Wednesday, September 28, 2011

Grit

When someone is referred to as having character it is usually meant as a compliment. What does this thing called "character" actually mean, however? According to a wide number of sources that range from the Boy Scouts Handbook to writings by Confucius and Aristotle, it includes being in possession of such traits as fairness, wisdom, citizenship, bravery, kindness and gratitude. Who wouldn't want to be seen by others as having those kind of qualities.? I sure would. In a recent article in the NY Times Sunday magazine, there are educators looking to add another item to this list: grit.

Grit, as they mean it, is one's ability to contend with setbacks. How well does a person deal with disappointment? How well does a person take lessons from what went wrong and turn it into a valuable lesson? How well does a person reverse a failure and turn it into a success? In the article, the educators were primarily focusing on youngsters in school and their ability to cope with the reality of not doing well on a class test or assignment. It is the concern of the educators that students should learn at a young age that not everything in life goes well. As a result, in order to live a life of success, they must be able to handle disappointment and adversity.

I believe there is wisdom in this. I also view the development of "grit" as being very beneficial to anyone wishing to pursue a career in communications or public relations. Public relations is not a perfect science in that not all plans or strategies work out as well as intended. More broadly, this is definitely the case when it comes to communication. I say this because I have come to believe nearly every day, at least once, something we communicate either verbally or non-verbally is misinterpreted. Given that kind of frequency, having an abundance of grit is definitely a good thing.

Saturday, September 24, 2011

Life's Extremities

Recently, I visited someone in the hospital for part of the day. She is elderly and is slowly on the mend from injuring her back from a fall. In the room next to us was another elderly person. Sadly, while there, this person died. Through the wall separating our rooms I could hear the family members and friends who had gathered cry out in pain as they mourned the departure of someone for whom they obviously cared a great deal. Listening to their cries and moans, I silently watched the person I was with as she drifted in and out of sleep. This dynamic was a vivid reminder of the opposing forces that so dominate our lives on earth.

Life and death. Smiles and frowns. Victories and defeat. Successes and failures. Almost daily we experience or witness these and other stark opposites. It is a wonder how any of us manage to come even close to coping with the regular occurrence of such extremes. Perhaps the fact they are so regular - so commonplace - is what ultimately makes it easier for us to carry on with an unbending commitment to our own goals or to-do lists. No matter what the circumstances, life, for better or worse, moves on. It is one truism of life that all of have embraced. It is one truism of life that touches us all.

This relates to communication in the sense it is a common denominator for us all. Because successful communication is based largely on the identification and exploitation of what we share, then perhaps in these times of conflict it would be helpful if more of the so-called communication advisers and pundits urged their clients and all who listen to them to focus on the truisms of life we share rather than the perspectives we don't. This would not eliminate all disagreement - nor should it - but it would certainly raise the chances of all of us moving forward with more assurance and hope.

Thursday, September 22, 2011

Taking a Punch

One ingredient as much as any other that helps distinguish good boxers from not-so-good ones is the fighter's ability to take a punch. In boxing, of course, being the kind of sport it is, eveyone gets their "clock rung" at least one. Granted, the trick in boxing is to hit your opponent as often and hard as possible and to keep the times you get hit back as little as possible. Nevertheless, when it comes to fisticuffs or any other kind of meaningful or intense interaction, reality dictates that eventually all parties are going to get hit. The question then becomes how well one responds when suddenly they have suffered a setback, disappointment, a failure or a punch. In communication, as in the case of boxing, it helps separate the good ones from the not-so-good ones.

Public relations professionals spend a good deal of their time coming up with creative and sometimes innovative strategies to support a client either through promotion or establishing alliances or partnerships. Some of these strategies are complex and some are not. But more to the point, sometimes these strategies, no matter how well funded or planned, fall short. They miss the mark, leaving the public relations expert with the challenge of figuring out what to do next. This can be frustrating and sometimes even expensive. But it is part of the reality of communication.

Working in the communication industry means dealing with failure or disappointment on a consistent basis. Things do not always go as well as you would like no matter how well planned and executed your outreach strategies might have been. This is one important reasons why public relations generally comprise multiple strategies, why good professional communicators do as much as pre-planning and research as they can before launching a campaign, and why many communication efforts are not one-shot-deals. Sure, missing the mark once or even several times can be frustrating. But setbacks can also be turned into the basis for a successful campaign. too.

Saturday, September 17, 2011

Reading

When I was a youngster trying to navigate my way through middle and even early high school, one of my favorite escapes was reading comic books. I went through them, especially anything with a super hero in it, faster and more thoroughly than General Sherman went through Atlanta during the Civil War. While I no longer turn to those publications for reading pleasure, I confess to still having a soft spot in my heart for them. I like to think my reading outlets have evolved in a more positive way. Right now, for instance, I am working my way through Dostoevsky's "The Brothers Karamazov."

I keep hearing that in our country today fewer people are reading. This is unfortunate on a number of levels. Less reading means less enlightenment, more narrow perspectives, and greater ignorance. It also reduces our ability to communicate with others. How can any of us effectively and even convincingly explain or defend our our views on various issues if we do not possess a base of knowledge from which to draw? How can we effectively connect or relate to others from different backgrounds and cultures without a fundamental awareness of life beyond our own intellectual and geographic borders? How can we help those who follow, such as our children, be better prepared for the challenges of tomorrow without the kind of intellectual foundation that comes from books and other similar resources?

One way I view reading is as an exercise that helps keep our brains in shape. The more we do it the better able we are to keep in our minds in respectable condition. Further, the more we upgrade this kind of exercise, the capacity of our gray matter expands and enhances our ability to understand, be aware, contend with, and connect with others. It is no different than a weight lifter who adds ten pounds to his or barbells. It is a simple matter of doing all we can to stay in the best shape we can. After all, our world and its many challenges are not getting any less complicated, nor are the demands being placed upon our need to communicate effectively.

Wednesday, September 14, 2011

Best and Worst in Us

Change can be and often is a funny thing, particularly in the impact it has on all of us. At least to a certain extent, I believe we are creatures of habit. We like our routine, even if it does not make much sense to any one else. Some prefer sleeping on one side of their bed, others might like sitting at the same desk in a classroom, others might like taking the same route to work every day, and still others might prefer keeping their clothes organized in a specific manner. This routine helps give us a sense of security and continuity. We see it providing our lives with a sense of stability and, perhaps on a deeper level, comfort.

But if those or any other of our routines are changed or disrupted, then depending upon the level and length of change, a new reality can bring out the best and worst in us. Where I work, for instance, the process of selecting a new chief executive officer is currently underway. The current one has held this position for nearly 16 years. He will soon be retiring and that impending change is causing some to behave in negative ways and others in positive ways. Those behaving negatively are becoming territorial and less congenial because of their concern for what a new chief executive might mean to them. Those behaving more admirably are striving to encourage greater cooperation among their fellow colleagues as a way of being better prepared for that change.

With that kind of mixed and diametrically opposite sets of behavior going on, the atmosphere at work is a challenge. The question, then, is: what can be done about it? What measures can be taken to help ease the genuine concerns people are having as they await the arrival of a new chief executive officer and the break from routine that this person brings along? The answer is found in one word: communication. It is in times of impending uncertainty when effective communication shines the most. When change is inevitable or even underway, communication can provide a means by which people can acknowledge their legitimate concerns and reassure them that the change can actually be a great opportunity rather than a a serious threat. Communicators can and should play a key role in this type of situation.

Friday, September 9, 2011

A Messy Business

All of us at one time or another have found ourselves in a messy office, room or house: papers strewn about, clothes tossed every which way, dirty dishes left sitting out, etc. Even if we ourselves are not always neat or as tidy as we would like to be, my guess is after one look at these surroundings our inner voice speaks out with, "what a mess!" I will even go further to say after passing that judgement, we also picture what the room or house would look like if it were much more neat. But with this scenario is the reality that someone lives in this particular place and does so with perhaps greater ease than us.

Communication is often like that messy office, room or house. But instead of assorted items that are not neatly stacked or put away, there are strategies that are half completed or half successful, plans that are not following the timeline originally set for them, or new tasks being formulated in-place of ones that are not working as well as was originally thought. It is messy. The primary purpose of a simple press release is a good example. This form of communication is written and sent out to local newspapers with the hope it will be picked up and ultimately read by readers of those publications. Much more often than not, this does not happen and the communicator is faced with the challenge of making adjustments in what was a neat and straightforward strategy.

Most communication plans, of course, are more complex than simply sending out a singular press release. They involve multiple tasks requiring an array of production schedules and costs and are designed to be carried out in varying time frames, reach numerous audiences and generate different results. Not only is this reality one of complexity, it also carries with it the potential for a great deal of messiness. Professional communicators live and, yes, even function in such an environment. Good ones even do well in it. Still, it does not mean it is not frustrating at times and even makes one long for simple neatness.

Wednesday, September 7, 2011

Ode to College Students

I admire college students. Taking classes and producing work that even approaches a high level of quality is not easy. Plus, many of these students take multiple classes per semester while at the same time holding down one or two jobs. Despite that, they still manage to complete their assignments on time, pass their tests and be actively engaged in each of their classes. Very impressive indeed. Oh, I recognize there are those college students who fritter away their time by acting irresponsibly and behaving in a foolish and, at times, illegal manner. Those so-called kids are known to all of us, particularly since that type of behavior and person are so often showcased in various movies and television shows.

While it may be a cliche to point this out, it nevertheless bears repeating: the kind of "party animal" that we see depicted in the media and sometime read about in news stories is far more the exception than the rule. Sure, college-age students like to have a good time, but so many of them do so in a responsible manner because they recognize the value of a college education and are aware of how fortunate they are to be working toward a degree. Many of these young men and women may not yet have families, but the effort they make demonstrates a profound respect for the opportunity of furthering their education they have been given.

As is the case for all who maintain such busy schedules, college students successfully navigate the challenges of a higher education by practicing effective communication skills. They are open and honest with themselves when it comes to assessing the work load before them, the time and effort it will take to complete those tasks, and the best ways that time and effort should be balanced with their other time-consuming responsibilities. In dealing with their not insignificant challenges, college students may not always get it right. Mistakes, particularly dumb ones, can and will be made by them. Yet all of us should remember that these men and women are not alone in that regard. Further, they are working extremely hard and are being successful because of their perserverence, belief in what they are doing, and ability to communicate with themselves and, as the need arises, others.

Saturday, September 3, 2011

Our Shift in Communication Appeals

Make no mistake about it, communication is sure not what it used to be. Whether it is better or worse I will leave for others to decide - for now. The fact it is different cannot be denied. Take a statement made by Stephen Douglas in one of his numerous debates with Abraham Lincoln over 160 years ago: "My friends.......I desire to address myself to your judgement, your understanding, and your consciences, and not to your passions or your enthusiasms." This is a public figure running for public office who is seeking to appeal to the intellect of his audience rather than their emotions. How would such a politician or style of communication fare today?

What I call public communication via such outlets as television, motion pictures, public speaking, music, and print advertising relies heavily on emotions. Rarely do we find ourselves audience to public discourse not presented in the swell of bright lights, inflammatory oratory, pounding music or jarring picture images. Singularly or collectively, these and other add-ons are designed to push our emotional buttons, reinforce pre-assumptions or notions, and quell any mental reservations we might have from what just communicated to us. Certainly in the United States, it is the emotional side of us to which public communication and public communicators seek to appeal.

What does this deliberate shift by public communicators to appeal to the emotions of their audiences rather than their intellect mean? What does it say about our society? What does it say about us as individuals? Are we as individuals and as a society making better choices as a result? How do our intellectual and emotional quotients of today compare to what they were back in the time of the Douglas-Lincoln debates? Is this shift good or bad? Either way, what can or should professional and public communicators do about it?