We’ve said it before and we’ll say it over and over and over again: eye contact is of paramount importance. Here’s what Inc. Magazine had to say on the subject: As a communication specialist, I can tell you how to craft compelling presentations, share powerful stories, and build brand messages. All that work is worthless if […]
From Bryan Curtis, writing in The Wringer: After Game 3 of the NBA Finals, reporters surrounded Kevin Love in the Cavaliers’ locker room. ESPN’s Brian Windhorst stood at the group’s outer edge. This is an advantage of working for the Worldwide Leader; Windhorst can tap into the company’s boom mics and hear the interviews from […]
[by Howard Fencl, Hennes Communications] “No comment” is never a good option for an organization in the crosshairs of controversy or crisis. It’s a frequent knee-jerk reaction by people who are unprepared for media scrutiny. “No comment” almost always comes off as “guilty as charged” in news reports. Jamming your hand over the lens of a […]
From Cheryl Connor, writing for Forbes: Does anybody remember Lori Cheek? Those who follow my columns may remember my story about the intrepid entrepreneur who was famously turned down in front of eight million viewers by all five investors on Shark Tank and used the experience to propel her mobile dating site, Cheekd, on her own. TheObserver.com “That […]
From CommPro, written by Arthur Solomon, Public Relations Consultant: Depending upon which dictionary you use, a weasel will be defined as “sneaky or untrustworthy,” (Meriram-Webster); “achieve something by use of cunning or deceit,” (Oxford Living Dictionaries); or “a word used “to temper the forthrightness of a statement; that makes one’s views equivocal, misleading or confusing,” (Dictionary.com). Perhaps […]
From New York Times staff writer Michael Grynbaum: The toppling of Roseanne Barr — from her racist late-night tweet to the early-morning backlash and ABC’s axing of her highly rated show — took less than 12 hours. That is the equivalent of hyperspeed for businesses and brands that are accustomed to taking their time when […]
From Michelle Weldon, writing in Take the Lead: Gender may or not play a role in how a leader handles a crisis, but as a women leader, you can decide how you will behave. And it is likely you will have a crisis on your hands eventually. “A disaster is a moment of truth for […]
From Carol Kinsey Goman, Ph.D.: Let’s face it, in business dealings, charisma counts. A lot. And charisma is as much about impressions and body language as it is about issues and substance. I’ve seen many qualified people get passed over for promotion (or lose a sale or fail an interview) simply because they couldn’t project an engaging […]
[by Howard Fencl, Hennes Communications] Education Secretary Betsy DeVos stumbles through an interview with 60 Minutes veteran Lesley Stahl, seemingly ignorant to basic facts about U.S. public schools. She blows the perfect opportunity to “up” her embattled reputation with the enormous audience the program always delivers. Later, she issues tweets bemoaning the report saying Stahl […]
From Kindra Hall, writing for Inc.com: Public speaking can feel overwhelming and maybe even terrifying, especially if you don’t do it often. Whether it is a simple presentation to just a few co-workers or a huge event to a ton of people and your career depends on it, the first instinct is usually panic. However, because […]