Circle Of Fellows

Disciplines and functions are converging within organizations—and that can lead to more efficient, successful companies. But to blend functions easily, communication professionals will need to collaborate with other disciplines and departments, including through cross-functional training. It is equally important that communication leaders cast a more disciplined eye on the competencies of their staffs while exploring new models for the structure of communications within their organizations. Four IABC Fellows met on a Google Hangout on Air on Thursday, September 20, to discuss the blending and reshaping of internal and external communication -- as well as marketing and corporate communications -- in this hour-long conversation that included questions from communicators watching the panel in real time.Continue Reading → The post Circle of Fellows #37: The Blurring Lines Between Communication Functions appeared first on FIR Podcast Network.

The challenges and complexities of communicating increase with the size and scope of the employee population. It’s one thing to communicate when all your employees are in one city or state. When employees span the country, it gets harder, with the expectations and perceptions of employees in Ohio (for example) not necessarily aligning with those... Continue Reading → The post Circle of Fellows #36: Communicating with Global Audiences appeared first on FIR Podcast Network.

On July 19, four IABC Fellows convened for a live online conversation about the communicator’s role in creating a memorable Customer Experience (CX). The panel includes Amanda Hamilton-Attwell, George McGrath, and Jim Shaffer. FIR podcast host Shel Holtz (also a Fellow) served as moderator.Continue Reading → The post Circle of Fellows #35: The Communications Role in the Customer Experience (CX) appeared first on FIR Podcast Network.

Does advancing to the ranks of senior management really require you to win the battle for a coveted “seat at the table?” To make the transition to a top leadership position requires a change in behavior to advance your career and the role of communication. The June installment of “Circle of Fellows” will examine the communicator as facilitator in the boardroom, as a leader of innovation, and a unifier and ground-breaker in transformative collaboration. On Thursday, June 21, four IABC Fellows participated in a live online conversation about leadership skill-building for communicators. FIR host Shel Holtz (also a Fellow) moderated the panel that included James Lukaszewski, Mary Ann McCauley, and Barbara Puffer.Continue Reading → The post Circle of Fellows #34: Preparing to Lead appeared first on FIR Podcast Network.

On Thursday, May 17, four IABC Fellows participated in a live online conversation about the emerging role of CEOs as the new global community leaders. The topic was also IABC’s editorial theme for May: “CEOs and other leaders are increasingly looked to weigh in on social and political issues. But how do you determine when your leaders should take a stand? We’ll examine key indicators for when leaders should make statements and review research about this trend.” The panel included James Lukaszewski, Ned Lundquist, and Leticia Narvaez. FIR podcast host Shel Holtz moderated.Continue Reading → The post Circle of Fellows #33: CEOs as the New Global Community Leaders appeared first on FIR Podcast Network.

n Thursday, April 18, four Fellows of the International Association of Business Communicators gathered for a live online conversation about the competencies that will be required for communicators in the years ahead — both the tactics and tools used to communicate and the business acumen required to understand the problems leaders need solved that allow us to devise solutions that move the business forward.Continue Reading → The post Circle of Fellows #32: Communication Skills for the Future appeared first on FIR Podcast Network.

On Thursday, March 15, FIR host Shel Holtz moderated a panel with four of his Fellows colleagues -- Amanda Hamilton-Attwell, Kellie Garrett, March Schumann, and Jim Shaffer -- to discuss the role communications can play in building and sustaining a strong corporate culture. Watch the video replay here or listen to the podcast. (Subscribe to the podcast and you'll never miss an episode!)Continue Reading → The post Circle of Fellows #31: Creating a Culture that Attracts and Retains Employees and Customers appeared first on FIR Podcast Network.

Trust in media is at an all-time low, as is global trust in the United States (while global trust in China is soaring). Meanwhile, peers — who have been a top credible source for several years — are waning as people once again turn to subject matter experts, technical experts, and CEOs, all of whom have been trailing in prior years’ Trust Barometers, the annual survey released every January by Edelman. Where trust is in decline, communication professionals can help turn the tide. Where it is rising, communicators can help maintain that growth. On February 15, four IABC Fellows (and moderator Shel Holtz) discussed the issue and various approaches communicators can take to helping their organizations or clients rebuild trust.Continue Reading → The post Circle of Fellows #30: Rebuilding Trust appeared first on FIR Podcast Network.

Technology’s role in communications continues to grow, requiring communicators to not only factor it into their strategic planning but to stay one step ahead in order to be prepared for dramatic changes. In 2018, the changes will be as great as we’ve seen in a single year. Consider the exploding impact on communication of AI, chatbots, voice tech/voice search, and augmented reality. Add the fact that blockchain is barreling toward us it’s hard to deny that technology is poised to cause upheaval in the channels we use and the strategies we employ to communicate. On January 18, four IABC Fellows convened to discuss these and other technologies, their impact on communications, and the challenges communicators will face in adopting them.Continue Reading → The post Circle of Fellows #29: Top Innovations and Technologies in Communications appeared first on FIR Podcast Network.

In the age of social media and the 24-hour news cycle, company reputations are constantly at risk. On episode 28 of “Circle of Fellows,” recorded on December 21,  four IABC Fellows explored the challenges of managing reputation in social media, the crucial role employees play as reputation ambassadors and the financial value of proactive reputation and risk management. FIR host Shel Holtz moderated the panel featuring Lee Hornick, George McGrath, Barbara Puffer, and Cindy Schmieg. Watch the video replay here or listen to the podcast. (Subscribe to the podcast and you'll never miss an episode!)Continue Reading → The post Circle of Fellows #28: Reputation Management in the Social Media Era appeared first on FIR Podcast Network.

The trend toward the convergence of public relations and marketing is hard to ignore. Two separate studies — one from Nasdaq Corporate Solutions and the other from the USC Annenberg Center for Public Relations — both demonstrate that this convergence is more than just a casual observation.  On Thursday, November 16, IABC Fellow Brad Whitworth moderated a panel with four of his Fellows colleagues — Priya Bates, Kellie Garrett, Tamara Gillis, and Jim Shaffer — to discuss the convergence trend and what it means for the practices of public relations, corporate communications, and employee communications.Continue Reading → The post Circle of Fellows #27: Converging Communication Disciplines appeared first on FIR Podcast Network.

October's Circle of Fellows panel -- an hour-long conversation among a group of IABC Fellows -- explored the role of communications in change, how to prepare a workforce for change, how communicators can support leaders and employees undergoing the change process, and the changing nature of change itself in the modern workplace.Continue Reading → The post Circle of Fellows #26: Communicating Change appeared first on FIR Podcast Network.

September's Circle of Fellows panel -- an hour-long conversation among a group of IABC Fellows -- explored alternatives and approaches for advancing careers in communications across multiple generations. Brad Whitworth moderated a panel that included Tamara Gillis, Mary Ann McCauley, Mark Schumann, and Brenda Siler.Continue Reading → The post Circle of Fellows #25: Multigenerational Career Development appeared first on FIR Podcast Network.

August's Circle of Fellows panel -- an hour-long conversation among a group of IABC Fellows -- tackled the issue of communications and social responsibility.Continue Reading → The post Circle of Fellows #24: Fostering a Socially Responsible Organization appeared first on FIR Podcast Network.

One of the most comment ambitions expressed by communicators is to get that coveted "seat at the table." The fact is, you don't need a seat at any table (wherever the table may be) to become a trusted strategic adviser to company leader. In this month's Circle of Fellows podcast, four IABC Fellows discuss what it means to be an adviser and what it takes to earn the level of trust that has leaders calling you before they make a decision or problems arise, quoting you when you're not in the room, and counting on you to help them achieve results and solutions that matter to them.Continue Reading → The post Circle of Fellows #23: Becoming a Strategic Adviser appeared first on FIR Podcast Network.

In this hourlong conversation, four IABC Fellows -- Amanda Hamilton-Attwell, Ned Lundquist, Brenda Siler, and Angela Sinickas -- explore the upfront research required to engage diverse audiences, what we can learn from the experiences of others, practical on-the-ground advice, and how to address a miscommunication that threatens the company's relationships with customers, suppliers, partners, and other stakeholders.Continue Reading → The post Circle of Fellows #22: Communicating Across Cultures appeared first on FIR Podcast Network.

In this month's Circle of Fellows episode, FIR host Shel Holtz joins four of his IABC Fellow colleagues -- Mary Hills, George McGrath, Angela Sinickas, and Brad Whitworth -- to discuss the various ways communicators can build measurement into their communication plans and prepare to measure, including identifying the right metrics and measurement tools.Continue Reading → The post Circle of Fellows #21: Planning for Measurement appeared first on FIR Podcast Network.

In this month’s Circle of Fellows episode, FIR host Shel Holtz joins four of his IABC Fellow colleagues — James Lukaszewski, Barbara Puffer, Jim Shaffer, and Jennifer Wah — to explore why storytelling beats a rational explanation any time, how to tease stories out of other people, why leaders need to tell stories, which models make sense, how to spread stories through an organization, and a variety of other storytelling-related topics.Continue Reading → The post Circle of Fellows #20: Strategic Storytelling appeared first on FIR Podcast Network.

In this month's Circle of Fellows episode, FIR host Shel Holtz joins four of his IABC Fellow colleagues -- Priya Bates, Kellie Garrett, John Clemons, and Sheri Rosen -- to explore the evolving role of employee communications.Continue Reading → The post Circle of Fellows #19: Employee Communications appeared first on FIR Podcast Network.