Circle Of Fellows

In May’s Circle of Fellows panel, four IABC Fellows explore the steps organizations need to take to mitigate the risk of reputational crises and address the challenges of consumer activism in highly politicized environments by listening to your customers, understanding their concerns and shaping communication to build trust, clarify and dispel myths.Continue Reading → The post Circle of Fellows #45: Consumer Activism appeared first on FIR Podcast Network.

On April 18, four IABC Fellows gathered to discuss the evolution of communication from support service to value contributor in episode 44 of the “Circle of Fellows” program.Continue Reading → The post Circle of Fellows #44: Adding Value Through Communication appeared first on FIR Podcast Network.

Diverse, inclusive workplaces are essential to business success. But how does a company achieve authentic representation without resorting to stereotypes? Four IABC Fellows -- Priya Bates, Todd Hattori, Jim Shaffer, and Brad Whitworth -- joined host Shel Holtz for a conversation about the role in promoting diversity and inclusion for a discussion about how to evaluate diversity and inclusiveness and hear about best practices in language and visual representation.Continue Reading → The post Circle of Fellows #43: Communicating Workplace Diversity and Inclusion appeared first on FIR Podcast Network.

In a recent Weber Shandwick study, among executives who reported working in companies with world-class reputations, 63% favored companies taking a public stance on social or political issues. On Circle of Fellows’ February episode, four IABC Fellows explored how to coach leaders on when and how to take a stand on political/social issues, the pitfalls of CEO activism, and how to maintain a productive, inclusive tone that seeks consensus and solutions.Continue Reading → The post Circle of Fellows #42: Communicators and CEO Activism appeared first on FIR Podcast Network.

FIR guest host Brad Whitworth moderated a panel discussion with four IABC Fellows: Alice Brink, John Deveney, Jim Lukaszewski, and Brenda Siler. who explored the role of a free press in supporting a free economy:  How communicators can support their business's efforts to support a free press and the value a free press brings to organizations (such as providing transparency and delivering information on which companies can reliably base decisions). Other topics related to media relations are also on the agenda, including why companies should respond when news organizations come calling, the important role of earned media, and whether press releases still matter.Continue Reading → The post Circle of Fellows #41: Media Relations and a Free Press appeared first on FIR Podcast Network.

Showing how communication benefits your organization depends on measuring what matters most—and how to turn what you learn into actionable results. Join four Fellows of the International Association of Business Communicators (IABC) for a real-time conversation about what technology exists to help you measure your programs, package and present the results, and produce more complex analyses to present to leadership.  We’ll also explore non-technology means of measurement and other approaches to demonstrating that your communication efforts are paying off. The panel, moderated by FIR host Shel Holtz, featured Amanda Hamilton-Attwell, Mary Hills, Jim Shaffer, and Angela Sinickas discussing measurement, beer, and other means of proving communication's worth to the powers that be.Continue Reading → The post Circle of Fellows #40: Demonstrating the Value of Communication / Measurement appeared first on FIR Podcast Network.

How do you build a strong brand? And what role can communicators — from the PR function to internal communications — play a pivotal role? On November 15, four IABC Fellows will discuss how positioning varies, why strong brands are necessary today, and new trends in branding, including how to make employees a part of your brand team. The November Circle of Fellows panel tackling this issue included Priya Bates, George McGrath, Cindy Schmieg, and Mark Schumann.Continue Reading → The post Circle of Fellows #39: How to Build a Strong Brand appeared first on FIR Podcast Network.

How do you know if you’re using the best structural model for communication? Can hybrid models co-exist successfully? Four IABC Fellows explored the latest thinking on department structures, including how to work with agencies and freelancers (on goal-setting, budgeting, etc.). The panel will also look at whether departments should be consolidated or employ an agency model (with staff embedded in parts of the organization), as well as whether all communications departments should be grouped together, and where they should report. The panel, moderated by IABC Fellow Brad Whitworth, featured Mary Ann McCauley, George McGrath, Barbara Puffer, and Jennifer Wah.Continue Reading → The post Circle of Fellows #38: Structuring the Communication Function appeared first on FIR Podcast Network.

Disciplines and functions are converging within organizations—and that can lead to more efficient, successful companies. But to blend functions easily, communication professionals will need to collaborate with other disciplines and departments, including through cross-functional training. It is equally important that communication leaders cast a more disciplined eye on the competencies of their staffs while exploring new models for the structure of communications within their organizations. Four IABC Fellows met on a Google Hangout on Air on Thursday, September 20, to discuss the blending and reshaping of internal and external communication -- as well as marketing and corporate communications -- in this hour-long conversation that included questions from communicators watching the panel in real time.Continue Reading → The post Circle of Fellows #37: The Blurring Lines Between Communication Functions appeared first on FIR Podcast Network.

The challenges and complexities of communicating increase with the size and scope of the employee population. It’s one thing to communicate when all your employees are in one city or state. When employees span the country, it gets harder, with the expectations and perceptions of employees in Ohio (for example) not necessarily aligning with those... Continue Reading → The post Circle of Fellows #36: Communicating with Global Audiences appeared first on FIR Podcast Network.

On July 19, four IABC Fellows convened for a live online conversation about the communicator’s role in creating a memorable Customer Experience (CX). The panel includes Amanda Hamilton-Attwell, George McGrath, and Jim Shaffer. FIR podcast host Shel Holtz (also a Fellow) served as moderator.Continue Reading → The post Circle of Fellows #35: The Communications Role in the Customer Experience (CX) appeared first on FIR Podcast Network.

Does advancing to the ranks of senior management really require you to win the battle for a coveted “seat at the table?” To make the transition to a top leadership position requires a change in behavior to advance your career and the role of communication. The June installment of “Circle of Fellows” will examine the communicator as facilitator in the boardroom, as a leader of innovation, and a unifier and ground-breaker in transformative collaboration. On Thursday, June 21, four IABC Fellows participated in a live online conversation about leadership skill-building for communicators. FIR host Shel Holtz (also a Fellow) moderated the panel that included James Lukaszewski, Mary Ann McCauley, and Barbara Puffer.Continue Reading → The post Circle of Fellows #34: Preparing to Lead appeared first on FIR Podcast Network.

On Thursday, May 17, four IABC Fellows participated in a live online conversation about the emerging role of CEOs as the new global community leaders. The topic was also IABC’s editorial theme for May: “CEOs and other leaders are increasingly looked to weigh in on social and political issues. But how do you determine when your leaders should take a stand? We’ll examine key indicators for when leaders should make statements and review research about this trend.” The panel included James Lukaszewski, Ned Lundquist, and Leticia Narvaez. FIR podcast host Shel Holtz moderated.Continue Reading → The post Circle of Fellows #33: CEOs as the New Global Community Leaders appeared first on FIR Podcast Network.

n Thursday, April 18, four Fellows of the International Association of Business Communicators gathered for a live online conversation about the competencies that will be required for communicators in the years ahead — both the tactics and tools used to communicate and the business acumen required to understand the problems leaders need solved that allow us to devise solutions that move the business forward.Continue Reading → The post Circle of Fellows #32: Communication Skills for the Future appeared first on FIR Podcast Network.

On Thursday, March 15, FIR host Shel Holtz moderated a panel with four of his Fellows colleagues -- Amanda Hamilton-Attwell, Kellie Garrett, March Schumann, and Jim Shaffer -- to discuss the role communications can play in building and sustaining a strong corporate culture. Watch the video replay here or listen to the podcast. (Subscribe to the podcast and you'll never miss an episode!)Continue Reading → The post Circle of Fellows #31: Creating a Culture that Attracts and Retains Employees and Customers appeared first on FIR Podcast Network.

Trust in media is at an all-time low, as is global trust in the United States (while global trust in China is soaring). Meanwhile, peers — who have been a top credible source for several years — are waning as people once again turn to subject matter experts, technical experts, and CEOs, all of whom have been trailing in prior years’ Trust Barometers, the annual survey released every January by Edelman. Where trust is in decline, communication professionals can help turn the tide. Where it is rising, communicators can help maintain that growth. On February 15, four IABC Fellows (and moderator Shel Holtz) discussed the issue and various approaches communicators can take to helping their organizations or clients rebuild trust.Continue Reading → The post Circle of Fellows #30: Rebuilding Trust appeared first on FIR Podcast Network.

Technology’s role in communications continues to grow, requiring communicators to not only factor it into their strategic planning but to stay one step ahead in order to be prepared for dramatic changes. In 2018, the changes will be as great as we’ve seen in a single year. Consider the exploding impact on communication of AI, chatbots, voice tech/voice search, and augmented reality. Add the fact that blockchain is barreling toward us it’s hard to deny that technology is poised to cause upheaval in the channels we use and the strategies we employ to communicate. On January 18, four IABC Fellows convened to discuss these and other technologies, their impact on communications, and the challenges communicators will face in adopting them.Continue Reading → The post Circle of Fellows #29: Top Innovations and Technologies in Communications appeared first on FIR Podcast Network.

In the age of social media and the 24-hour news cycle, company reputations are constantly at risk. On episode 28 of “Circle of Fellows,” recorded on December 21,  four IABC Fellows explored the challenges of managing reputation in social media, the crucial role employees play as reputation ambassadors and the financial value of proactive reputation and risk management. FIR host Shel Holtz moderated the panel featuring Lee Hornick, George McGrath, Barbara Puffer, and Cindy Schmieg. Watch the video replay here or listen to the podcast. (Subscribe to the podcast and you'll never miss an episode!)Continue Reading → The post Circle of Fellows #28: Reputation Management in the Social Media Era appeared first on FIR Podcast Network.

The trend toward the convergence of public relations and marketing is hard to ignore. Two separate studies — one from Nasdaq Corporate Solutions and the other from the USC Annenberg Center for Public Relations — both demonstrate that this convergence is more than just a casual observation.  On Thursday, November 16, IABC Fellow Brad Whitworth moderated a panel with four of his Fellows colleagues — Priya Bates, Kellie Garrett, Tamara Gillis, and Jim Shaffer — to discuss the convergence trend and what it means for the practices of public relations, corporate communications, and employee communications.Continue Reading → The post Circle of Fellows #27: Converging Communication Disciplines appeared first on FIR Podcast Network.