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Media Training, Hoodies and Facebook

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Advertising Age has a fascinating article in its Sept. 5, 2011 issue oriented to the media training of 20-something leaders of tech companies who sit in their hoodies and sweat under drilling questions posed by reporters. These CEOs typically have no concept of media training and have not been privy to the wily nature of seemingly friendly reporters who turn aggressive to get their story.

Mark Zuckerberg proved that correct when he stated  his notorious faux pas, “privacy is over.”

He’s not the only one…every CEO and business leader regardless of age, industry or company needs to be savvier when being interviewed by media. It’s easier in the internet era for reporters to dig up dirt from more channels than just a printed magazine, and thus it’s easier to get hung up during an interview.

Where I have to disagree with this AdAge piece is when Brandee Barker, former VP of PR at Facebook, suggests that Zuckerberg helped “shape a media environment more accepting of the less-structured response or mishap.”  She states in the article, “There’s an authenticity that comes across, and if it’s awkward and they say the wrong thing, that’s OK.”

Really?

This woman is sending entirely the wrong message to young CEOs that it’s OK to come across as a noob and act befuddled. How can this be appropriate media training? When that tech leader grows up and heads to another company will that style be acceptable? In fact, like the Zuckerberg debacle, those situations will stick like glue and be resurrected throughout a leader’s career.

Ask Sarah Palin! She floundered and fell flat on her face in front of Katie Couric during her bid for vice president on the ticket with John McCain. Ask John Kerry who ran for president and all anyone could talk about was that he needed a haircut and acted like a statue in front of the cameras.

Being polished in front of reporters certainly comes with seasoned experience; losing your personality is one thing with too much messaging and training, but getting permission to bumble an answer and be accepted for it is another.

Media training is what we public relations practitioners strive to do with our internal and external clients.

It begins with research. When there’s a story brewing, the PR person must conduct due diligence to find all the stories and reporting style of the interviewer.

Then, we develop Q&A using the company’s approved message map so everyone says the same thing. Approved messages help deliver the facts without straying into murky waters (although this happens frequently).

Role playing is part of media training. A PR team tries to trip up the executive and put him or her in a stressful situation with a barrage of media questions. Using that message map is critical at this point, and knowing the tricks to sidestep a tough question is always helpful.

The onus is on PR only at the back end during prep. Executives must always be cognizant about their accountability to position the company in the most positive light. Often, company leaders forget they’re still on tap at the very end of an interview. This is when reporters swoop in for the kill, when there’s an apparent moment of relaxation. Leaders have been known to really mess up at this time because they think the interview is over.

It’s never over until the mic is off, the phone is hung up, and the reporter has left the building!

If you’re a business owner and you’re seeking the limelight to tell your story, or if you’re a politician running for office, then media training is absolutely a must. There are varying levels of training, and you don’t need to hire the big guns, either. Unless, of course, you’re Sarah Palin or John Kerry seeking the presidency of the United States.

Is #FollowFriday Still Cool, Twitter?

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This week I read a blog post by Bill Dorman who is lamenting the turn of events in social media – the “no one’s home, but the lights are on” syndrome many of us are feeling. In that same breath, he asked, “Why isn’t #Follow Friday cool anymore?”

Is it? Is the previously popular Twitter weekly hashtag, #FollowFriday or #FF, during which peeps list all their faves so others know whom to follow, now passé?

What’s your take? Here’s mine…

** I welcome and appreciate all #FollowFriday tweets; in fact, it’s darn nice to be acknowledged by someone who takes their time to put a list together and include me. Mark C. Robins is one of the most thoughtful and never misses a Friday. I am in awe of this because people are just not doing it any longer. (Mark is with  Lawyer Locate in Canada.)

** Twitter has changed forever. I lament the Twitter of yore. While I wasn’t an early adopter in 2008, I did jump on in early 2009 and was hooked…for life (we’ll see). There were rainy Fridays (kinda like today) that I watched the tweets roll in and interacted all over the world. No longer.

** My Twitter stream is laden with links. That’s why I’m trying not to add links to that many tweets any more. I want to keep my tweets authentic and humanistic. Because you ought not to RT a tweet with a link unless you open it to verify, I have changed my RT patterns, too.

** Back to #FF, as I just digressed…I hasten a guess that relationships on Twitter are more superficial than before? Do peeps take the time they used to to develop in-depth friendships as before? I’m saying no, and this contributes to the lack of recommendations.

** What about time? If your time is as limited as mine, then this is the biggest culprit.

** How about channel overload? G+, Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, Tumblr blogs, your blog, Foursquare, Yelp…OMG! We are at the peak of sensory overload! Our cups runneth over! How can we develop new relationships the way we used to via social media enough to #FF?

** Like any trend, the newness wears off, and the “abuse” (I use this lightly) of #FF caused a bit of negativity. When the bots rolled in and started to add lists of peeps haphazardly with #FF, that’s when we became suspect of #FF recommendations from peeps we didn’t know. Shall we blame it on the bots?

So, finally, Bill, #FollowFriday is still VERY cool when:

1. It comes from a genuine and authentic place – your heart.

2. It recognizes someone for a job well done, gratitude, an impact, an influence, and more.

3. You want to bring a smile to someone’s face who needs a lift.

4. You want to be a coolio friend who recognizes someone else’s accomplishments.

5. You want to plain old #RocksHot.

So, I’m gonna just #FF this entire community right here…you guys do #RockHot. THANKS!

Nine Global Bloggers You Should Know

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Bulgaria, Sweden, Thailand, Canada, Australia, Romania, France, Costa Rica, Lebanon, Hong Kong – these are the countries and regions most on my radar each day I tweet, open a blog post, write a blog post, retweet from Triberr, and comment in others’ houses.

The world is becoming smaller every day.

Which countries are on your radar? Have you developed the sweet relationships I have with peeps in each of these locations? Do you think you’d go visit that country and want to ensure you meet for an espresso or cup of tea?

I have to say, honestly, I have and I would. My tweeps notwithstanding from the U.S., the richness of culture and excitement I receive from these relationships I’ve developed are worthy of continuing on this path and this growth journey. Let me share a slice of my world with you and encourage yo u to put these tweeps on your global radar:

** Petya Georgieva, in Bulgaria, has invited my comment about PR and again today in a guest post. (Funny how I selected a similar topic today, eh?)

** A podcast I did with Jon Buscall of Jontus Media in Sweden about social media anything and everything via Skype was my second experience with this medium. I love doing these, and Jon is a master podcaster (and his accent is very sexy, but don’t tell him). Jon shares that our first session was his most popular with listeners from all over the world. (That #RocksHot – did you know I engraved by iPad2 with “Soulati Media Rocks Hot.”)

** On occasion Robert Dempsey and I Skype (he’s in Thailand), and I see him on blogs everywhere in the States, too.  Robert #RocksHot in SEO and is ahead of the curve with social media SEO – the new buzz.

** My best pal in Ho ng Kong, Roy Grubb of WikIT and Topicscape is a  mind-map wizard. He found me first and early on my blogging pathway. (In fact, he’s my “agent” and supports me all over Twitter).

** Have you met Leon Noone yet? He’s my favorite Aussie curmudgeon. I love that man to pieces with his wit and dry humor. He’s got experience beyond anyone I know, so make sure you put him on your radar.

** And, Kaarina D illabough is a lovely Canadian who writes with amazing thought, warmth and coaching style on her blog.

** Stan Faryna, writing from Romania, will take you on a wild ride with his emotional and inspirational writing. He keeps you guessing always and yet is so totally engaging and sweet.

** The Falchetto’s, John and Ameena, each write their own blogs Expat Life Coach and  Mummy in Provence. Each is respected and inspiring for their life works.

I could give you more examples of others who are in my Globe Spotting Tribe on Triberr, but for starters, these are wonderful peeps who sit with me on the down low…or the QT… as they say. If you want to gain influence and enhance your brand in another country, then go to a blogger’s house who works in another country. Simple. Develop relationship with that person and their community, and you’ll begin to get invites to participate.

Who might you add here, please? We’re always interested in learning more about peeps around the world who are rockin’ it.

 

 

Five Tips From Low To Grow

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I recently came off a low point bordering on downright “depression.” Shhh, I don’t like to allow that word into my vocabulary as I hate feeling down in the dumps. Sometimes it’s just plain unavoidable.

When these lows happen, I usually fall pretty hard because I’m a 99 percent up person – always glass half full, seeking a belly laugh, giggling at a stupid tweet, and wanting to find the happy each and every day and ride that wave.

But, when everything, it seems, just collapses onto my shoulders from the uncontrollable Mother Nature escapades on the house and vehicle, the start of school and new accelerated math requirements to client relationships that are trying and doubting and tales of lives lost and hearts broken – ohmygosh. It sometimes becomes too much to bear, and I know I’m not alone with these feelings.

Yet, all I want to do is be alone and muddle through. That is why I took a bit of a hiatus from the blog – no incentive, the words would not flow, the ideas were like molasses pouring from a bottle with a small neck.

As a result of this low point, I took the opportunity to grow – as a person, as a coach, as a practitioner, as a friend, and as a mom.  Because, when I really dissected what was making me feel so dumpy, it had much to do with criticism; which I always take to heart regardless of whether someone is in the right or wrong in saying what they’ve said.  This is part of the challenge of working for yourself – there is no one to balance the thoughts, decisions, actions, or choices.

And, you know? I have NOTHING to complain about; hopefully, this is not coming across as a complaint. It’s all about my own personal strength and spirit as I traverse this blogging and social media journey.

There’s been much lament of late on the blogosphere. Bill Dorman wrote about it this week on his blog – what’s up with everyone “the lights are on, but no one’s home.”  Many wrote in about change – there is job loss, ill family members, waning interest, time pressures, the glories and hazards of a job hunt, and people just wanting a change. I feel it, for sure. I yearn for the glory days of Twitter of yore, and it will never be the same. These feelings add up to a gray-to-black cloud hovering above, don’t they?

For me, it’s always a relief to climb out of the hole; for others doomed to reside in there, I feel compassion as it’s never easy to pick yourself up with a solid exit strategy from bottom to top.

My few suggestions may be silly to others, but they work for me (please add yours?):

1. Hit the trails early morning and when the fawns cross my path I stop and stare at their gorgeous faces in wonder and awe.

2. Focus out on someone else who needs a boost more than me and put their needs in front of mine.

3. Kiss my child and nurture her to grow with strength of spirit and this spreads warmth through my heart so it glows with love to share with everyone.

4. Ask how I can help someone I see having a bad day; that support is so precious, and when it comes to me even in a simple tweet, I’m thankful.

5. Send a greeting card (Cardthartic is my favorite; all about “Honoring Emotions”) to someone unexpectedly. You’ve got mail!  Yeah! When was the last time you sent a card/letter to anyone? It’s part of who I am and I’m raising my child to be the same. It warms you that someone took that precious time to think of you that much.

I know this is a hokey post and off base for me, but you know what? I’m not going to pull the wool over your eyes and make you believe that I’m not human and need a hug sometimes, too.

How To Make The Bed With Clients

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Making my queen bed, I was struck by how many ways there are to accessorize a mattress. Usually, our mothers teach us their method, and their mothers before them show the proper way, and it sticks for life.  If you enter the military, you learn a more disciplined method, and those corners are crisp forever. Years ago when I made a bed with my mom, she insisted the pretty side of the sheet had to be underneath so you could sleep between the two patterns.

Then, there’s the matter of the bed spread, comforter with duvet, and how far down to fold these top layers. Finally, how many pillows are included on your bed? Any extra for reading? Any shams, bolsters or other decorative accents? Thread count?

Imagine making a bed with your client. Oy. Here’s how it may pan out:

**  The first several times there’s tentative balance as you attempt to find common ground. There are probably a few laughs, too.

**  Then, there may be a discussion about how your client learned to make the bed and why that way may be faster.

** Perhaps you need to stand back and watch a demonstration on how to make military corners because your client was in boot camp and insists on crispness.

** For sure, there’s tug and pull when you realize your client has pulled the entire blanket to his side. You have nothing to work with; not even a flap. How do you politely ask for some input blanket?

** Finally, the coverlet goes on, and the client wants to fold it down half way so 10 pillows in varying sizes, colors, and fabrics can be piled near the headboard to make the final product totally ridiculous — it’s no longer a bed. And, you just stand back with arms crossed and head nodding while muttering, “Do not pick this battle; he’s footing the bill.”

At the end of the day, making a bed with someone new is all about finding common ground, striking a balance, learning, and compromise.

Before you head into that bed-making experience with an unknown client, here are a few reminders to keep in mind during fact finding to ascertain what’s hot:

  1. Tell me about your experience making a bed.
  2. Get all the stories you can to create a rich history and bring that client to life.
  3. Find out the rules, the etiquette, the boundaries, and how the corners are folded; keep those in mind throughout the relationship.
  4. What milestones helped create the best- looking, award-winning bed ever?
  5. What technique contributed to efficiencies in process, economies of scale, and cost savings?
  6. What best practice was developed along the way to contribute to the bottom line?

Here’s one final thought…when answers become overwhelming and all you can do is make nonsense soup from too many ingredients, that’s the sign it’s time to move along to the next bed with a new partner.

Resonate? (Not expecting too many comments on this one; I was trying to find a gentle way to say … I think you’re smart enough to figure it out!)