Our content is reader-supported. Things you buy through links on our site may earn us a commission

Are You Prepared For a Social Media Crisis?

Crisis management and social media are like PB&J Ruh roh. A new survey from German consultancy Gartner Communications found that while nearly 85% of companies worldwide have general crisis plans in place (yea!), only 20.7% have social media crisis plans set (boo!). Moreover, while 71% of in-house communicators think social media will become even more …

Training and Optimism: the Answer in Sad Economic Times

We say our people are our greatest resource. Do we only say that in good times? Because in bad times, it seems people are the resources we cannot afford. When times are tough, why do managers cut back on training when that is precisely what they need to do to correct productivity? Aren’t we realists …

Tis’ the Season for Your Holiday PR Pitch

The first Winter Storm Watch has been issued for the Twin Cities area this weekend, with a possible 5-8 inches of heavy wet snow. Hardware stores are downright giddy. Weatherpersons on TV glow with qualified excitement (hoping the storm will track through these parts). Fans of winter are oiling snowmobiles, waxing skies and sharpening skates …

Influencing Your Boss

“How can I sell this idea to my boss?” That’s a question I often hear as a career coach. It usually comes from someone seeking to lead from the middle. Influencing up to obtain additional resources, or to impact a staffing decision, or to extend a deadline, or whatever requires both a business rationale and …

Executive Onboarding

It is clear that for executive onboarding efforts to be successful, they cannot simply take the shape of a glorified employee orientation process. One of the most important factors of transitional success is for the incoming executive, and those assisting with his or her transition, to have an advanced level or understanding of three things: a) The unique aspects of the organizational culture; b) the dynamics of the teams the executive is entering (whether as a leader or colleague); and c) the personality, knowledge and leadership skills of the incoming executive

The Risks of E- Training and Computer-Based Learning

It may be a bit old fashioned that the view that face-to-face training is more effective than any other kind of training such as E- Training and Computer-Based Learning—with the right trainer or training team, that is. Why not use all the tools we have? Let students pace themselves and repeat what’s necessary to facilitate …

Develop a PR Plan

A written, strategically developed PR plan could be the very thing that helps you save advertising dollars AND gain an edge over your competition.

Impress Funders with Your Grant Proposal: Target Your Outcomes

Back in the early days of my career – when high tech meant you had a fax machine – one of my proposals to the National Endowment for the Humanities for an elementary school enrichment project was rejected, and we wanted to find out if it made sense to reapply. I traveled from New York …