I never even heard the term “fake news” until 2016. Although it rapidly became a Donald Trump rallying cry, cynically (and inaccurately) tied to respected and legitimate journalism, if you peer back through the dark mists of time you may recall that was not its initial meaning. Four years ago, it was used to describe […]
effective communications
Great Leadership Communications and “America’s Governor”
Every day now, New York’s Governor Andrew Cuomo spends an hour or more before the press and television cameras, detailing horrifically bad and frightening news. And people love him for it. How can this be? Because in all times, but especially crisis times, what people need more than anything is strong communication from leadership. And […]
In a Pandemic, Employee Communications Are More Important than Ever
Sometimes, communication can truly be a life or death concern. As local and national authorities struggle to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic, and businesses tackle the myriad issues it raises on every front, good employee communications can fall by the wayside. Yet, what employees need more than anything right now is to know just what […]
The Language is Changing and It Matters–A Lot
It’s a tired truism that language changes all the time. Meanings change—sometimes, I think, for the worse: not that long ago, “disinterested” meant something completely different from “uninterested” (look it up!)—and I think English has suffered a loss with the melding of the two. But pedantic arguments aside, words do matter in the real world. […]
This New Year, Resolve to Improve Your Employee Communications
We’re told that employees in mission-driven organizations are more engaged. But surely this applies only if the employees, themselves, feel they have a role to play in achieving that mission—which can’t happen if they are routinely kept in the dark. A robust, mission-driven organization requires robust employee communications. Today, when Google, smart phones, social media […]
Great Employers: Don’t Skip To the End of the Story
I’ve just put a bow on my busiest season, the late spring and summer months when I work with companies to put together the best possible submissions for next year’s Fortune 100 Best Companies to Work For list. In other words, I spend each summer helping my clients tell their stories—stories about how they work […]