Mile High Views

It’s PRSA’s Ethics Month. As communicators, we must be the voice of conscience for the companies where we work. PR pros can assess the culture, actions and outcomes in a way no other function performs within business.

Off-year elections usually involve local races, such as state house, city council and school board. But only one in five people actually vote.

As a high school cross country and track coach, I see how athletics and other extracurricular activities enhance the high school experience.

Every business should aim to have community relations in its communications mix, as this is where the soul of a business can be shared. When companies make commitments to the communities they work and thrive in, they attract top talent, increase business and create a lasting presence in the marketplace.

This is a long list and one I’m fond of reciting to anyone who cares. And honestly, to some who don’t. I’m a native, so I take credit.

Upgrade. Cloud. Words to make you cringe. Keeping up with technology can be daunting. In a PRSA/APPrise Mobile study, data showed companies are slow adopters.

Years ago, I went through the Denver Metro Chamber’s Leadership Denver program. At the time, I was taking on a bunch of new responsibilities in my job, profession and community. I needed direction.

Are you a leader, or poised to be one? As such, you can create fear and confusion or inspire and motivate. To achieve the latter, lead by example, creating a vision and setting a clear path for achieving it. The most effective leaders are excellent communicators, not afraid to do the work required to achieve success. Other key qualities of leadership include:

Business travel can be a drag. That’s why I try to squeeze in sightseeing when I can. On a media tour in Chicago, I walked to meetings to experience the Loop. At a trade show in Boston, I ran along the Charles River to watch the early morning rowers.

There are dozens of examples of how *not* to react in crises. United Airlines’ recent fiasco is just one such example. The reality is that PR can help you navigate these turbulent waters and keep the ship afloat. Transparency and responses that align with company philosophy and reputation are at the foundation of crisis management.

When children are small, it’s hard to imagine a time when they will be independent. But it happens faster than you can believe.

Ever hear if you work at something you love, it doesn’t seem like work at all? I had a hard time believing that. Even though I loved my job in public relations, there were things I had to do that I dreaded. I was following my passion but why were some things so hard?

There’s a time and place for everything, especially a giggle or two. The value of humor in the workplace can’t be discounted due to the benefits gained. Aside from stress relief, there’s higher productivity, creativity and innovation.

One of my ministers recently challenged us to post on Facebook about what we stand FOR rather than against. We all complain at times, but what if we used our communications super powers for the good — changing minds, changing hearts, talking about and working towards the positive?

You’ve been dreading going into the office because you have to have a difficult conversation with a co-worker. You may have even slipped into patterns of silence (withdrawing, masking, avoiding) or violence (controlling, labeling, verbal attacking) – none of which feels good for anyone.

A simple greeting can be the competitive difference. Today, customers expect immediate response. According to McKinsey Quarterly, how we deliver is as important as what we deliver.

It’s hard to believe that “truthiness” was Merriam-Webster’s word of the year in 2006. Defined as “the quality of preferring concepts or facts one wishes to be true, rather than concepts or facts known to be true,” truthiness feels increasingly relevant today.

Don’t have a Fitbet yet? You might be the only one. There are 19 million users in more than 50 countries; 9.5 million of those are active.

It’s January and you know what that means – time to make a list of resolutions that you will faithfully execute for a while, then less through the spring and by summer, they will be a distant memory.

As PR pros, we know just how much words matter, and deeply value authenticity. We know how important it is in our lives. Age does, after all, bring wisdom. And the unique personality and perspective each of us brings to the table is what makes us who we are. That is our differentiation, our magic.

Much has been made about fake news sites lately. Interestingly, many of these sites are simply personal blogs that typically espouse a point of view. Researched or not, blogs should be considered more like opinion pieces than traditional news.

‘Tis the season – the season of gratitude. Thanksgiving helps us take a pause each year for the gifts in our lives, from work and family to health and happiness. As a business, investing in our communities can mean employee volunteering, matching gifts, sponsorships and in-kind services.

Every self-respecting communicator understands the value of being fair and ethical. And every consumer of media should appreciate it, too!

Longtime Denver PR practitioners Sydney Ayers, Lisa Cutter and Jane Dvorak have created SLJ 100 Communications to publish The Colorado 100, featuring stories of interest for readers across the state.