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 will look at 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. The panel discussion is set for 9 a.m. on Thursday, February 21. Watch the video here on this page or on YouTube. We’ll take questions in real time via Twitter with the hashtag #COF42. The session will bed available later as a YouTube video and as a Circle of Fellows podcast.
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FIR host Shel Holtz will moderate a panel discussion with four IABC Fellows: Alice Brink, John Deveney, Jim Lukaszewski, and Brenda Siler. The discussion will cover 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.
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oin 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.
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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… Continue Reading →

Chip Griffin and Gini Dietrich have teamed up to co-host the Agency Leadership Podcast. Each week, the duo will discuss the business side of PR and marketing agencies. The show will feature practical advice and useful insights for agency owners and executives to help them manage and expand their firms. Chip and Gini will draw on their own successes (and failures) to share important lessons.
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How do you know if you’re using the best structural model for communication? Can hybrid models co-exist successfully? On October 18 at noon ET, four IABC Fellows will explore 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, will include Mary Ann McCauley, George McGrath, Barbara Puffer, and Jennifer Wah
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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… Continue Reading →

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 Customer Experience (CX) is defined loosely as the cumulative impact of every interaction a customer has with a company, from first becoming aware of the organization or its product/service through post-purchase touch-points (including using the product and getting support). CX usually is housed in the Marketing Department with ample opportunities for communication input. Other… Continue Reading →

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. At noon EDT on Thursday, June 21, four IABC Fellows will participate in a live online conversation about leadership skill-building for communicators. The panel includes James Lukaszewski, Mary Ann McCauley, Barbara Puffer, and Angela Sinickas. FIR podcast host Shel Holtz (also a Fellow) will moderate.
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