For many, their workspace is like a home away from home. But what does your space say about you?
I ran across an article in Marie Claire that provides some food for thought: Everything in your office inspires a snap judgment, even if it isn’t really true about you at all.
For example:
For those of us in advertising, let’s just say I think the rules are a little more lenient. Still, we all need to be aware of the vibe that we are intentionally or unintentionally giving off.
To me, your workspace should include things that give you inspiration. Things that motivate you. But based on this article, my office might be telling people that I am “counting down the hours until quitting time” due to the many displayed photos of my children. (I actually counted, and there are 12 photos of my kids. Yikes.) However, I also have a photo of Don Draper posted, as well. I am hopeful that might make up for my slacker perception.
Whether you believe these judgments or not, this article should make you stop and think. What does your desk say about you?
Tags: Advertising, Commentary, Creative, desk, employees, fun, office, staff, work, workspace
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Thousands of recommendations, tips and tricks for becoming a stellar presenter are floating around out there. A few months ago, I shared what I believe are the three simplest—and easiest to remember—keys, as shared with me by one of my favorite bosses years ago at Leo Burnett.
The three big elements are:
These three cover all other tips, tricks, dos and don’ts. Let’s dig into them a little further.
Mastery is not whether you’ve actually mastered the material, it’s whether the audience thinks you’ve mastered it. How do you contribute to that impression? A few well placed facts and analogies work wonders. References to people you’ve met or comments you’ve heard them make also go a long way in the credibility department.
For example, Martin Sorrell once commented that in the future, clients will not pay for information, they will pay for interpretation. That day has come, and not just for marketing firms. The information business (TV, newspapers, magazines, Twitter, etc.) has been taken over by interpreters. Look at Fox News ratings vs. CNN. Or TMZ vs. Entertainment Tonight.
Also, you must surprise your audience. (This is a Steve Jobs dictate.) If there are no surprises in your presentation, the audience thinks they know the subject just as well as you do. And that means no mastery!
Presence includes what you wear; how you speak; whether you avoid clichés and “umm”s; and even the new habit: starting your sentences with “So…”
Leaning on a podium is bad news, too. One time, I saw a CEO speaking at a stockholders’ meeting, and he stood next to the podium and leaned on it. Make up your mind: Stand behind the podium or come out in front of it, but don’t use it as a crutch.
Humanity is very underrated and hugely important. Some of the best lines in a presentation occur when there’s been a goof or an equipment malfunction, but only if you turn it into an opportunity for humanity and don’t let it throw you off your game. What can work? A joke. A personal story. A self-deprecating remark. Silence or weeping usually won’t!
My former EVP at Leo Burnett used to start his big presentations with a cartoon, usually from the New Yorker, and usually something everyone had seen before. But it broke the ice. And then he would tell the audience why he was their “best buddy” and get them on his side. Predictable… but always effective.
Another way to use humanity is to pick up on and reference something that happened earlier at the same event: A previous speaker’s presentation. An introduction. Something in the news that just happened. It makes the audience believe your presentation is not canned, and that the presenter is living, breathing and paying attention.
And always remember: rarely, if ever, is there someone in the audience who doesn’t want you to succeed. They want to learn something, be entertained and be comfortable.
And once again, thanks, Tim!
Tags: How to, presentation, speech
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Presentations are something that we’re all familiar with. Whether you are watching a presentation or giving a presentation, chances are you know if it is a good one or a bad one. People say there is nothing worse than sitting through a bad presentation.
Not true. Giving one is worse.
Early in my career, I read books and articles on how to give a good presentation; I even took a class on how to be a great presenter. There are tricks and tips, dos and don’ts, lists to follow, even relaxation methods.
But then, a few years into my tenure at Leo Burnett, while making that famous drive from Chicago to Battle Creek, one of my favorite bosses (and friends) told me it is actually quite simple to be a stellar presenter. You need just three things.
Now, this guy is smart—undergrad degree from Yale, law degree from Ohio State and an MBA from Michigan—but really, only three things? I mean, there are dozens of books written on the subject. But Tim was right. Every single one of those tips, tricks, dos and don’ts were covered by his three needs.
So today, I want to share with you what Tim shared with me on that fateful drive to the cereal capital of the world. (Thanks, Tim.)
The three things you need to be a stellar presenter are:
mastery |ˈmast(ə)rē|
noun
comprehensive knowledge or skill in a subject or accomplishment : she played with some mastery.
the action or process of mastering a subject or accomplishment : a child’s mastery of language.
presence |ˈprezəns|
noun
the impressive manner or appearance of a person : Richard was not a big man, but his presence was overwhelming | [in sing. ] he has a real physical presence
make one’s presence felt have a strong and obvious effect or influence on others or on a situation.
humanity |(h)yoōˈmanitē|
noun ( pl. -ties)
humaneness; benevolence : he praised them for their standards of humanity, care, and dignity.
And there you have it. Not buying it yet? Well, let’s test it against some of those tips and tricks. Over the years, I’ve heard:
“Talk to your audience, not at them.” (Sounds like Humanity to me.)
“Know your material.” (That would be Mastery)
“Show your personality.” (Presence)
“Know the room, and get there early” (Mastery)
“Use humor, tell stories.” (Humanity)
“Practice, practice, practice.” (Mastery)
“Dress appropriately for the topic and audience.” (Presence)
“Do not read notes or slides.” (Mastery)
“Show some enthusiasm—nobody wants to listen to a dull presentation.” (Presence)
“Look at the audience, make eye contact with the room.” (Humanity)
“Talk at a natural, moderate rate of speech, and speak clearly and distinctly.” (Presence)
So, there you have it! Don’t be intimidated by giving a presentation. Forget long lists of tips—You only need three things to make it a hit.
Tags: How to, presentation, speech
Posted in Communication | 3 Comments »
Call me a grammar nerd, language-obsessed, whatever you like. I listen to podcasts like Grammar Girl and radio shows like “A Way with Words” in my free time. Word geek indeed.
When I ran across Kyle Lacy’s post last month that included a list of questions and suggestions for business email etiquette, I had to read it. And share it. And add my own suggestions.
Lacy’s post was inspired by Seth Godin’s, and since that’s the original, I’ve used it for the base list here. You should definitely check out both, but here’s my take on the 30 questions and suggestions we should all keep in mind when writing and sending emails to our business friends and colleagues – including those who share our office space.
(My additions and favorites are in bold.)
1. Is it going to just one person? (If yes, jump to #10)
2. Since it’s going to a group, have I thought about who is on my list?
3. Are they blind copied? If not, would they appreciate that I’ve now shared their email address with everyone else?
4. Did every person on the list really and truly opt in? Not like sort of, but really ask for it?
5. So that means that if I didn’t send it to them, they’d complain about not getting it?
6. See #5. If they wouldn’t complain, take them off!
7. Is the email from a real person? If it is, will hitting reply get a note back to that person? (if not, change it please).
8. Am I angry? (If so, save as draft and come back to the note in one hour tomorrow).
9. Could I do this note better with a phone call?
10. Am I blind-ccing my boss? If so, what will happen if the recipient finds out?
11. Is there anything in this email I don’t want the attorney general, the media or my boss seeing? (If so, hit delete and don’t save the draft for a later, regrettable send).
12. Is any portion of the email in all caps? (If so, consider changing it.)
13. Is it in black type at a normal size?
14. Do I have my contact info at the bottom? (If not, consider adding it).
15. Have I included the line, “Please save the planet. Don’t print this email”? (If so, please delete the line and consider a job as a forest ranger or flight attendant.)
16. Could this email be shorter?
17. Have I attached any files that would work better in PDF format?
18. Am I forwarding someone else’s mail? (If so, will they be happy when they find out?)
19. Did I hit ‘reply all’? If so, am I glad I did? Does every person on the list need to see it?
20. Am I quoting back the original text in a helpful way? (Sending an email that says, in its entirety, “yes,” is not helpful).
21. If this email is to someone like Seth, did I check to make sure I know the difference between its and it’s? Just wondering.
22. If this is a press release, am I really sure that the recipient is going to be delighted to get it? Or am I taking advantage of the asymmetrical nature of email–free to send, expensive investment of time to read or delete?
23. Bonus: Is there a long legal disclaimer at the bottom of my email? Why?
24. Bonus: Does the subject line make it easy to understand what’s to come and likely it will get filed properly?
25. If I’m replying but with different content, should I change the subject line to be more relevant?
26. If I had to pay 42 cents to send this email, would I?
And four of my own additions to the list:
27. Have I read it myself? Does it make sense?
28. Did I use punctuation, or is my email one long, run-on, confusing sentence?
29. At what time of day am I writing this? If it’s after 10:00 p.m., consider saving it as a draft and rereading before sending it first thing in the morning instead.
30. Have I used any abbreviations, initialisms or acronyms that the recipient might not understand?
Need further inspiration? Just look to one of my favorite singer-songwriters, Bloomington native Carrie Newcomer.
What are your favorites (or your biggest pet peeves)? What would you add to this list?
Tags: business communication, business email, Commentary, Customer relations, email, grammar, How to, Kyle Lacy, online, Seth Godin, social media, typos
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Walk down the street or open a magazine and chances are you’ll run across a little icon that’s changing the face of communications. It’s called a Quick Response code or QR code®.
A QR code is a two-dimensional matrix code readable by QR barcode readers and camera phones. The code itself consists of a series of black modules arranged in a square on a white background.
There are also codes that look like this:
This is a High Capacity Color Barcode (HCCB)—the name that is used by Microsoft® for its 2D barcode technology and serves as the basis of the Microsoft Tag application. Codes are made using clusters of colored triangles instead of square modules typically associated with 2D barcodes. HCCBs can range from 2-color black and white up to 8-color images.
Microsoft Tag is a proprietary 2D barcode implementation of HCCB that is specifically designed to be scanned by a mobile phone. The major difference between Tag and other 2D barcode technologies is that the URL (or data) is stored on the cloud. This means that you can actually use a single tag multiple times, allowing you to adjust your campaign on the fly.
QR codes have been around since the 1990s.
The QR code was originally developed in 1994 by the Toyota subsidiary Denso Wave to be used in tracking parts in the automotive supply chain. It has since been adapted for a variety of uses, including but not limited to, sharing a vCard, opening a web page, composing an email or sending a text message. They have been used everywhere from product packaging, magazines and signs, to trade shows, buses and business cards.
The applications are virtually endless.
QR codes can be used in a variety of ways and places. Using them in marketing efforts provides a greater ability to track response and calculate ROI.
Examples of QR code uses:
Why consider QR codes:
They’re green.
Using QR codes helps reduce the use of printed materials which saves paper, making it a more sustainable and cost-effective option for promoting your business.
Concise up-front information.
By using a QR code on your printed material, you don’t have to weigh down your target audience with too much information. In addition, it saves the recipient from having to carry physical materials, such as brochures and press kits, around with them—items that can be misplaced or accidentally thrown away. QR codes significantly increase convenience for your target audience members who use smartphones and provide an immediate experience with a brand.
Increased website traffic.
Since QR codes instantly take smartphone users online, they increase website traffic for companies. And chances are, once the person is online, they will delve deeper into the company web page to find out more information.
They’re new and different.
Tech-savvy smartphone owners love all things new and different. Giving them a new, more convenient and creative way to access information may get them more interested in what your company or products have to offer.
Cost considerations.
Denso Wave owns the patent rights on the QR code (the term QR code is a registered trademark of Denso Wave Incorporated), but the use of them is free of any license. QR codes are defined and published as an ISO standard.
A variety of online tools make it easy for anyone to generate a QR code. Real costs are incurred when there is a need for detailed reporting and campaign control using a provider like ScanLife.
Want to learn more?
Scan either the QR code or the Microsoft Tag featured in this article (or simply click this link) to view a digital version of our QR code white paper.
Originally published in the MB Journal Q2 2011
Posted in Advertising, Branding, Communication, Digital Media, Marketing, Public Relations, Social media | Comments Off
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When you think about it, for all intents and purposes, multiple sets of differing personalities in any workspace should really point to disaster. And yes, we could also look at how we define today’s work environment as a partial cause; but regardless, cramming a bunch of individuals into a close, competitive environment for 8 to 10 consecutive hours per day, filled with arbitrary deadlines, water cooler gossip, career jockeying, adulated peer pressures, formulated financial stress, and even tenuous job security, is enough to drive even the most blasé of personalities completely nuts.
But we are not blasé personalities, no sir. We all are unique in our own way and live to express ourselves as human beings. Every office is filled with gloriously differing selfdoms, like the “sensitive type” (who may still harbor a grudge over something said seven months ago), or the “black cloud” personality (that can suck the light out of a room at high noon), or even the “perpetual cheerleader” (who embraces Monday mornings and is eager to share weekend exploits over a nice soy latte), and so many more. And yet, somehow we all pull together, day-in and day-out, to make our deadlines, please our customers and thankfully, remain gainfully employed.
In Chinese philosophy, the concept of “yin yang” is used to describe how opposites only exist in relation to each other. Or, all our traits and differences actually create balance in our universe or the micro-universe we all like to call the “office.” So, is it our differences that unite us? Or better yet, assist us in diversifying our way of thinking to further contribute to a richer, more dynamic collective? From my humble viewpoint, it is.
So go ahead, embrace your personality differences, hug that “cheerleader” bright and early Monday morning, and smile at the “dark cloud” as they storm through, because each and every one of us brings a little something peculiar (in a good way) to today’s ever-changing workplace.
Tags: Commentary, Communication, employees, interpersonal relations, personality, staff, team, yin yang
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In today’s digital communications environment, we use many terms to describe the various media—social media, interactive media, mobile media—sometimes almost interchangeably. But in reality, these media outlets are distinct. And we engage with them differently.
Here is how we define the terms:
Social media. These are cloud-based applications designed to connect a “community” across any web-enabled device. Social media are designed for social interaction, using highly accessible and scalable publishing techniques. Social media are different from traditional media in that they allow a two-way interaction that can be done in real time, with some or all members of the community. Blogs, Twitter, YouTube, and Facebook are examples of social media.
Interactive media. This is a term that unites traditional media with the interactive power of the computer, communications technology, computer-enabled consumer devices and the Internet. Interactive media deliver the possibility of on-demand access to content anytime, anywhere on virtually any digital device. Rich media would be an example. These are online ads that deliver more complex messages and allow marketers the opportunity for greater interaction and engagement. Because the communication is delivered on the site the user is currently viewing, versus a link, it is arguably more meaningful.
Mobile media. This concept isn’t so much about the medium as it is the device. The ability to receive a wide range of information, and fully engage from wherever you are, constitutes a mobile interaction. Mobile media are formatted (sometimes in the form of a mobile app) to allow communication to be received on today’s smart mobile devices. Blackberry® and iPhone®, as well as digital tablets and pads, are such mobile devices. Scannable QR codes are one example of how users can easily connect the physical world with the mobile world.
Just about every day, you can find an article about interactive, mobile and social media and their influence and integration with digital technology. The Wall Street Journal recently covered the onslaught of digital technologies and how they are transforming our interaction with movies, television, magazines/newspapers, books, music and games. For example, you’re seeing tablets becoming a popular way to deliver magazines (e-zines) and books (e-books). And instead of printed brochures, marketers are using tablets on trade show floors to pitch prospects with digital brochures using turn-page technology.
So while the definitions between the different media may be distinct, the lines between them will continue to blur. And how we are able to use the different media will evolve as well. For example, recently on Forrester Blogs, a team of interactive marketing professionals provided these predictions for social media in 2011:
In the end, what is the relevance of these media options for your brands? Communication—that wonderful two-way interaction involving your brand and a customer (or potential customer). At its basic form, one could call it a conversation.
Tags: current events, digital vocab, Facebook, Marketing, online, online advertising, Public Relations, social media, social media marketing, Twitter
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They say, “You never get a second chance to make a first impression.” And I believe that most of us would agree to this somewhat overused sentiment. For me, the first engagement in any situation is critical to forming an intelligent and/or accurate opinion of a person, place, or thing. And in a strange way, I like to compare this thinking to the ordering of an appetizer before a meal, more specifically, a Calamari appetizer.
When I visit a new restaurant, the first thing I will look at is the appetizer menu and the availability of Calamari (the Italian word for squid). You can order Calamari in many delectable culinary styles from fire-grilled to lightly breaded and deep-fried (which is the most widely offered cooking style here in the States). There is nothing quite like the crunchy goodness of your first bite of fantastically fresh, fried Calamari–pure heaven. But on the rare occasion when the anticipated culinary delight is not up to par (like in the Washington Dulles International Airport), you can be assured that the rest of your meal will unfortunately follow suit. Much like a first impression, good or bad, it really is a precursor for what’s to come.
To me, being the recipient of an excellent Calamari appetizer is akin to the art of making a great first impression. More often than not, if the Calamari is cooked properly (breaded then lightly fried for two minutes and served with salt, pepper and lemon), fresh tasting (succulent yet firm), the service, your entree, and even the wine will be delightful. And since this experience will be noted as a positive one, you will more than likely frequent the establishment again, get to know patrons, management, and so on and so forth. It really is the first impression (the appetizer) that dictates whether or not one chooses to extend the relationship beyond a first encounter.
So, eat the Calamari, and if it’s excellent, so too will be the rest of your evening. And when making a first impression with a potential employer, customer or even vendor, be sure to be at your very best (or perfectly cooked), as you never know where the encounter may lead.
Tags: calamari, first impressions, food, meetings, presentations, restaurants
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Last week, I had the unique opportunity to be a passenger on an in-flight refueling mission on a KC-135 Stratotanker at Grissom Air Reserve Base with the 434th Air Refueling Wing — the largest refueling wing in the Air Force Reserve Command – outside of Peru, Indiana.
How does a refueling mission like this fit with PR?
Grissom Air Reserve Base (ARB) teamed up with the Hoosier PRSA chapter to create a hands-on social media event. They opened the day with a panel discussion on crisis communication that featured public affairs staff and PRSA members.
During the day, Grissom ARB wanted us to share our real-time experience via our favorite social media outlets, which was an interactive demonstration of the importance of social media in every industry.
The experience was a truly a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. At the end of the day, I walked away having learned much more than I expected. I gained new perspectives on the ways social media can work for us – as well as a new appreciation for the U.S. Air Force.
Social media acts as a force multiplier to get our messages, stories and news to the public; by using multiple channels, our ability to reach our audience drastically improves. In a similar way, the 434 Air Refueling Wing (ARW) acts as a huge force multiplier for the U.S. Air Force, greatly improving its efficiency. Witnessing both of these in tandem last week was fascinating.
Social media can be used to enable others to work for us, spreading our key messages, good news and best pictures (we love our twitpic apps) to the masses. Through our friends and followers on Twitter and Facebook, and through our loyal blog readers, we are able to advertise ourselves, or our companies, and broadcast our messages to a much wider audience, at a much faster rate, than ever before. Throughout the day at Grissom, 13 of us tweeted, twitpic-ed, recorded and updated our statuses. We used our favorite apps to share with our friends and followers a little piece of what Grissom does on a daily basis.
Similarly, in-flight refueling missions allow the Air Force to conduct several operations much more efficiently. It allows pilots to fly longer missions and cover greater distances — bringing troops and supplies to U.S. military stations around the world. The 434ARW from Grissom runs more of these missions per day than any other Air Force base, acting as a great force multiplier for the Air Force.
At 31,000 feet above the Appalachian Mountains, traveling at a ground speed of 405 mph, sitting on approximately 120,000 pounds of fuel pouring at a rate of 6,500 pounds per minute into the C-17 flying next to us… I realized just how vital (and cool) these missions actually are – and how important the 434ARW is to the Air Force and the defense of our nation.
Tags: Communication, current events, digital media, Indiana, PR, Public Relations, social media, social media marketing
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For those of you who are regular Twitter users, you have likely received the “Fail Whale” numerous times while accessing Twitter.com. The “Fail Whale” is a page Twitter users are directed to when there is an outage on the site. It consists of a giant white whale being hoisted into the air by eight red birds. At the top of the page text reads, “Twitter is over capacity. Please wait a moment and try again. For more information, check out Twitter Status.” The Twitter servers can become overloaded at times and this is when outages occur.
Recently, the “Fail Whale” has been appearing frequently. On Friday, June 11, the Twitter engineering blog (http://engineering.twitter.com/) posted an entry regarding the abundance of “Fail Whales”, and cited issues such as the lack of properly monitoring the internal network and adding two new high-bandwidth components to the same segment on their internal network, which caused site outages.
Others suggest the increase in Twitter outages is due to the introduction of their advertising model. For example, on June 16, Twitter launched “Promoted Trends” which appear in the “Trending” section of the site. This new method of advertising is an extension of the “Promoted Tweets,” which launched earlier this year. With numerous new additions to the site, it is likely users will continue to see more of the “Fail Whale” until all of the kinks are worked out.
If you do receive the “Fail Whale” and want to know why, Twitter has a status website (http://status.twitter.com/) where users can go to find out more information. If Twitter is performing maintenance, they will list it on this site along with any errors users may be encountering. They also list the error rate for the site and if it is high for the day.
One thing to remember is that Twitter has been very cautious of its users while adding in paid advertising to their model. Rather than allowing advertisers to display distracting and sometimes cluttered ads to the site they are working to bring in revenue without disrupting the user’s experience.
Tags: current events, online
Posted in Branding, Communication, Digital Media, Marketing, Miller Brooks | Comments Off
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May 17, 2012—The faces of MB
