Shonali Burke Consulting

February 3, 2016

03 Feb 2016

Teamwork Is a Contact Sport

Estimated Reading Time: 3 minutes

We’ve all heard the old…very old…saying, “There is no ”˜I’ in team.” As a youngster growing up in rural Georgia, I was constantly chided by my elders… “Don’t always be talking about yourself; pay more attention to others.”

There are good lessons to be learned from both of these statements. Yet, time and again, we read about or see examples to the contrary in our workplace or even (gasp!) in team sports.

The modern-day work environment doesn’t do a whole lot to help the situation either, especially for those of us who work in public relations and find ourselves communicating more and more via social media platforms.

Social media interaction isn’t exactly a team sport.

9 Comments/in Business Building, Career Development, Public Relations /by Kirk Hazlett/#permalink

November 11, 2015

11 Nov 2015

“Walk the Walk; Talk the Talk” – Thoughts on Teaching

Estimated Reading Time: 5 minutes

I’ve been having some interesting conversations recently about “what people know.” Most of them have centered on social media, but the key points apply anywhere.

I never fail to be fascinated as I come in contact with people who, on the surface, should be the role models for learning.

Why? Because they’re teachers!!

I have to make it clear right here that this isn’t a mass epidemic, yet. But it is something that I seem to be seeing more frequently…probably because I’m paying more attention to the situation. Nevertheless, it’s there, and it doesn’t appear to be going away anytime soon.

Why am I on this rant?

Because we, teachers, should be setting the example, leading the way for our students and advisees as they, themselves, prepare for their inevitable dive into the deep end of the working world pool.

I never really gave this a whole lot of thought as I was wending my way through my own college adventures. It definitely wasn’t on my radar screen while slogging through the mire that made up the University of Georgia’s bachelor’s degree in English. But I also wasn’t thinking about how that degree was going to get me anywhere in life, it was just a degree that was expected of me.

3 Comments/in Career Development, Communication, Public Relations /by Kirk Hazlett/#permalink

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Strategic Social PR from A to Z ❯

Today, good public relations entails much more than blindly blanketing the media (and bloggers) with information that’s of dubious value to begin with. And more often than not, it entails a strong element of building and managing online community. In this workshop, you will:

Learn the three key elements of an effective 21^st century “social PR” strategy, and how it differs from “old” PR
Know which time-tested research and analytical methods you should still use in the 21st century
Understand why talking at people isn’t effective, and how to effectively use today’s popular social media platforms to talk with them
Experience real-time social engagement through workshop exercises and hands-on participation
Understand how to effectively incorporate measurement, so that it validates and improves your programs and, therefore, your business

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From Passive to Active Listening ❯

There's a difference between "hearing" and "listening." Do you know which it is your organization or business does... and the business ramifications of not doing it well? In this workshop, you will:

Learn the difference between "passive" and "active" listening (and 'fess up which you've been doing thus far)
Make the connection between active listening and strategy, and how they have a mutually symbiotic relationship
Familiarize yourself with different types of listening dashboards (yes, some are free!) and how to use them effectively
Experiment with simple yet effective techniques to build community through active listening online
Understand how to put active listening at the center of your communication strategy for better business results

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Smart PR Measurement for the Digital Age ❯

We have more measurement tools than ever before; so many, that we don't know what to do with most of them. And no matter how good a tool is, you still need smart people using it in a smart way, to derive the most benefit. In this workshop, you will:

Learn the basics of good PR measurement and, conversely, the seven deadly sins of bad measurement
Understand how to differentiate between fact and fiction in the measurement context, and the two acronyms to stay far away from
Master the process behind creating effective and realistic measurable objectives
Learn how to incorporate online analytics into your PR measurement (yes, it can be done)
Understand how to make the right kinds of correlations between your communication efforts and your organization's business objectives

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Social Media for the C-Suite ❯

Gone are the days when “social media” was the domain of your twenty-something employees. Today, social platforms are where your customers and constituents of all ages and stages literally live online. If you’re a business leader, you should take this workshop to:

Learn the three core principles of effective social media engagement
Examine key social media platforms, and understand how they work on both personal and professional levels
Review how businesses of all sizes have effectively used social media to support and reach business goals
Experience the benefits of real-time social engagement through workshop exercises and hands-on participation
Understand the kinds of metrics your social media team should and shouldn’t use when reporting back to you

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