CommaKazi Speek Podcast

On Tuesday, Feb. 16 2010, IABC/Chicago will host a lunchtime professional development session on social media, led by early social media adopter and consultant Barbara Talisman.The session is titled, "Social Media: Making the Most Effective and Efficient Use of Your Time."

Barbara is President of Talisman Associates, Inc., a full-service consulting firm working with public benefit corporations. In advance of the Feb. 16 presentation, Barbara was interviewed by IABC/Chicago volunteer Wanda Whitson. In this 10-minute event preview, they discuss some of the topics that will be covered during the presentation. This event will be informative to communicators and organizations looking to include social media in their communication strategies.

On the web, go to chicago.iabc.com to find out more about the Feb. 16 event, including how to register.

In this podcast, Barbara and Wanda discuss:

1. With so many social media tools and techniques available, where does a communicator start?
2. How similar, and how different, are the reasons for companies to use social media tools for their external audiences, compared to their internal audiences (e.g., employees and management)
3. Can a “smart” social media policy be used to convince control-oriented managers and executives to “let go” and feel that they can risk “making mistakes” with social media?
4. Other "can't afford to miss" points that Barbara will cover in her Feb. 16 presentation.

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Come hear the full presentation in person on Feb. 16!
11 a.m. - 1 p.m.

Maggiano’s Little Italy
516 N. Clark Street
Chicago, IL 60654

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As a communicator, you understand that different channels reach different audiences. But what are the best ways to integrate Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn into the rest of your communication strategy? Using a combination of case studies and discussion, this presentation will illustrate best practices surrounding the use of social media for internal and external audiences.

Throughout the session you will glean tips and tricks for easily incorporating social media, including how to plan, schedule, and measure social media messages. Join us and learn about:

• Cultivating relationships with virtual leaders
• Understanding the social media audience
• Starting personal dialogue
• Learning to let go
• Creating a smart social media policy
• Learning from mistakes
• Converting traditional event leadership into virtual event leadership

Barbara Talisman is President of Talisman Associates, Inc., a full-service consulting firm working with public benefit corporations. The firm provides hands-on fund development assistance, leadership training and executive coaching to non-profit organizations.

Barbara is an early adopter of social media and integrates it into all her work with clients. Barbara has been in the development field since 1983; teaches a variety of fundraising topics; and has been a guest speaker at conferences in North America, Europe, the United Kingdom and Australia. Barbara has published articles in Fund Raising Management, Fundraising Success, Association Forum, Fund Raising Institute, Advancing Philanthropy and Clout. She has been profiled in Crain’s Chicago Business, Entrepreneur Magazine, Today’s Chicago Woman, and Chicago Tribune.

You can find out more about Barbara at www.3talisman.com or listen to Barbara on BlogTalkRadio.

Angela Sinickas, ABC, Fellow of IABC, President, Sinickas Communications, Inc.

On Wednesday, Jan. 13, 2010, measurement expert Angela Sinickas will present practical and easy-to-grasp ideas for launching or enhancing existing measurement within a communications function. The presentation is offered by IABC/Chicago as part of its Professional Development Series.

In this 8-minute preview, Angela answers the following four questions, and provides some additional thoughts:

1. How can you assure someone who believes that they “aren’t a numbers person” that they can measure their communication efforts—and might even enjoy it?
2. Some overworked communicators may worry about adding measurement to their responsibilities. But can measurement actually reduce their stress levels?
   
3. Will your session provide practical tips without being too overwhelming for small communication staffs to implement?
   
4. The debate continues on who owns social media, Marketing or Public Relations, who should measure it, and how it should be measured? What are your thoughts on this discussion?
   

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Come hear the full presentation in person on Jan. 13!
11 a.m. - 1 p.m.
Maggiano’s Little Italy
1901 East Woodfield Road Schaumburg, IL 60173
847-240-1600 Register: http://ow.ly/U46H ---------------------------------------------------------

You've researched your audience, you understand your organization's direction, and you've executed your plan. But now you want to know:
Is the message clear? Is the program helping to change behavior?

All organizations, large and small, need to know if their communication programs are achieving the desired results. This workshop will help you determine if your communications are effective—and how to do it on a shoestring budget.

This session will cover how to measure your messages, channels and outcomes. Interspersed throughout the talk will be dozens of ideas for how you can conduct research at no or low cost, and often without either getting permission in advance or even having to bother your audience.

Some of these money-saving tips include:
* How to use observational measurement techniques.
* Ways to find free research resources inside and outside your organization.
* Free tools for tracking social media—both your own and those of other organizations mentioning yours.
* How to insert your research questions into other people's surveys.
* Using pilot/control groups to show the impact of different communication strategies.
* Using past communication mistakes to quantify future communication results.

Angela Sinickas is president of Sinickas Communications, Inc., an international consulting firm dedicated to helping organizations achieve business results through focused research and practical solutions. Her publications (over 125) and speaking engagements in 26 countries have made her name synonymous with communication research.

She is the author of the manual, "How to Measure Your Communication Programs," a regular columnist for Strategic Communication Management and on the editorial boards of two professional journals. Angela’s work has been recognized with 17 IABC Gold Quills, including two for her website: www.sinicom.com, where you can download nearly all the articles she has written. She has developed a range of online and audio-based tools for organizational communicators to plan and measure their work.

An interview of Jill Folan, Senior Change/Communication Consultant, Watson Wyatt Worldwide, by Julia Winn, member of IABC/Chicago. Need help convincing management of the value of Communication? Want to gain insight into how to implement communication that encourages the right behaviors and promotes business success? Would it help you to know what other successful companies focus their communication efforts on? If so, then join us to hear from Watson Wyatt—a leading global consultancy—how companies with highly effective communication differentiate themselves.

 

Here’s your chance to get the results of Watson Wyatt’s just-released survey. Jill will reveal highlights, including:

 

• Evidence to support the important role that effective employee communication plays in business success.
• Research that can help you make a sound business case for investing in communication programs.
• Communication practices with the highest returns.
• How companies communicate to employees; the impact of social media.
• Insight into what top-performing companies are focusing on during this global economic downturn.

Watson Wyatt has been conducting this research over the last eight years providing insight into communication practices and trends. It’s highly regarded Communication ROI Study provides communicators with actionable information and trends.

11 a.m. - 1 p.m.

Maggiano’s Little Italy

516 N Clark St (at Grand)

Chicago

Antinori Room (use Grand Avenue banquet entrance) 

Register

Communication Planning in Times of Turmoil: How to Plan and be Nimble

Karen Horn, Principal, Horn Communication
Communicators know that planning is a fundamental resource in their proverbial toolkits. Are you and your team disciplined in your planning approach? When was the last time you updated your plan template?

Listen to this brief interview of communication strategist Karen Horn, as she discusses some of the points she planned to deliver on Nov. 18 during an IABC/Chicago lunch seminar. Karen was interviewed prior to the lunch seminar by IABC/Chicago member Julia Winn.

Arguably no one had a better view of turbulent times than Karen Horn, who led Washington Mutual’s communication team through the good times and as it spiraled into the largest bank failure. With access to the C-Suite executives and Board of Directors, Karen and her team made a positive impact during the most challenging of times. Moreover, they worked their plan knowing that the changes would affect them as well as the other employees.

Lunch seminar attendees:

1. Walked away with a model for employee communication planning—and listening—to use as a foundation for any major company change.
2. • Heard how to embrace new social media approaches in the planning process.
3. • Learned how to build trust with front-line employees through disciplined planning and strategic use of blogs and town hall meetings.

Karen Horn is known throughout the world in organizational communication as one of the gold standards in the profession. At GE, she created the first communication toolkit for managers. At Cisco, she designed an on-line strategic communication tool, now available to communicators worldwide through IABC.

In a 14-minute interview on the final day of the Sept. 22-24 Strategic Communication Management Summit 2009 in Chicago, Tom interviews Claire Leheny, Melcrum Director, North America.

They discuss:

1. Findings from a recent Melcrum global survey of communication professionals
2. How the current economic market is impacting internal communications, and
3. Changes within Melcrum, including the reason behind Melcrum's recent relocation of its headquarters from Chicago to Washington, D.C.
   

Show theme, "Rollin'" by Barry McCabe  is available from the PodSafe Music Network. 

In a 16-minute interview a few days prior to leading an IABC/Chicago lunch seminar, Tribune Company communication executive Gary Weitman spoke with Tom Keefe about journalism, public relations and the changing landscape for communicators and media companies.

If you are in the Chicago area on Tuesday, Sept. 22, 2009, attend the IABC/Chicago event to join in a frank and revealing discussion with Gary. Here is information about the event.

Tuesday, September 22, 2009

"Crisis Communication in a Changing Media Environment — A Conversation with Tribune Company"

Public relations and communications veteran Gary Weitman, SVP/Corporate Relations at Tribune Company, will guide you through a series of crisis events and communication solutions implemented over his tenure at Tribune. Sharing his war stories will provide you with tools to combat your next communication crisis. You've heard about it in the news, now consider what you would do if faced with:

• Selling the company and taking it private,
• Chapter 11,
• Selling the Chicago Cubs and
• PR/communications when you own the media.

Gary will explain how his team handled these situations and how a constantly changing media environment applies to real world communications.

11 a.m. - 1 p.m.

Maggiano's Little Italy

516 N Clark St (at Grand)

Chicago

Register Now

Even if you cannot attend the presentation and discussion, enjoy this interview. I also will post a link to a video interview of Gary that will be recorded on the day of his presentation in Chicago.

00:00 Intro and Opening Comment
01:00 Gary Weitman's professional background
01:45 Advice to students considering a journalism career
04:15 Students getting practical experience
06:00 Understanding content generation
07:15 Journalism skills transfer to many professions
09:00 Importance of context and the world around you
10:00 What trend encourages Gary when he thinks of the future of public relations?
12:00 Challenges of managing internal communications in a media company
13:30 The evolution of Tribune Company
15:00 Come with no preconceived notions about Tribune Company

 

Show theme, "Rollin'" by Barry McCabe  is available from the PodSafe Music Network. 

Gary Weitman
Senior Vice President, Corporate Relations
Tribune Company

Robert Swan, OBE, is a polar explorer, environmental leader and special envoy to the director of UNESCO. As the first man to walk across both the North and South Poles, Swan witnessed firsthand the damage to the polar regions. Over a five-year period, he removed and recycled more than 1,500 tons of waste from the Antarctic Peninsula. He is a noted speaker at global environmental summits, a U.N. Goodwill Ambassador for Youth and a visiting professor at the School of Environment at Leeds University. In 1995, Swan was awarded the Order of the British Empire (OBE).

On June 10, he delivered a powerful message to 1,200+ communicators gathered at the IABC 2009 World Conference in San Francisco. He also asked for help.

Listen to this 1-minute interview to hear what amazing challenge Swan announced at the IABC World Conference, and how you can help.

 

These Quick & Dirty podcasts are unedited MP3 recordings made with my portable digital recorder at the IABC 2009 World Conference at the SF Marriott in San Francisco.

#3 was recorded on Monday, June 8, 2009 following a presentation by Lynn Patterson, director of corporate responsibility at RBC Financial Group, Ontario, Canada. Lynn's presentation, "The Suite Spot: Transforming your corporate responsibility report into a communication suite," included ideas for moving away from a focus on corporate responsibility reports so that communicators instead can provide a "suite" of communications tailored to key audiences across appropriate media.

Our discussion covered the reasons to move in the direction of CS communications suites, examples of how it is done at RBC, and the possibly surprising thought that CSR departments may one day disappear--but the work won't.   

These Quick & Dirty podcasts are unedited MP3 recordings made with my portable digital recorder at the IABC 2009 World Conference at the SF Marriott in San Francisco.

#1 was recorded Saturday morning, June 6, 2009 in a cab. The interview is with Stacey Thornberry, IABC 2009 Conference Manager, as we headed to the Ocean Beach cleanup event. 

Subsequent podcasts will include interviews with IABC World Conference session presenters and attendees. Stay tuned!   

These Quick & Dirty podcasts are unedited MP3 recordings made with my portable digital recorder at the IABC 2009 World Conference at the SF Marriott in San Francisco.

#2, recorded Sunday morning, June 7, 2009 in my room at the Marriott.

Summary of the events in which I've participated since arriving here on Friday afternoon:

Meetup with Mike Zimet of the IABC SR Committee and two IABC IT staffers, Isaac and Tonia.

Community service event (beach cleanup).

Walking tour of Union Square / Chinatown. The above photo shows the two SF Chapter hosts, Molly Walker and Janet Bailey (seated, wearing black shirts) and Russell Grossman (standing to the left).

Bumping into IABC leaders and colleagues.

Subsequent podcasts will include interviews with IABC World Conference session presenters and attendees. Stay tuned!