​Has this happened to your organization?

• A crisis hits or change occurs.
• The response is late, all-consuming and reactive.
• The messaging and effective management is lost.
• The workforce is angry and confused.
• Staff morale and engagement suffer.
• Public faith, trust and engagement diminish.
• The work suffers.
• The organization is less effective. 

If you can relate to the above sequence of events, sorry and congrats. You've lived through crisis and understand the communications derailment chain. Once it starts rolling, it's hard to stop. If you can't relate, also congrats for avoiding the comms derailment chain. But here's the truth: Eventually your good luck will run out. 

How do we avoid this disastrous chain of events in the first place? Well, the first step is preparation. Preparation involves building a rock solid communications strategy for before and during the crisis so when derailment starts happening, you can stop it in its tracks. I often educate clients on ways to build that strategy which includes a solid foundation of messaging and education that must be built in between crises and change. Staying on track and moving forward with your communications planning takes time and effort. But the prep you do today will prevent the disastrous derailment chain tomorrow. If you need help with building a solid comms strategy to meet your organization's specific needs, we're here. Contact us today!

I recently had the opportunity appear on Peter Woolfolk's award-winning, global "Public Relations Review" podcast to talk about everything storytelling, but specifically how to up your internal communications game and get your message heard. We discuss tips for successful internal comms (Hint: Get good at listening.) and get real about some of my most challenging stories. Peter's podcast is available on multiple platforms (Spotify, Amazon Music, Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, etc...) Click here to listen to my episode!
​www.buzzsprout.com/986563/12415866

Let's face it, it's been a stressful few years. We're all looking for a little more calm in our personal lives and our work lives. The Great Resignation showed us that employees are tired and burned out, and a lot of times, looking for more meaning in their lives and especially in their work. As a leader in your organization, how can you impart a sense of calm with your employees? I believe it starts with three main ideas:

Have a plan. This includes a basic plan for crisis communications, but also a plan for how to communicate your values, mission, vision and goals on an everyday basis. When your workforce is buying into your values, you can use that messaging to create a safe space for ideas and input. This helps create a more stable and calm working environment. 

Communicate, communicate, communicate. In my experience working with agencies and organizations, chaos is created when there is a communication vacuum. What fills the vacuum? Disinformation, rumors and anger. Not very calming. By creating a regular channel for communication and feedback, you can begin to create a sense of calm in your organization. 

Don't ignore employee wellness and self-care. Are they reaching out to you for help and guidance? Or maybe they just need you to listen. Going on a periodic "listening tour" and meeting your employees where they're at (in their office environments) can be a start toward creating calm. What are their values? What do they need to be successful in their work? Create calm by listening, empowering and involving employees in the solutions to their challenges.

Who wouldn’t love super hearing? The ability to listen in to others’ conversations, to be in the know about the latest gossip. Sounds appealing in a decadent voyeuristic way. Superman used his power of super hearing for the good. But hearing is different from listening. And, in the world of communications, the superpower of listening is everything. If you’re a good listener, your communications will be more powerful than a locomotive, and able to leap tall crises in a single bound (I had to do it).
 
But what makes a good listener? If you’re a communications leader in your organization or just looking to harness your superpower listening skills within your agency, below are three tips to get you started:

• Let people talk. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve encountered leaders who never take a breath during meetings to allow input from their staff or community partners. Listening is a 2-way street. If you want to be listened to, you must give people a chance to talk.
• Engage effectively. Make strong eye contact. Don’t cross your arms. Use body language that is open and engaging. Try to find common ground in what your audience is saying. Relate on a human level.
• Follow-up in a meaningful way. Repeat what you’ve heard and provide actionable steps that will create leadership and staff accountability. People need and want to know they are being heard. This is vital when dealing with staff and community partner concerns.

 
​For more communications strategies, tips, and tactics, check out my latest blog posts on this site and on Instagram at @lmgpublicrelations.