Saturday, June 29, 2013

Connecting the Present with the Future

If there is one thing all of us have in common it is that we have a future. Granted, some may have one that appears brighter. Others may have one that will probably be longer. And others still may have one that seems filled with more opportunity. Still, the future is a common denominator and, I believe, one that should not be taken lightly. After all, it is the direction in which we are heading no matter how actions and choices in the present. The question then becomes how best can we contend with it and, for the purposes of this blog's focus, what role can communication play? Perhaps one place to begin is to acknowledge differences in how it is perceived by many.

The future, philosopher Simone Weill wrote, "is made of the same stuff as the present." German author Gunther Grass viewed it as already a done deal with our many statistics on population growth and rise of pollution, it is "already in place." Possibly the perspective of author Ambrose Bierce is the most optimistic (or most cynical). He called the future "that period of time in which our affairs prosper, our friends are true and our happiness is assured." Whatever view one might lean toward, given that we all have a vested interest in what is over the horizon, professional communicators can help clients see the connection between present and future.

Interestingly, even though the future is unknown, it is not an unknown entity. As Grass and even Weill suggested, the past and present are strong indicators of what the future will be. Taking his comment at face value, Bierce said it can be anything we want it to be. Thus, the future can be a good time for all depending upon our actions in the present. In putting together strategic plans for clients, communicators can play an influential role in building a bridge between meeting the challenges of today with the hopes of tomorrow. The two should not be treated as if they are mutually exclusive. For communicators, doing so requires a touch of realism with a dash of optimism and a good sense of direction.

Wednesday, June 26, 2013

More on the "R" Word

My last entry revolved around my impending retirement. This one is going to as well and then I promise to move onto other topics. For starters, I am wondering what retirement feels like. On that magic day will I suddenly be awash with feelings of tranquility and contentment? Will I forever be at peace with myself and all that has occurred leading up to my finally hanging up my cleats? I can only hope all that turns out to be the case. Realistically, I seriously any of those feelings will happen. That's too bad because it would be very nice. I especially like would like being at peace with various mistakes and poor decisions I made while working.

I still cringe, for instance, at the press conferences I organized where no reporters showed. I still shake my head at some personnel decisions I made in terms of certain hires I made that, in retrospect, were definitely not good choices. And then there are those periodic missed deadlines and less-than-stellar days on the job that I have no one to blame but myself. Over forty years as a professional is a long time. That is a lot of times at the bat. Without question, I had my share of swings and misses and, to be fair, more than a few hits as well. We all do. How good of a professional I was I am content to leave to others to decide. For me, I believe I did all right.  

Stepping into retirement, I understand that life does not end, nor do my efforts to be the best communicator I can be stop. Whether or not one considers themselves to be a professional communicator, we never stop interacting with others, trying to share our thoughts, or better understand what others are trying to tell us. It is all about being the best communicator we can be in terms of being able to talk with all we encounter. in so many ways, how we communicator defines who and what we are as individuals. These next forty years will still find me swinging for the fences with all the energy I can muster.

Saturday, June 22, 2013

The "R" Word

With increasing frequency these past few months I have been using the "r" word. And people around me have been using it, too, as it applies to me. And even though, lately, it has become a regular part of my daily conversation, I am still trying to come to grips with it. I speak of retirement, the state of retiring from one's occupation, business or office (according to the American Heritage College dictionary). In less than ten days from this writing, I will be entering into this next phase of life following 45 years of working in the communication profession. I do so with positive feelings, a little trepidation and more than a few questions. 

When I am officially retired, does that officially make me "a grumpy old man," or is that something else I now have to work toward? Will I start yelling at neighborhoods kids to "get that ball off my yard!" Am I going to start hankering to take greater advantage of the weekly blue plate special at the local County Buffet?  I admit to having mixed feelings about each of those scenarios. Ideally, I like to think I will keep the bounce in my step, enjoy connecting with friends, and maintain an open mind about all that goes on in the world even when I do not understand or appreciate it as much as I should.

One thing for sure is I will continue to focus on the world of communication in trying to be better at it and help promote the importance of it to others. I will continue with this blog, for instance, as well as maintain a part-time teaching schedule. And, as best I can, I will continue to write in the hope of having more books published in the coming months and years. Retirement may very well be a state of mind, but it is also one more challenge for all who - like me- are approaching it. While I hope to not be grumpy, I do plan to carry the banner of communication and be an advocate for the vital role it plays in helping all of us navigate whatever challenges in life we might currently be facing.

Thursday, June 20, 2013

Pop Culture

Fro something that so much of the time seems trivial, pop culture is hard. In fact, I would even equate it with exercising. The older one gets the more difficult it is to go the gym and walk on the treadmill, lift weights or do anything helps get your heart faster than normal. By the same token, there seems to be a direct correlation between aging and loss of interest in the latest fads, hit songs, reality stars or fashions. Though in many ways I am speaking for myself, I have more than a sneaky suspicion a number of fellow baby boomers are experiencing similar feelings. In fact, I suspect throughout time those belonging to older generations had trouble relating to what younger ones were finding "hot."

Such, I suppose, is a common cycle of life. But what about those members of the so-called older generation whose job it is to remain instep or up-to-date with the popular culture of the day? How difficult is it for professional communicators, for instance, who may be over a certain age and, as a result, have tastes and preferences that fall more under the umbrella of what they grew up with rather than what is of burning interest to their children or, more to the point, younger professionals? How well can a 60-year-old public relations professional compete with a colleague who is half their age and more in-tune with the culture of the today? Additionally, even though they have may have more experience, how well are they able to navigate the latest technological innovations?

In many ways, it seems to me public relations is a young person's game. This is not to say those of us who are older do not have anything left to contribute. Of course we do. Experience, perspective and  context are nothing to sneeze at. But, then, neither are the kind of energy, technical skills and ambition that one often finds in younger workers. Fortunately, we live in a society where businesses remain open to combining the strengths of professionals from older and younger generations. While both have their own unique challenges, hopefully neither will forget that combining the strengths of each remains the best way to go.    

Saturday, June 15, 2013

Dunbar's Number

Do you ever think about the number of friends you have and wonder how many you could have and maintain responsibly well? Would it ever be possible to have too many friends or just enough friends? For myself, I am blessed to have a number of good friends, yet have never felt I do not need any more. Good friends are treasures. I raise those earlier questions because over 20 years ago a behavioral scientist named Robin Dunbar actually calculated the number of people the average person can maintain a stable relationship with before no longer being able to remember how they are connected or even how they might relate to each other. Depending upon the person, according to Dunbar, that number ranges between 100 - 230.

Believe it or not, there are other scientists who have actually reviewed Dunbar's calculations and assessed whether Dunbar's estimate is too low or too high.  (Generally, they found Dunbar's number to be a bit on the low side.) Either way, having anywhere between 100 and 220 friends seems like a lot. In fact, I would say anyone with that many friends should consider themselves to be quite blessed. Assuming for a moment one has over 100 friends, then the communication challenges that come with maintaining close and regular ties with them is nothing to take lightly. Keeping those relationships viable would practically be a full-time commitment on most any one's part. Never mind the folks you know but are not close to.

Most of us, I assume, consider our friends to be a blessing (at least most of the time) and, therefore, do not view keeping up with them to be a chore or bother. But when one puts aside the heartfelt joy we receive from them and looks as it in terms of hard numbers at Dunbar did, suddenly being any one's friends really does seem a bit overwhelming. I am not sure what my point here is in terms of Dunbar's calculations and our own lives as they apply to those close to us other than perhaps it speaks to the communication challenges we face in all aspects of our lives. Whether it is with people we actually care about or ones who are faceless members of a targeted public, effective communication is a constant challenge.

Tuesday, June 11, 2013

Effort Does Matter

There are few things more frustrating than when you do something well and yet still do not get the results you seek or even feel you deserve. "My plan was perfect," you think. Or, "I said all the right things, yet they still did not change their mind." Here is another good one: "I don't get it. This worked yesterday." To those who have had this type of experience, particularly in matters of communication, I say "welcome." This club is anything but exclusive. In fact, one would be hard-pressed to think of someone - any one - who is not a member. The truth is this is not only a scenario a part of life, it is also very much a characteristic of communication.

Because life is not perfect and things do not always go the way we want them to, I have always believed it is better and mentally healthier to try and gain as much satisfaction from the effort as I do from the result of my effort. Such an attitude may seem like a cop-out or like an acceptance that coming close is as good as trying. After all, isn't that why kids are given second-place trophies or "best effort" trophies? (I once received a "most improved" trophy.)  And those who subscribe to the Vince Lombardi philosophy of competition that "winning isn't everything, it's the only thing" definitely do not agree with this. But I view it as the more realistic of the philosophies.

When it comes to communication, flawless execution does not guarantee victory (however one might define that). However, the good news is that in the world of communication, one does not always have to hit the bulls-eye in order to advance a cause or product. Coming close does count. Making a solid and honest good-effort actually does reap positive benefits. Communication is about tapping into and changing attitudes rather than putting points on the scoreboard. This is very much in-keeping with what makes relationships click. Thus, to function well in communication means performing in an environment that tends to see things in terms of either-or. Communication is much more subtle and nuanced than that. 

Saturday, June 8, 2013

The Printing Press

Through the years we have seen an amazing array of innovative, highly creative communication tools be invented and introduced to society. Each one, some more than others, have helped advance our ability to connect with each other faster and more easily. The telegraph, the telephone, the fax machine, the photocopy machine and computers are just a few examples of remarkable innovations that have enhanced the act of communication.  A world without these and the entire family of communication tools would be a world less connected populated by peoples with less knowledge and/or awareness of each other. It would be a world of greater isolation.

One so-called communication tool that was particularly key to our global connectivity is the printing press. Johannes Gutenberg is credited with inventing this  machine with metal movable type nearly 560 years ago. One great and obvious benefit to this invention is the fact it gave man the ability to produce books on a massive and comparative rapid scale. Given up till that time, books or manuscripts of information had largely been produced by hand, to say the printing press was a big deal would - and continues to be - a giant understatement. But in addition to this mechanical benefit, the printing press brought with it another equally-significant change.

Before the printing press, information was in the hands of a relatively few: religious and political leaders. Their positions in society were made even powerful because they had a virtual monopoly in information. With the arrival of the printing press, that advantage disappeared. Suddenly, information and access to it became much more decentralized. The so-called average person could now expand their base of knowledge and know as much as their leaders. In one key way, at least, this put the two on equal footing and added an important element of democracy to mankind. Interestingly, it is the question of access to information that has helped characterize the various forms of government we have seen in the history of the world.

Wednesday, June 5, 2013

Are We There Yet?

Communication has been with us since the beginning of, well, us. Even though in those early days we may not have had the ability to write or possess any kind of formal language, communicating among early man existed. Nevertheless, by the time the twentieth century rolled around, of course, our ability to communicate had become more sophisticated and global thanks, in no small way, to our intellectual prowess. From person to person, we were better connecting with each other, and in a more public, national and even international way we exchanging thoughts and information in a much more widespread way.

Despite this progress, by the year 1900 no greater thinkers or scholars of the day had put forth any formal theories as to how or why communication worked. But as that century unfolded, so, too, did serious public thought on communication. On the heels of the first textbook on public relations, Crystallizing Public Opinion by Edward Bernays in 1923, a floodgate of theories began that continues to this day. The Magic Bullet Theory, the Two-Step Theory, the N-Step Theory, Diffusion Theory, the Agenda-Setting Hypothesis, the Elaboration Likelihood Model, the Expectancy Value Theory and the Mutual Adjustment Theory are among the many that scholars and practitioners have articulated in an ongoing quest to get a better handle on communication.       

With all that, do we finally understanding this thing called communication? Have we finally reached the point where we can all agree that we finally get it, so now we can move on to determining how best to be good at it? For me, at least, I like to think we have but then I look around at myself and how far too many public figures in the news seem to be misfiring with each other and I think maybe - just maybe - we have not quite gotten the hang of the workings of communication after all. So, are we there yet? Sadly, I think not. But we are making progress, so that, at least, is a good thing.

Saturday, June 1, 2013

Increasing In Value

The world is divided into two parts: things that become more valuable with time and things that diminish in value with time. Houses are an example of things that increase in value . This is one reason why so many strive to own one and then hang onto it as long as they can. On the other hand, cars decrease in value on a daily basis. The moment any of us drive off the lot with our new four-wheeled traveling machine, its value begins a never-ending drop. Once we are on the road with this new purchase, the chances of our ever being able to resell it for what we spent to purchase it are almost non-existent.   

Sticking with these two categories, I would place relationships in the column of things that increase in value. I understand we all have relationships which either may not be all that great or meaningful. But it is my contention that even those increase in value simply because of the dimension they add to our lives in terms of our growth, experience and overall well being. Let's be honest, even people we actively do not like require an investment in time and energy. Negative relationships require nurturing, too. Looking back, I have had a few of those and I admit often times they were just as challenging as ones I actually enjoyed.

One key ingredient that contributes greatly to helping all relationships increase in value is effective communication. Being honest and open does wonders for helping a connection with another escalate in worth. Even when you might be feeling upset or negative toward another, sharing those feelings in a straightforward and respectful manner is akin to making a deposit in a bank account. And then  there is the matter of actively listening to what that other might say. The two - respectful speaking and active listening - make our initial investment into any relationship ever more valuable. And, as an added bonus, it also does a great deal toward our own self improvement.