributor in episode 44 of the “Circle of Fellows” program.Continue Reading → The post Circle of Fellows #44: Adding Value Through Communication appeared first on FIR Podcast Network.

Diverse, inclusive workplaces are essential to business success. But how does a company achieve authentic representation without resorting to stereotypes? Four IABC Fellows -- Priya Bates, Todd Hattori, Jim Shaffer, and Brad Whitworth -- joined host Shel Holtz for a conversation about the role in promoting diversity and inclusion for a discussion about how to evaluate diversity and inclusiveness and hear about best practices in language and visual representation.Continue Reading → The post Circle of Fellows #43: Communicating Workplace Diversity and Inclusion appeared first on FIR Podcast Network.

In a recent Weber Shandwick study, among executives who reported working in companies with world-class reputations, 63% favored companies taking a public stance on social or political issues. On Circle of Fellows’ February episode, four IABC Fellows explored how to coach leaders on when and how to take a stand on political/social issues, the pitfalls of CEO activism, and how to maintain a productive, inclusive tone that seeks consensus and solutions.Continue Reading → The post Circle of Fellows #42: Communicators and CEO Activism appeared first on FIR Podcast Network.

FIR guest host Brad Whitworth moderated a panel discussion with four IABC Fellows: Alice Brink, John Deveney, Jim Lukaszewski, and Brenda Siler. who explored the role of a free press in supporting a free economy:  How communicators can support their business's efforts to support a free press and the value a free press brings to organizations (such as providing transparency and delivering information on which companies can reliably base decisions). Other topics related to media relations are also on the agenda, including why companies should respond when news organizations come calling, the important role of earned media, and whether press releases still matter.Continue Reading → The post Circle of Fellows #41: Media Relations and a Free Press appeared first on FIR Podcast Network.

Showing how communication benefits your organization depends on measuring what matters most—and how to turn what you learn into actionable results. Join four Fellows of the International Association of Business Communicators (IABC) for a real-time conversation about what technology exists to help you measure your programs, package and present the results, and produce more complex analyses to present to leadership.  We’ll also explore non-technology means of measurement and other approaches to demonstrating that your communication efforts are paying off. The panel, moderated by FIR host Shel Holtz, featured Amanda Hamilton-Attwell, Mary Hills, Jim Shaffer, and Angela Sinickas discussing measurement, beer, and other means of proving communication's worth to the powers that be.Continue Reading → The post Circle of Fellows #40: Demonstrating the Value of Communication / Measurement appeared first on FIR Podcast Network.

How do you build a strong brand? And what role can communicators — from the PR function to internal communications — play a pivotal role? On November 15, four IABC Fellows will discuss how positioning varies, why strong brands are necessary today, and new trends in branding, including how to make employees a part of your brand team. The November Circle of Fellows panel tackling this issue included Priya Bates, George McGrath, Cindy Schmieg, and Mark Schumann.Continue Reading → The post Circle of Fellows #39: How to Build a Strong Brand appeared first on FIR Podcast Network.

How do you know if you’re using the best structural model for communication? Can hybrid models co-exist successfully? Four IABC Fellows explored the latest thinking on department structures, including how to work with agencies and freelancers (on goal-setting, budgeting, etc.). The panel will also look at whether departments should be consolidated or employ an agency model (with staff embedded in parts of the organization), as well as whether all communications departments should be grouped together, and where they should report. The panel, moderated by IABC Fellow Brad Whitworth, featured Mary Ann McCauley, George McGrath, Barbara Puffer, and Jennifer Wah.Continue Reading → The post Circle of Fellows #38: Structuring the Communication Function appeared first on FIR Podcast Network.