"Why Fix an Apple?"

Since 2016 was the year of Tony Bennett's 90 birthday, it seems appropriate to conclude what has been a checkered 12 months with a Tony Bennett story. Many years ago, Bennett was struggling in terms of  how to reconcile his preferred choice of songs to sing and record with the growing influx of rock and roll music that was, at the time, beginning to dominate the music scene. He turned to his colleague and friend Count Basie for advice. How, he asked, should he adjust his style to adapt to these changes? How can he stay relevant? Basie responded with a very simple question: "Why fix an apple?"  

Indeed. Why change something that is working? Why change something that does not need to be fixed? This was and is true of Bennett's musical choices and, beyond that, true of the fundamental elements of effective communication: speaking in a direct, honest, thoughtful and respectful manner, listening with an open mind and in an equally respectful manner, and doing all one can to ensure the exchange continues in this way until its natural conclusion. Such a scenario represents the apple of communication. In all its simple, no-frills way, such a dynamic needs no fixing, tweaking or adjusting. It simply needs to be followed.

As has been well-documented, in 2016 so much of the communicating that occurred did not follow that formula. The well-entrenched division within the United States and lack of trust many people have for such established entities as government and the media are among the results of not only not following the steps that help ensure successful communication but ill-advised efforts to fix or improve-upon what does not need fixing or improvement. Talking over others or calling others names do not make one a better communicator. Putting forth misleading information is not the way to go either. Moving into 2017, it is clear that communication is not in need of repairs. Rather, it is the folks choosing to ignore what is perfect that should be realigned.   

Richard Loewy

Richard Loewy is probably not a person many people today have ever heard of. Nearly 100 years ago he traveled to the United States from France to start a new life. He had designs of  becoming some sort of electrical engineer. Eventually, he went on to become one of the nation's foremost industrial designers. One quick example of Loewy's influence is the current look of Air Force, the official plane of the President of the United States. Loewy is the one who came up with the plane's now-famous blue nose. Loewy recognized that people - consumers - did not necessarily want their favorite products to look the same year-in and year-out. They wanted the mechanics of their favorite products to be the same while at the same time were open to their having a new look, thus giving folks a feeling of advancement or upgrading.

As a student of human nature, Loewy was aware people struggled between being naturally curious about new things while at the same time preferred the comfort of what was familiar to them; curious about and fearful of the new at the same time. Such opposite dispositions can be found in how people often react to various communication efforts or strategies. Such time-old appeals as tugging at one's heart strings, fear mongering, bullying and taping into one's desire to fit-in with others continue to be as popular today as ever. At the same time, there are efforts to package them in ways that represent variations from what has been done in the past.

More than any other area of communication, advertising is one where professionals most often juggle the familiar with the new in terms of putting forth products or messages or motivating consumers to take certain action or adopt particular beliefs. Whether it pertains to the selling of new cars, introducing new clotheslines, promoting political candidates or even selling tickets to a new show, the dynamic between neophilia (curiosity of new things) versus neophobia (fear of anything new) rages on. It is, in a sense, a genre that remains time-tested yet under constant repackaging.

A Bright Glimmer

Many are very happy to see 2016 coming to an end. Without question, there were many significant dark moments in it. The fact that our planet continued to get warmer at a record pace was one of them. Sad to say, moving into 2017, that trajectory seems to continue to be on the upswing. Another negative trend this year was a steady decline in the quality of communication among public figures - persons who should definitely know better. Those in the media, for instance, know that for communication to be at its most effective, there must be respect, good manners, active listening, and a distinguishing between opinions and facts.

Again, sad to say, the trend in 2016 was a decline in those essential elements as we watched public figures time and again do a great disservice to the act of communicating. Instead of talking with, there seemed to a growing amount of talking at. Not good. The results are equally disturbing:  the general public has little faith in the media and the country seems more divided than ever. Is there something on the horizon that will turn all this around? As the old saying goes, "Is there a pony under the tree" that will motivate folks to reverse what we have been enduring for far too long?  I, for one, do not see one.

However, this is not to say I am not without hope. I say that because what hope I do have is based on the reality that when things hit rock-bottom, the trend of mankind is to seek-out a solution. People's track record of addressing all kinds of problems, many of which are of their own making. It is, one might say, the magic of us. We break things. And then we fix them. This past year communication has been like the favorable keepsake that was knocked onto the floor and shattered into hundreds of pieces. Perhaps in 2017 we will begin returning to facts, being more open-minded and identifying our commonalities than we have in the past and, as a result, finally begin communicating in ways that we should and need to.        

Bring On the Grumbling!

Almost always change is hard for all of us. Many times, change occurs against our will or wishes leaving us with the challenge of having to adjust to it. Yesterday, for instance, the temperature was quite mild - much to my liking. Today, however, it is colder out and that does not please me. Now I have dress more warmly, wear a heavier, bulkier coat and spend more time indoors. Another example revolves around the bank I use - Wells Fargo. It now has a new web page. To me, it is much more difficult to conduct my business online because the new web page is confusing. It is another unwanted change. 

Granted, some changes we do want and even work to make happen. The election of Donald Trump as the 45th president of he United States is a perfect of that. Millions of folks were quite hopeful this change would come to pass. But as happy as they are these days, my guess is the reality of his ascendency to power is going to require at least some change on the part of his supporters. I further predict that not all of the adjusting that people will need to make will be welcomed. Thus, the reality of needing to shift gears is going to trigger different levels of grumbling among lots of people over the coming months and possibly even years.  

This "grumbling," I believe, is going to be a real key regarding the well being of the United States. Lately, as has been well-documented, there is much division within the U.S. Because of such things as differences in backgrounds, political views and cultures, many seem to feel they have little in common with their neighbors and others in society. Except for one thing: grumbling. Regardless of whether or not the change is wanted, all of us on some level are going to have to adjust. And you can bet, people being people, folks will grumble about it. For 2017, I hope grumbling is given its due - our common denominator - and all of us identify ways to build on it.

Survival of the Loudest

A video has been making the rounds these days in which a killer whale is filmed eating a shark. Gory but fascinating. Also, it serves as a reminder about being part of the animal kingdom. The upside, whether you are a creature of the sea or a land-dwelling beast, you get to enjoy the wonders of nature non-stop. The downside, however, is a big downside: something somewhere is always on the prowl to eat you. No animal in the wild is truly safe. No matter how big, fast, strong, clever or elusive something might be, no animal knows for certain if it will live to see another day. Talk about stress. And you can forget about trust.

I mention this because life in the world of us so-called higher beings - people - seems to becoming more and more like life in the animal kingdom, particularly as it applies to communication. Everywhere one turns, including television, newspapers, the Internet and radio, people seem to be trying outshout others. Less and less we see actual conversation or dialog. It is a world of survival of the loudest. For any of us, this is no way to be. Loud does not make right any more than might. Yet here we are. At the very least, this is the direction in which we seem to be heading. Our ability to peacefully co-exist is what supposedly separates us from animals. (Not to mention penny loafers and books-on-tape.) Yet the constant yelling matches that we see seems to suggest our ability to "get along" is eroding.

Professional communicators can and should play a key role in helping reverse this trend. By recommitting their efforts to communication rather than devoting their energies to shouting down those that represent different perspectives, then slowly respectful dialog can return to being more of what the norm. Getting this to happen, however, is asking a lot. Too many of us still want to be heard rather than hear. That cannot be allowed to continue. Communication at its best is when we are able to do both. Professional communicators can show the way toward achieving such a landscape. 

Aging

I suppose it was inevitable. Actually, I could not ignore it any longer. Not too long ago I finally acknowledged that my hair is thinning on top. This was not easy. But the fact is to keep denying it was silly. There is a spot on my head where hair used to be. Not there is scalp. Maybe my hair went on a holiday. Maybe it is out with friends. Maybe it will return. Maybe. Closer to the truth is has moved on - or should I say "off?" - and is not any more likely to return than a fan in the stands is apt to throw a foul ball he just caught back onto the field. Another reality I am in the process of accepting is the likelihood that at some point more of my hair will join the ones that have already left. They won't return either.

Will I end up becoming completely bald? I sure hope not. But it is possible. After all, is not this what happens to most men well into their seventh decade? Sadly, the answer is "yes." Now it is my turn and I am not pleased. As much as anything, aging represents change. Unfeeling, nothing-personal, objective, non-negotiable change. Some change, of course, we have little, if any, choice but to accept. But not that is not the case with other changes. Communication is one example. More to the point: social media. It represents a change in how mankind communicates. Use of it continues to grow in popularity, thus representing a major step away from beginning times when we scratched out drawings on cave walls.

Now we are communicating via twitter, Facebook, Podcasts and other forms of social media. While none of these forms of communicate are bad, what is giving them a negative twist is the reality that some use social media to bully others, spread lies, report fake news, and spew out insults. Their actions not only do harm but often enjoy an audience of thousands and, at times, even millions. Very much like my thinning hair, I do not like this. But very much unlike my thinning hair, this form of communicating can be stopped. All of us communicators can speak out against those who communicate to hurt. Purposely setting out to deceive or inflict damage reflects poorly on everyone and makes us less than who and what we are. This kind of change needs to be reversed.

Fake News

Have you heard? There is a new fad sweeping the country. It seems to have more durability than cabbage patch kids and certainly more substance than pet rocks. And it seems to provide a more telling window into the current soul of the folks who are caught up in its wave. I am talking about fake news. There are those who create it and those who follow it, many of whom seem not to be able to tell the difference between it and real or credible news. But in fairness to those people, much of the fake stuff being perpetuated sure seems real. Plus, it is packaged in a way to confuse most any one for at least a few moments.

Nevertheless, such items Hillary Clinton running some sort of child sex ring out of a pizza shop or bus loads of voters being taken to various polling sites so they can vote multiple times are doing harm. Their negative impact is severe. Fake news seems to be part of the larger trend in which facts themselves no longer carry the weight they used to. More and more people seem happy to believe what they want rather than what is. I am reminded of the old saying in which one can't tell the players without a scorecard. At present, it seems a score card has not yet been created that will help men and women readily distinguish between real and unreal information.

Reversing this damaging trend is not going to be easy. After all, swaying the actions of many via made-up stuff is quite a power trip for those with the mindset and technological know-how to do it. Yes, we have free speech but that is not pure or all-encompassing. We still cannot yell "fire" in a crowded room, for instance. There are laws against doing that. In the case of fake news, there should be penalties against that as well. Purposely lieing for the sake of doing harm is not right. As a society, we need to reclaim our allegiance to the truth. Penalizing the creators and spreaders of fake news is one way to do that.

Calling Ivy Lee

Some refer to him as "The Father of Public Relations." Whether Ivy Lee actually deserves that title I will leave to others to decide, but, boy, we sure could use him now. A former journalist, Lee made his name in public relations when the Rockefellers hired him in the 1920s to help navigate a dicey situation that came to be known in the national press as the "Ludlow Massacre." In its, several dozen folks, including women and children, were killed by strike-breakers hired by Rockefeller to break up a mining protest. Rockefeller was blamed for the multiple deaths and, as a result, fell very much out of favor with the general public. The Rockefeller company turned to Lee for help.

In working with the press, Lee was a strong believer in not trying to manipulate or shape public opinion via spinning or media events. Instead, Lee was a major proponent of providing the public - and the press - with facts. As many as he could collect and as many as they requested. He had confidence that given facts, the public would ultimately make the choices that were not just best for them, but also fair to the sources of those facts. This concept of public relations worked out well for the Rockefellers and helped project Lee into becoming a major figure in the evolution of public relations.   

I reflect on Lee now because his brand of public relations is rarely practiced in today's world of communication. Nowadays, all of us are buried by spin doctors, fake news and spokespersons hired  because they are slick at talking at rather than with folks. The result of their efforts is a general population that is highly divided and distrustful of the entities that define our society, including all levels of government, the media, and even faith-based organizations. In short, particularly when it comes to communication, we the people are a mess. We could use less of those who seek to manipulate and far more of those, like Lee, who worked to inform.

Chilling

The comment made the other from one of President-elect Trump's spokespeople should send chills up and down the spine of anyone who believes in truth. "There's no such thing, unfortunately, anymore of facts," said Scottie Nell Hughes in an interview. "And so Mister Trump's tweets amongst a certain crowd, a larger larger part of the population, are truth." On the one hand, such an attitude takes arrogance to a whole new level. Never mind facts or truth. Whatever the soon-to-be President says, then that is what is true - even if it runs counter to what he said before or what has been proved to be real.

On a broader scale, however, what is equally disturbing is that I feel Hughes' characterization of Trump's millions of followers is spot-on. Throughout the presidential campaign and in its aftermath, so many of these folks seem to blindly accept anything he says. All persons in power need to be treated with skepticism. At least that is how it should be in a democracy. Traditionally, in the U.S. we treat our leaders with a bit of distain, blaming them for most anything short of bad weather. Better this then giving them blind obedience or accepting their words and/or actions as gospel. Yet this is what Trump's followers seem to be doing.

As Trump himself claimed, he could shoot someone and people would still vote for him. This is not good or heathy for a free society. People need to be view Trump as he is rather than how they want him to be. Further, it is vital that voters take a step back from being angry and start using their noggins. Trump is not all-knowing or even particularly honest. These next four years will be a very tough ride, particularly if we ignore what is factual. In a free society, the truth trumps - pardon the pun - everything. At least that's the way it should be. I pray our apparent shift away from that is only temporary.

Real or Fake?

Growing up, I used to hear adults talk about the "real world." Even these days, some of my fellow oldsters will express concern as to whether current youth are ready for the "real world." (My own sense has been they are as ready for it as we were when we were their age.) A recent study by folks at Stanford University, however, suggests that perhaps those generations on the verge of adulthood may, in fact, not be as ready as any of us think. The study was conducted to see how well folks are able to distinguish between information that is real versus not-real or false. It turns out they had a great deal of trouble distinguishing between the two.

For starters, let us all agree that this is not a good thing. The study revolved around information that is put forward via various social media mechanisms. As we know, much of the information disseminated to the general public these days is via social media. Facebook and twitter continue to be among the more popular forms. The downside here is that as any one is free and able to post most anything they want on social media, there are very few controls  to ensure what they are saying is true and/or accurate. Just because one says they own a pet unicorn, of course, does not make it actually so. Folks can even package what they are saying in such a way as to make their claims appear to be credible.

Another concern is how representative of society are the results of this study? While the study had younger people as the audience, how representative are those who participated of the rest of us? My hunch is their inability to distinguish between real and fake information is a problem for our larger population as well. We certainly saw this in the just-finished U.S. presidential campaign. This feeds into the current status of "facts." As I have observed in earlier blog entries, "facts" do not seem to be held in as high regard as they used to. (Global warning any one?) We seem to becoming a world where those who shout the loudest win as opposed to those having facts on their side.  

Avoidance

This year's Thanksgiving has come and gone. I hope everyone had a good one. Now, according to form, many folks are out shopping, getting a head start on Christmas gift-buying. With all that, it is a time for coming together. Not quite, however, based on recent published surveys. Surveys showed that more half American families made a decision not to discuss this year's presidential election at the dinner table. Feelings about it remain raw, so apparently the belief is the mere mention of Trump or Clinton would be enough to turn a pleasant holiday gathering into one of the scenes from "Game of Thrones."

How unfortunate. How sad for families trapped this way and, on a broader scale, for all of us. Think about it. Families are content to interact under a cloud of self imposed censorship because they do not agree about a particular topic. Further, apparently they are not certain how they will react if someone across the table expresses an opinion with which they disagree. Rather than see such conversation as an opportunity to seek greater understanding or even find common ground, they chose to avoid the topic altogether. It is ok to talk about Aunt Susie's new boy friend or cousin Fred's cancer-scare, but politics and the future of the country are forbidden topics.

I understand some topics are much easier to discuss. I understand there are some topics which trigger more emotions than others. People disagree and sometimes it ain't pretty. But I also understand that ignoring or avoiding elephants in the room is a lot more unhealthy. If we as a people are going to get to a better place, then talking about touchy topics is one of the hurdles we need to jump. It is a matter of deciding to communicate with openness and mutual respect. At times that is not easy to do. I understand that, too. But in no way are self-imposed divides a good thing. Christmas dinner is not that far away. Perhaps we can do better then.

Yikes

One of the realities of life is that things do not always go as planned. No, I am not talking about Hillary Clinton, though she is a perfect example. As I write this, her lead in the 2016 Presidential election in the popular vote is approaching two million votes. But thanks to the electoral college, it is Donald Trump who will be taking the oath of office in mid-January. An equally-dramatic though far less consequential example involves Charles Rowan, a South African magician famous in the 1930s. "Charles the Magician" had an idea for a trick where he would have to escape from a straight jacket in front of a car moving toward him at approximately 25 miles per hour. Given the starting point of the car, Charles had about 15 seconds to perform his great escape. Alas, Charles was not able to perform his magic in-time. End of trick. End of Charles. Yikes. And then there was the young Polish magician whose trick was to slam his hand down without injury on several upturned nails positioned inside three paper bags. The first two baps went perfectly; so perfectly, he invited the host of the show to slam her hand down on the third bag. What could go wrong?  Sadly, this young lady now knows what it is like to have nails literally driven through her hand. Yikes indeed.

Tragic incidences such as these can be avoided by better planning and more common sense.  (I am still not talking about Hillary Clinton though I could be.) Instead, I am speaking to all professional communicators everywhere. When it comes to trying to connect and remain so with others, lots can go wrong. The unexpected can happen. (In large measure, that is part of the magic about people.) At times, professional communicators can and do get cocky because, at times, they are so certain of their ability to persuade and convinced their intended audience can easily be influenced or swayed. Not so. Yes, I am finally talking about Hillary Clinton. Not one of her spokespeople had any clue her campaign was going to be unsuccessful. Confidence is good but arrogance is not. It is perfect example, according to Matt Taibbi, the great reporter from Rolling Stone magazine, of what happens when experts are so busy talking with each other they spend far too little time listening to the folks whom they are trying to reach.     

Unnatural

Let me tell you how difficult effective public relations is. It is unnatural. It goes against the human grain. The act of trying to establish sustained cooperation between various publics is not all that different than trying to comb your hair in a windstorm. It does not work. This is not to say people do not get along or are not capable of cooperating for extended periods of time. They certainly do. After all, a little over half of all marriages in the U.S. remain intact. But this is not to say there is not tension in those relationships or that folks do not butt heads despite the fact they actually like each other.

People are motivated by self interest. In order to get them to cooperate or, at the very least, make the effort, what is in it for them must be spelled out. Whether it is eating certain foods, taking on certains tasks or joining forces with others, such behavior happens as a result of people seeing there is benefit in it for them. Thus, public relations is not so much the act of creating partnerships or some type of harmonious adjustments between various groups, it represents a sustained effort to motivate individuals to recognize how cooperating with others is in their best interest. Publics, then, are conglomerates of individuals striving to address their own needs or interests.

People, in essence, want to do their own thing. Even though all of us may fundamentally be social creatures, we are social in ways we define, in ways in which we are most comfortable. Being with others is what we do to meet our own need for acceptance. Behaving the same as others is also motivated by meeting our own interests. This means public relations is more about communicating with individuals than it is publics. The more individuals a public relations practitioner can touch, the more successful it is. It is all about helping individuals see why joining with others is of benefit to them.

Keeping Information Simple

Basically, there are three primary purposes of public relations: persuade or promote, create partnerships and inform. These days I confess to being a bit worried about "inform." To inform or enlighten another, inform refers to sharing or passing along information. For instance, how many Oscars was Marlon Brando awarded? Information can be collected to answer such an inquiry. (Answer: two.) Or how many times did Ted Williams hit over .400 for a season? Again, there is information to address that. (Answer: once). But then there is information that is not so straightforward.

Let us take the national debt. At present, it hovers around $20 trillion. (Yikes). That total has been on the increase for many years now. At the same time, in recent times the degree to which this national debt cuts into our gross national product has been dropping. So, one wonders, is the federal government finally getting a handle on its debt or is it simply getting worse and worse? Information needed to address such a question is not so straightforward. The answer often revolves around who is giving it. What is that person's perspective on economic policy? What political party do they belong to? Those variables can and do often shape how a person seeks to inform another.

Do I wish all information was straightforward? No, though it would make things easier. But I do wish those attempting to inform would do a better job of letting others know that often times answers are not so direct or easy. The media could do this? Also, any so called expert or partisan spokesperson could, too. Unfortunately, far too often those in the position to inform seem more concerned with persuading than they are informing. This results in the ongoing spread of misinformation and division. In today's climate, what seems so simple - informing - is actually pretty complex. Sadly, it does not have to be so long as folks focus on providing full information rather than only that portion of it that best suits them.

Perception Power

Here I am. A few days after what I and apparently many others throughout the world view as a most disastrous presidential election. (At the same time, there are countless others who are still celebrating the outcome.) My emotions a few days ago were raw. They still are. The difference is I am putting on a better public face. Perception is a big deal in these current times. People see me smiling, then they view me as being ok. If Hillary Clinton is perceived to be corrupt, then it must be true. Right? If Donald Trump is perceived to be strong and a great businessman, then that's the way it is. If the current band of Republican leaders are believed to be economically prudent, advocates of individual freedom, and concerned for the welfare of folks from all stations of life, then that, too, is how it is.

Perception goes a long way. The trouble is when those who strive to project certain images begin placing greater emphasis on maintaining that image rather than communicating the actual truth behind it. The downfall of the most recent Bush administration is when it became clear the truth did not match the perception. My sense is this is what is going to be happen with the Trump administration, only it won't take as long. Bush was able to hide behind a war on terror. Where is the Trump team going to run for cover? Still, we should not underestimate the power of perception. It won the day in this past election despite all evidence that soundly contradicted it.

Slick communicators know this. They know people, generally, gravitate toward that which gives them comfort. They know people far too often believe what they want to believe no matter how factually wrong they may be. This reality, very much on display this past election, is as maddening as it is heart breaking. It also leads to misguided choices and, ultimately, a great deal of harm. As a result, things for the United States and the world are going to get a lot worse before they get better. Shame on the folks that will be behind this. And shame on so many "regular folk" who were too intellectually lazy to see behind all the false imaging. There is and will be plenty of blame to pass around.

A Great Loss

I am grieving. The country I loved died tonight with the election of Donald Trump as the next president of the United States. While I always found it upsetting that he had gotten as far as he had in the election process, I figured come election day the country would do the right thing and end his political aspirations. After all, the man is blatantly corrupt, a liar, immoral, a hate mongor, and with no experience in terms of running government or knowledge of domestic or foreign affairs.  His style of campaigning revolved around insults, tapping into the worst instincts of people, and covering up his own ignorance through bombast. No way people would elect him over a person who was and is the opposite of all that. Right?

It turns out the people did just that. The America that showed itself in this election is one I do not recognize, one I do not know. Yet here is it for all the world to see. Up till now, I have seen us as a nation that values decency, caring for others, honesty and tolerance. That America was overrun by one that is darker. Unrecognizable. A new USA has stepped forward. I want the old one back, yet fear it is gone forever or certainly for the rest of my life time. My perception of the country has been knocked for a loop. Actually, it has been pushed down some monster garbage disposal. This new America is light years less than the one I loved.

What happens now?  I wish I knew. I suspect truth will no longer be what it used to be. My sense is communication will consist of lots of talking at with very little talking with. And I will continue to hurt and feel removed from the country I loved. It is gone. Replaced by folks who most definitely see life a whole lot differently than I do. Replaced by folks whose values are not mine. When did I become so out of touch with this new reality? My immediate plan will be to cope one day at a time. Maybe some time in the future my America will return. If so, I sure don't see that happening any time soon.

Cultivating Our Inner Edison

It was 138 years ago this month when the great inventor Thomas Edison filed for a patent for the electrical lamp, arguably one of the most notable innovations created by this genius. Without question, this genius had a major impact on the advancement of civilization. To this day, all of us continue to benefit from his sweat, perseverance, and dreams. In the twilight of his, Edison was asked to reflect in his life and career. After some thought, Edison said, "I failed my way to success." What an amazing statement! What he making a joke or being flip? I think not. In fact, I think his response was, as some say, "spot on."

Edison was a tinkerer, trying out ideas that others before him had either rejected or not thought of at all. He was unafraid to step into the unknown or as poet Robert Frost once wrote: "travel the road not taken." He did this with the full understanding that that path may lead to disappointment or, in his words, "failure." But Edison also knew the unchartered path might lead to a new horizon and a tomorrow better than any yesterdays that had come before. As we all well know, Edison forged ahead  and "failed" his way toward reshaping the world in ways that had only existed in the imaginations of some.

I like to think successful communicators have a bit of Edison in them. If not, they should. The challenge of helping folks connect with others is an ongoing and, at times, daunting challenge. Often it requires these professionals to be at their creative best. And then their are moments when they need to be what I would term "beyond creative." By that I mean "inventive." Try new paths. Attempt strategies in which the results may not be known. Yes, doing so can be a bit stressful. But it can also lead to fantastic results. Much like Edison. Granted, even though most of us may not be a genius like him, it does not mean we still can't be inventors.

Sad Times

As I write this the ugliest U.S. presidential election in my lifetime has less than one week to go. It has been as heartbreaking as it has been maddening. I say that not because of the specific candidates or their stances on various issues. Instead, I speak of the nonstop name calling and lying that have been tossed around as freely as confetti at a wedding. The only good thing coming out of this mess has been job security for fact checkers. Those poor souls have found Hillary Clinton fudges the truth about 25 per cent of the time while Donald Trump tips the scales at nearly 80 per cent. Yes, Trump's record is far worse, but neither figure is good.

Imagine that. With one candidate, about one out of every four statements they make is either false or partially false. With the other, nearly four out of every five of his statements is the opposite of true. Voters may not be as informed as they should, but they certainly seem to have a good sense these candidates for the most powerful position in our country and in the free world are not exactly straight shooters. No wonders voters are so angry. No wonder so many have little enthusiasm for the one they support as well as the political system out of which Clinton and Trump came. Yet here we are. In less than a week one of these people will be president.

Heartbreaking and maddening indeed. What does this reality say about all of us? Do we hold the truth in such low regard? Have we allowed the truth bar to be lowered so low that we do not mind whether the leaders of our major political parties do not follow the basic laws of honesty? Sadly, I already know the answer to those questions. They do not speak of any of us. No-good comes from ongoing dishonesty. It brings out the worst in all caught in its web. Poor communication begets poor communication. It is my wish that voters use this terrible election as a significant teachable moment. Otherwise things will only get worse.

When To Share

Ideally, organizations should conduct themselves with openness. They should be transparent in terms of decisions, policy positions and connections with others. Their leaders should have nothing to hide. On the surface, I do not know many who would disagree with that sentiment. Yet there are scenarios when and where openness is not ideal. An obvious example is the federal government. They wrestle with national security issues that most concede should not be made public. For instance, mum's the word when it comes to our plans to fight terrorists. And, if I am not mistaken, Coca Cola still has yet to disclose its recipe for coke.

Nevertheless, the question of how open an entity should be and where the line is drawn between what the public has a right to know and what should be kept secret remains a viable one; one that is worthy of debate. One professional that should be at the table whenever that discussion occurs is the communicator. Many who subscribe to the Public Relations of America's code of ethics would argue on the side of disclosure or openness. At the same time, they are in the business or protecting their client. Does that sometimes involve withholding information? You bet. So, how and under what circumstances does one reconcile such opposite values?

I wish I had a clearcut answer. Perhaps if lives are at stake is a good reason to keep information from the public. What about the sale of property? Many agree with that, too. But what about the tax returns of a public figure? As we know from the current presidential campaign, not every agrees on that one. Professional communicators walk a fine line between protecting their client and serving the greater good that is society. In attempting to choose, communicators should encourage their client to conduct themselves in the context of others. After all, this is how communicators should base their behavior. What is in the best interest of those with who they are to connect?

Segways

Perhaps the best thing about mankind is its insatiable need to move forward. Progress. Advancement. That's what we do. The telegraph. Automobiles. The Internet. All those achievements and so many more are among mankind's bragging points. The hits keep coming and that is a good thing. Sometimes, however, we over do ourselves. Sometimes we come up with a contraption that goes too far. I am referring to the segway. This is that motorized personal vehicle that enables its users to ride from one location to another. No walking. Stand on its platform, turn on the engine and hang onto the handles.

Segways look fun. Plus, the prospect of not having to overextend oneself is appealing. Despite that, however, taking away or even reducing our need to use our feet is not good. It is akin to making it no longer necessary to speak. We need the challenge of trying to figure out what words to use, how best to organize them, or even the most effective way in which to present them. Without that challenge our need to think is compromised. If we no longer have to work as hard to think, then we become less than we are. The same holds true for walking. We need to walk even when we may not want to. We need to keep working hard to be effective communicators, too.

Yes, communication is difficult. But it is the kind of hurdle that makes us better; keeps us on the upswing. Segways represent an obstruction to maintaining a level of sharpness that makes us who we are. So, for what is worth, my recommendation to anyone who asks is to not make using a segway a regular habit. Keep walking and be grateful you can.  And while you are at it, when faced with trying to connect with another, keep scratching your head until you come up with the right words. And keep talking. Oh, other thing: be wary of anything that seems like a step forward. Give it a thorough look-see before giving it your personal seal of approval.

Fireworks

I was one of what I estimated to have been 100,000 people who attended the 2016 Fireworks Festival held in Busan, South Korea, earlier this month. With all the pops and whistles, bright lights and spectacular displays, fireworks are fun to see. I find it nearly impossible to witness any fireworks display without letting out a string of ohhhhs and ahhhhs. The festival in Busan was no exception. Lots of fun especially on a pleasant night surrounded by many folks of any ages intent on having fun. It was a memorable time.

Without question, fireworks displays are hard to ignore. Yes, they are fun to watch, but on a deeper level serve as a distraction from life's more sobering realities such as going to work, making financial ends meet, maintaining a reasonably healthy lifestyle, and caring for loved ones. Fireworks offer a brief escape from those challenges. Because people know that, it is probably why so many happily go out of their way to watch a display. At the end of the day, however, one cannot completely turn their back on their responsibilities. That may seem like stating the obvious, but the fact is there are those who communicate as if they are a fireworks display. Fluff with little substance. Lots of noise but few facts.

The U.S. presidential campaign this year seems to be a non-stop fireworks display: lots of noise in the form of name calling, bragging and posturing, but little substaniative information sharing or vision designed to make voters a more informed citizenry. One result is that so many folks are turned off by the candidates and claim they have no attention to even vote. This is unfortunate, of course, as the very existence of the US revolves around the degree to which all citizens are engaged in matters of policy and current events. Yet, ironically, top candidates seem to be trying to devote much energy to distracting voters from real issues. Communication-wise, this is poor form. In terms of civics, such behavior is harmful.

Accepting the Work of Media

Is the media trustworthy? Are they worthy of our time and attention? Do they make us feel like reading their stories and listening to their reports is time well-spent? Sadly for us all the answer to each of these questions is the same: "no." In terms of why this is the case, my own theory is the reputation of the media has declined proportionally to the rise of niche journalism; those outlets that specifically gear their work to reporting the news with a particular bias. Media outlets of that ilk may be satisfying their followers, but they sure are not doing their profession or information seekers of all stripes any favors.

Recently, I attended a lecture by Dr. Seong-Ho Park, senior commentator of YTN, South Korea's premiere 24-hour television new channel. Dr. Park attempted to address the question of the media's trustworthiness. While urging readers and viewers to be skeptical, he views good reporters as being unbiased. They collect information, weigh its potential impact, timeliness, level of unusualness, and relevance, and then share it with the public. Dr. Park observed that good reporters are only concerned with reporting the truth. They do not operate under a cloud of bias, he suggested. This, of course, sounds good but I am sure I agree.

We all certainly want our press to be totally objective. But wanting does not make it so. Reporters are people and people have their likes, dislikes and sense of what is important. As a result, what they produce comes with a slant. The sooner we can embrace this reality the better we can process the news. Be skeptical as Dr. Park advised. Processing the work of public relations professionals should be done with the same perspective. It is a matter of not accepting the complete of any happening from only one source. This may make communicating more of a challenge, but it is possible it could make it more effective, too.

Deplorable

One of the more infamous comments coming out of the United States' 2016 presidential election thus far came when democrat nominee Hillary Clinton called nearly half of her opponents followers "a basket full of deplorables." For starters, generalizations are rarely a good idea. Trying to lump millions of people into one category is dangerous business. Look what happened four years ago when republican nominee Mitt Rominey characterized nearly half of his opponent's supporters as "takers." I would say the comments from Clinton and Romney were both deplorable. Fortunately, both persons walked back what they said.

Still, it does not change the fact that here in 2016 much of the communicating going on is, in fact, deplorable. Most, in fact, seem to agree with that. Ironically, this even includes a number of the folks who are among the most active offenders. They refute what the other side has said about their candidate and then proced to jump right back into the cesspool of name-calling, lieing and mischaracterization. No wonder so many people, including those planning to vote, are so turned off by this year's election. No wonder people from all over the world are looking at this and thinking "What in the hell is going on?"

The United States is better than this. It really is. Sadly, though, one would not know it from the level of communicating that we are seeing and hearing every day. For me, I am wrestling with the question of whether this is reflective or where we are as a nation in terms of communicating, or if this speaks to the lack of quality of the specific folks doing much of the speaking in this campaign. Perhaps I am being gullible, but I am clinging to the notion it reflects those on the playing field these days rather than the nation itself. At least I sure hope so. If I truly believed the US had sunk this low, then my belief in our country would be beyond repair.

Bomb Dogs

I have always been strangely fascinated by bomb dogs. These creatures, full of energy and a desire to please, are trained to sniff out "live" bombs. Yet when duty calls they do not know they are trying to find a contraption that potentially could kill it. They are unaware of the danger they are running toward. Their trainers do, of course. The folks who have fled the scene to avoid being in harm's way know it. But the bomb dog is totally clueless. Their singular focus is to please their master by finding this "thing." The dog does not care if it is a chew toy or pair of fancy sneakers. It is all about pleasing the master.

So, one might ask, does such a slice of reality have to do with communication? Perhaps it points to the actions one takes when they are not given all information. People do not always make the best choices when misled or deceived. Would bomb dogs be bomb dogs if they actually knew or understood what it was they were supposed to be looking for? My guess is probably not. Would people make certain relationship choices if their prospective partner was straight forward and did not gloss over their "baggage?" Would voters vote the way they do if their candidate of choice was honest?

All of us like to think we make good choices because we are well informed. We like to think we do what we do because we know all that we need to know about a particular issue or person. Perhaps that is the case some time. But there is no denying that is not completely the case. We are subject to deception at times. Given that reality, it makes sense to be skeptical about what others swear is true. It also points to our responsibility to be in-charge of our own lives and the choices we make. Be open. Be a good listener. Be prepared to confirm that is presented to us. Do not be like the bomb dog that blindly accepts what it is told.

Politically Correct

One of the most oft-used phrases we hear these days is "politically correct." Initially, it was introduced as a way of describing efforts not to offend or insult various segments of the population. But as time has passed ther are those who view it as an annoying and/or unnecessary hindrance to free expression: "I can't criticize people who belong to a certain race because people will say it is not politically correct." For instance, some will complain about not being able to comment on the amount of black-on-black crime for fear of being viewed as a racist or denigrating all African Americans. So, they lash out at having to be "politically correct" as they feel doing so limits their ability to speak their mind.

More and more, I have come to view that kind of thinking as lazy. No one is saying people should not be free to communicate their thoughts or feelings. Rather, what "politically correct" represents is a need for all of us to communicate with greater thought, sensitivity and knowledge. That does not sound so bad to me even though it does call for all of us to think more before we speak. Words do matter so all of us have a responsibility to use them with care. Perhaps one way to view this is to compare words to bullets. Fired randomly, bullets can do great and tragic harm. But if one thinks before they fire, then bullets can serve as an effective weapon against a specific target.

Perhaps, generally, our society is becoming more sensitive. Perhaps we are becoming more quick to have our feelings hurt. But is that so bad? I think not. If one communication as the act of two or more connecting and exchanging thoughts and information, then it seems logical that such an act should be carried out with a certain level of intellect. My sense is the ones complaining the most about this are the ones who prefer being able to let loose with their perspectives with little regard or respect for those with whom they wish to connect. To you I say, "Get with the program." Striving to be "politically correct" is not about stifling free speech. Instead, it's goal is to help make that speech better.

Promoting Ethical Behavior

There is not one profession or industry that does not have its own understanding of what is ethical. Whether it is sports, the arts or even politics, there is not one that lacks a general awareness of what type of behavior speaks to the matter of ethics. I am not necessarily referring to what is legal. That is
clear-cut. One either breaks the law or doesn't. Ethics, generally, falls into a more gray area. One, for instance, can be unethical but still be law-abiding. In golf, one player could constantly interrupt another just before they tee-off, but that does not mean they are violating any rules. It does mean they are conducting themselves in an unethical manner.

The world of business is another where ethics has become an important element. In fact, business ethics has even emerged as its own area or field of focus simply because of the level of importance people place on it. Business ethics refers to conducting oneself in a morally proper way in the realm of a business setting. Being truthful, open  and fair are matters of ethics. Thus, following those traits would be reason to refer to one as an ethical business man or woman. Being described that way, of course, would be a good thing. Sadly, in the cynical times in which we live, it is not enough to be ethical. Nowadays, businesses need to do what they can to let others know they are ethical.

That is too bad since, ideally, one likes to assume their ethical or "good" behavior speaks for itself and does not need to be flaunted. Yet here we are. More and more, public relations types are putting together campaigns designed to showcase a business' positive ways. This is the result of companies that do not behave ethically. The banking and auto industry are two examples of where entities have behaved unethically. the public has been burned enough to where companies are almost assumed to be unethical unless proved otherwise. Professional communicators can and do showcase that "proof." it is too bad such work is necessary.

The Dangers of Over Confidence

When it comes to interviews and even public appearances in general, all of us are wise to take some time to prepare. Even the most seasoned veterans should give thought to what points they wish to emphasize as well as what questions or topics might be raised. Even though being ill-prepared is something all agree is important to avoid, it is amazing how many times persons go into press encounters "on the fly" as often they do. How many times have any of us witnessed spokespeople struggle as a result of not giving much thought to what they want to say? For myself, I would say, "far too often."

In those circumstances, my sense is being over-confident is one of the big reasons for this. Professionals reason because they have done many interviews before, then another one should be easy enough. Such an attitude, though understandable, is dangerous. Such a mindset is not unlike "playing with fire." Things can go wrong quickly. The interviewer, for instance, can ask an unexpected question or raise an issue from the past. This can knock the so-called seasoned communicator off balance. When this happens, then often it is "look out below!" They end up embarrassing themselves and doing harm to their client.

One of the marks of a solid professional is they make each interaction with a reporter seem like the first. They are able to inject a sense of freshness into the interview that gives it energy. Confident communicators do this. Over-confident ones do not. Being and behaving in a confident manner is the result of being prepared. Being over-confident crosses a line into arrogance and disrespect toward the reporter and the topic itself. Confident communicators approach each interview with a sense of humility that helps them better serve the topic and client. Bottom line: being confident is good and over-confident is not.

Preparation

Speaking publicly is never easy. No matter the circumstances. Giving prepared remarks or speaking off-the-cuff, speaking before others is not unlike swimming in unknown waters. The unexpected can make a surprise visit at any time. Even if someone makes it look easy, usually that is the result of their working hard to make it look so. Few, however, are that good. Most folks, myself included, lack the ability to get up in front of others and speak in a manner that comes even close to being considered relaxed or comfortable. Most of us who speak before others do so with various levels of dread nipping at our heels.

All this, then, speaks to the importance being well prepared. Public speaking is not to be taken lightly. Professional communicators know this. This is why, when working with clients, they devote as much time to helping prepare the client's actual remarks as they do to coaching how best to deliver them. Practice is the key. Anticipation is another. Will people such as the press in the audience be asking questions? Even if there is not supposed to be, one should assume some will be asked. The best way to handle expected or unexpected inquiries is to be prepared.

The public relations professional can arrange practice sessions for the client in which the client is asked a range of questions - the more difficult the better - as a way of formulating effective and understandable responses. If done well, not only are solid answers created, the client is trained to deliver them in an easy-going way as if they are making them up on the spot. Solid preparation helps make this happen. One should not apologize for this. What they should feel bad about is when they do speak before others with little or no pre-thought. That is a roll of the dice that has much chance of turning out badly as not. Proper preparation improves the odds in one's favor greatly.

Pride and Humility

There is a great quote from author C.S. Lewis that captures what I believe to be a problem with today's press or media representatives. Lewis said this: "Pride is concerned with who is right. Humility is concerned with what is right." Listening to the many press surrogates on television these days as they speak out on behalf of their candidates, there is no doubt they are being driven by pride. In fact, I doubt seriously that humility factors into any of their thinking as they frame answers and drive home talking points. The result is people who speak to "win" versus ones who communicate to achieve consensus and inclusion.

Another result, this one that cuts much deeper, is further division among a society that is on the  receiving end of their words and, dare I use the word, "performances." We see and hear spokespersons so intent on making sure their candidate one-ups their opponent that they talk over those on the other side, name call, lie and strive to make sure no other perspectives on an issue are heard other than their own. Thanks to the way they approach their job, our country has become more the home of the divided and less the land of the free. These communicators, often smooth and articulate, are not doing any of us any favors.

Our country could use a great deal more humility than it is begging given. It is possible to put forth arguments without attempting to degrade those who disagree. It is possible to speak out with openness rather than shutting the door on those who see matters differently. Being successful at that represents true winning. Sadly, "winning" these days seems to be defined by how well squashes opposing views and opponents. Those on the receiving end of their efforts, more and more, seem to be operating under the same small-minded definition of winning. Give me communication that revolves around humility - focusing on what is right - any day.

Honoring the Past

In South Korea there is a tradition where families gather for the express purpose of honoring those who have come before them. Parents and their children, regardless of their age or even if they, too, are parents take time to pay tribute to grandparents, aunts and uncles who were once vibrant beings but have since died. Those who gather call by name those they knew in earlier times and briefly talk about them. They review what the persons were like. Tell stories about them. And even share those meant to them. This I is an honorable tradition and one that says much those dedicated to keeping it alive.

Understanding and remembering the past is vital to developing a better understanding of what is present. It helps place the challenges of the day in a better perspective thereby giving one insight into how best to deal or cope with them. This, then, helps transitioning into the future go more smoothly. As has been said many times before, so many current challenges revolve around many elements of communication. How well are people listening? How effective are various messages being put forward? Is there respect and openness in the way in which folks interact? These and other fundamental questions are as timely in the present as they were in the past.

For communicators to be successful, it helps tremendously if they have answers to those questions as they apply to past challenges that are similar to ones being faced today. Thus, honoring the past in the world of communication does not just mean remembering specific individuals. It also refers to appreciating strategies and actions once taken along with the justification or logic behind them. All of us are creatures of the past. Communication, as a unique act, also belongs to the past just as much as it does to the present. All of us would do well to take time to reflect on how and why people those before us connected the way they did. It might help us do a better job of it today.

Almost There

Is there anyone who does not know we are living in a time of heated, sometimes over-the-top debate and disagreement? On far too regular a basis, it is commonplace to turn on the news and see reports of people screaming at each at various events and rallies, name calling, and even punches being thrown. Seeing and reading of this behavior as often as we do these days, what often gets lost is the fact that our society has come as far as it has in terms of getting along and being tolerant. Generally, we the people are "cool" with persons of different religious beliefs, different sexual persuasions, from different backgrounds, etc.

Granted, there are those who continue having trouble with such diversity, but they represent a small segment of the total population. Though they are loud in expressing their views, the good news is their numbers are gradually getting smaller. With each new generation, the level of tolerance in our nations grows. This, of course, is a good thing and a reality we should all celebrate and keep doing our best to perpetuate. At this point, there remains one level of intolerance that the majority continues to struggle with. It is one we have yet to conquer or cast aside. I am talking about getting along with folks with whom you disagree.

According to the Pew Research Foundation, people do not like being with others who do not see life as they do. People simply want to be with others of like-mind. I see such a wall as being the final one for us to tear down. Also, I recognize it may be the most difficult. Finding common ground with those who see life through a different lens is not easy. There is a tendency people have to mentally and emotionally draw lines in the sand when facing such differences. This is where effective communication plays a major role. It involves mutual respect and openness and, if practiced, can help our society knock down this one remaining wall. We are almost there, but this final hurdle is a big one.

Lone Wolf

The idea of being a lone wolf certainly has a certain appeal that being one who runs with the pack does not. Being a person who lives by their own code, answers to no one and marches to the beat of their own drummer carries with a unique romantic appeal that is hard to match. Given that, I do not doubt that there is a person among us who has not dreamt of being such a person and living such a life. For me, fantasizing about being a lone wolf ranks up there with wanting to be a cowboy in the old west or traveling the universe in my own space ship. It is fun to think about but has little to do with reality.

People need people and that is all there is to it. While many of us may like having our own agenda on any given day, the fact is if we are to fulfill that agenda, then we are going to need others to do it. In our minds we may see ourselves as lone wolves, but the truth is we all run with some sort of pack, possibly even more that one. Those who communicate professionally work to ensure we remain connected with various packs. In other words, if one really does have their sights set on being a lone wolf, then they should not utilize the services of those whose job it is to ensure people interact with others on a regular basis.

Communicators strive to create messages that clients can distribute and/or articulate to others to secure consensus, agreement, and like-action. Further, their job is to devise and carry out ways to guarantee folks will not be alone. Communicators are not in the lone wolf business. The act of communicating is not geared to help one become a lone wolf. If one is going to be a lone wolf, my sense is they should just do it. Coming up with ways to put forth that desire strikes me as being contrary to living a life without needing others. Blogging, for example, is not the act of a lone wolf. Bloggers blog to connect. It is what communication is all about.

Adjusting to New Surroundings

All of us, especially me, have a tendency to adapt to or settle in with our surroundings. Even if they may be less than ideal, we adjust and, in doing so, establish some sort of routine as part of becoming compatible with our environment. It is part, I believe, of our need to establish and then cling to a zone of comfort that helps us navigate our way through each of our days. Since spring of 2014, for example, I have lived in South Korea for part of each calendar year. In fact, I am living and working in Incheon right now and will do so for the remainder of this year and in all likelihood beyond. It has been an adjustment.

But, at least for me, the good news is the challenging of adjusting has not been near nearly as great as I first feared. Relocating to life in a country situated on the other side of the world from my home was a major concern. How would the people be? Would I feel isolated? How difficult would it be for me to be separated from family and friends? These were just a few of the many basic questions I had in switching to living in America to the Far East. In a nutshell, yes, it has been an adjustment, but the good news is the transition has been far less stressful and difficult than I feared. The primary reason  for this is found in one word: communication.

The ability to communicate or connect with others has been due to several important reasons: the kindness of so many of the folks in South Korea, the fact many of them speak English, and my accepting the reality that I am a new guy in town and, as a result, require the assistance and patience of others. This kind of openness has helped me establish my needed comfort zone as well as make connections with others, a number of which have become quite important to me. In my view, this has occurred as a direct result of honesty between us. I do not know much and need help and others are happy to share their knowledge in a friendly manner. Such communicating is making for a very happy experience.

Chiweenie

One of the unspoken goals in life for any generation is to make the world a better place for those that follow. One never, for example, hears someone declare, "I want to make life tougher or worse for my children." or "My goal is make sure my children and grandchildren have to struggle even harder than I did." While I am not saying there are not those who don't think those kind of thoughts, one always hears the opposite sentiment expressed: "I want to make the world a better place." or "If I can make life at least little bit easier for my children, then I will be happy." Thank goodness for that. Thank goodness folks, generally, are striving to make our tomorrows better than our todays.

This, then, leads me to the title of this blog entry: chiweenie. What, one may understandably ask, is that?  It is the result of  crossbreeding a chihuahua and a dachshund. Believe it or not, people have actually done that and, as a result, we now have chiweenies roaming the earth. No doubt, such a decision was made to try and make a better breed of dog, something cuter, more lovable, and easier to handle. All I can say to that is not all efforts to make the world a better place are successful or well thought-out. Nevertheless, I will begrudgingly concede the hearts of those who created the chiweenie were in the right place.

These kind of efforts represent building blocks; men and women working hard to build onto and fortify the foundations of life that have been put down before them. This certainly applies to communication. Scholars and practitioners before me devoted much time and intellectual energy toward creating ways for people in my generation to better understand and carry out our communication efforts. From my vantage point, they did well. We have an array of theories, books and case studies from which to draw as we plan our own efforts to connect with and motivate others. Hopefully we are doing the same for the next generation even if an occasional chiweenie is part of the mix.   
    

New Office Building

The prospect of getting a new office is always exciting. It represents a change that could be positive. The office may be bigger than the one you currently have. It may be more conveniently located such as closer to the lunch room, the elevators or even to the big boss. Or it may have more windows, thus giving you more natural light. But whether any or all of these changes happen, moving from one office to another is generally pretty straightforward and not all that complicated. After all, we are talking just one person. It is a singular effort that only affects others indirectly. One move. One person.

What is much more complicated is the prospect of moving multiple persons into a new office building. This takes a great of coordination, cooperation and planning. Who gets what office? Who gets moved first? What steps need to be taken to ensure there is no loss or misplacing of personal property? These are but a few of the fundamental questions that need to be addressed in the undertaking of a task involving multiple people and numerous moving parts. Such is the reality of any effort that affects multiple people directly. One move. Multiple people.

This is not unlike any act of communication when the goal is to reach and motivate or influence many. Much like the prospect of moving into a new building, it can be exciting and morale boosting. At the same time, there is also the prospect of error and missteps if people do not plan well or work together in good faith. For a significant communication effort to go well, writers, designers, planners and customer service folks all must have a clear understanding of their role, the timing of their part, and have no confusion as to what the ultimate goal is of the plan in which they are involved. A breakdown among any of the participants can compromise the entire effort. One campaign. Far reaching success or setback.

Minimizing Fall-Out

In the world of professional communication, there is a constant flow of emphasis placed on the importance of being proactive. "Let's get out ahead of the story," a pubic relations professional might tell their client. Another will say, "We need to control the message." Those statements and ones like them sound great. They are forceful, dynamic and even carry with them a sense of expertise. Truth-be-told, they are also things that I, myself, have said over the years to folks I have represented. Another truth is that the practicality of these statements often does not match or live up to how they sound.

Getting out ahead of a story usually speaks to a way of handling the anticipated fall-out of a negative story about to be made public. For instance, a candidate is arrested for drunken driving.  Rather than wait for the press to release the information to the public, the candidate's team initiates the announcement as a way of helping shape the coverage it will inevitably generate. Doing so betters their ability to control the information being reported on the public as well as supports the perception they are being upfront and transparent. Without question, such strategies speak to the concept of openness and that, generally, is a good thing.

But does that strategy prevent negative consequences? In the case of a political candidate, does it prevent people from withdrawing their support? The answer to both questions is "no." The ultimate goal of getting ahead of a story and/or controlling a message is to minimize the fall-out. Damage control. Make no mistake, public figures especially will be punished on some level if they mess-up. So, too, will us "regular folk." But by being honest about a misstep, one helps minimize potential negative consequences. That is never a small thing. It is important to remember, however, that those communication strategies cannot and do not completely erase the memory of a foul deed from the public's mind.        

Telling It Like It Is

One way you can tell we are in a presidential election season is because the expression, "telling it like it is" is back as being on the forefront of people's lips. When asked why they favor one candidate over another, the response is often because "he/she tells it like it is." The person doing the asking nods as if the respondee just "told it like it is." But what does such a statement or rationale even mean? What is this person really saying? Four possible answers come to mind: They agree with what the candidate is saying; they comprehend what the candidate is saying; They believe the candidate is being honest and straightforward; and/or they are comfortable with how the candidate speaks.

I take no issue with any of these explanations. Rather, my beef is with the person using one of them to explain their support of a particular candidate. Why not just give one or several or even all of those explanations instead of falling back on a cliche that, at best, is vague in meaning? "Telling it like it is" has devolved into one of those phrases that sounds stronger and more clear than it really is. In the case of the great majority of presidential candidates over the years, one would be hard-pressed not to find one who did not "tell it like it is." What separated them was the amount of support voters gave the content of their remarks.

The irony, then, is that it is the voters who are vague in what they are communicating rather than the candidates. This reenforces the notion that it is a person's meotions that often dictate their election decisions. Consequently, they are not always able to properly articulate the reasons for their voting actions. Thus, what better way to escape close scrutiny than to fall back on some cliche than means less than it implies? Shame on those of us who do that. If we push ourselves to better explain decisions we make, then it seems logical that those decisions will have a greater chance of being more grounded and sound.

Communicating With Sensitivity

For many children, the end of August and the beginning of September mean one thing: the start of a new school year. Summer is at an end as now it is time to once again enter into the routine of rising early, working with teachers and tackling lesson plans. Despite the sameness of this annual ritual, for some it can be a scary prospect. For some children, this involves entering into a new school with new classmates, new teachers, new schedule, and new surroundings. Facing that collective challenge can be pretty daunting. For some, such change can be scary and even overwhelming and something to dread.

For parents with children about to enter a new school and all the unfamiliarity it represents, this represents a real communication challenge. For instance, perhaps the child is leaving preschool where they spent several years with the same teachers and classmates. Now they are about to enter into the world of kindergarten with teachers they do not know. Or a family may have moved over the summer and now the child is the "new kid" in class with no friends. Sure, these scenarios are a challenge for the parents, but they are even more so for the children. It is times like this that grown-ups need to remember that life can be a bit overwhelming for kids.

Also, it is times like this when communicating needs to be carried out with great sensitivity. It is not that children do not want to succeed in this new environment. Rather, it is that they are not sure they can. Their concerns should not be discounted or ignored. Parents should acknowledge them as being normal and justified. Further, the parents should reinforce the a reality that the child is not alone in what they are feeling. For a young child, entering into a new school is no small thing. It is a giant step  toward learning to face the same kind of unknown they will experience later on when taking one new job or entering into a serious relationship. The good news is the great majority of kids do well in addressing this challenge. Their success is made easier when their concerns are acknowledged and their feelings are treated with understanding.

A Cat and A Spool of Yawn

The other day I was watching our cat play with a spool of yawn. (If you are thinking I have far too much time on my hands, then you are right - at least I did at that moment.) Nevertheless, it was fascinating to watch the cat bat around the spool with great zeal and even passion. To the cat, I could not help but think what it was doing then was the highlight of its day and perhaps even week. Also, it got me to wondering as to how often I or any of us for that matter approach something - anything - with the enthusiasm being displayed by the cat as it enjoyed its new toy. For myself, I confess that it has been a while.

Enthusiasm is a key component when it comes to the field of professional communication. To cite one reason, helping a client compose and then distribute a message goes beyond carrying out that straightforward duty. It entails helping a person impart their thoughts and vision to others. This act of opening up to others is no small thing as it exposes that person to being judged, criticized or even dismissed. Yet this is the risk they are taking. More to the point, they are putting themselves in the professional communicator's hands that their message will generate positive results rather than be scorned.

It is one thing to approach an assignment with a can-do sense of determination and diligence. Most of us do that on weekends when tackling our to-do list of chores. However, being enthusiastic about that challenge adds a higher level of attitude that can and does help make the job more enjoyable. Further, when one enjoys something, they are more energetic, creative and committed to the success of their effort. This, of course, benefits the client greatly. Enthusiasm is the difference between approaching something as "just another job" to being more of a labor of love. The more professional communicators can approach their assignments with the level of energy of a cat playing with a spool of yarn, the more it helps them as well as those they represent. 

Dealing With Mistakes

One thing we all have in common is our imperfection. This was the focus of my most recent blog entry. Specifically, that revolved around the challenge many, particularly persons in the public arena, seem to have in conceding they messed up. Privately, of course, we all admit that as easily as fessing up to how often we breath. But put someone in a room full of others, in front of a microphone or on television and suddenly the act of admitting the obvious becomes a "bridge too far." Take, for instance, a spokesman whose role it is to speak on behalf of a political candidate. In that capacity, it is the job of the professional communicator to represent their client in a positive light.

Time to time, however, that straightforward assignment is knocked off track when the spokesman - not the client - says something wrong or not-quite accurate in terms of properly articulating the perspective of who they represent. This happens even with folks who are making a good faith effort to do their job to the best of their ability. The mistake is theirs and not their boss'. What to do? On the one-hand, there is the concern that to admit a mistake reflects badly both on the spokesman as well as their boss. On the other, to not acknowledge a misstatement or deny it ever happened is dishonest and also reflects both on the spokesperson and their client.   

For professional communicators, to actively take part in any kind of cover-up or deviation from the truth is the worst kind of mistake. To all spokespersons, the best thing to do if and when you err is to admit your mistake in a venue that is as widely seen and/or read as the one where the original goof occurred.  People make mistakes cause that is the way we imperfect beings roll. The public understands that because they, too, carry with them the mantle of imperfection. The trick is to simply be honest about. Being honest in such a situation is what reflects best on both the communicator and their client.   

Admitting Mistakes

One of the first fables many of us hear growing up is the one where a young George Washington confesses about cutting down the family cherry tree. ("Father, I cannot tell a lie. I cut down the cherry tree," our first Commander-in-Chief supposedly said.)  There is, of course, no evidence that this actually happen. Still, it makes for a great story, especially when one is trying to instill in the minds and hears of youngsters that honesty is, indeed, the best policy. Closer to the truth is, if such a conversation had occurred, Young George probably would have said something like: "Father, I cannot tell a lie. It was my little brother who cut down the tree." or "I don't know how that happen." or "I didn't do it."

No offense to President Washington, but the truth is none of us likes getting in trouble. Further, we do not like admitting that we have erred or messed up in some way. Our own internal drive to be well regarded and accepted by others as well as to feel good about ourselves make it difficult to, in a sense, fess up about something. The result is, at the least, we struggle with admitting mistakes, we come up with a litany of excuses to justify our missteps or we simply deny having said or done anything wrong even if evidence points to the contrary. This does not make us bad. Rather, it makes us what we are: flawed.   

In the world of communication, for persons to gain success and respect, it is imperative that one overcome what I view is our natural inclination to admit error. We see such a phenomenon played out on a regular basis as public figures and their spokespersons struggle with or try to wiggle out of admitting either getting their facts wrong or saying something they should not have. As one human to another, I feel their pain. But as one communicator to another, I have little sympathy for them. Being credible is the essence of being an effective communicator. Behaving in any way that cuts into that vital ingredient is unacceptable.   

Cloak of Responsibility

In all the years I have been doing this blog, I have made a point of keeping politics out of the discussion. With a few exceptions, I have tried keeping my own political views to myself. For one reason, as there are already tons of blogs where people spout off their political leanings, the last thing the world needs is another one.  And, secondly, one focusing entirely on communication and its impact on our lives, my reasoning goes, is more unique and perhaps even of benefit to some folks. Yet as I write, our nation's current presidential campaign is in full-throttle. As a result of the dangerous rhetoric from one of the candidates - Donald Trump - I want to share a couple of observations.

I begin with recent Trump's recent indirect call for his opponent, Hillary Clinton, to be assassinated. Even though Trump later claimed to be making a joke, the fact his initial comment for supporters to consider a "second amendment solution" when it comes to Clinton is the height of irresponsibility. (The second amendment, of course, provides citizens with the right to bear arms.) Words matter. Yes, this straight-forward truism has been stated many times before. It bears repeating now. When one becomes a presidential candidate, they step into a rare place where the possibility of their becoming leader of the free world is quite real. The result is what they say and do matters. For good and bad, it affects people and inspires them to take actions to help their candidate win. That, after all, is the whole point of campaigning. 

Trump seems oblivious to the grave cloak of responsibility he has taken on following his becoming the Republican Party's official nominee. He remains of a mind that he can continue to say pretty much anything that pops into his mind without regard for the possible consequences. This is not unlike becoming a parent or spouse. When one moves into one of those roles, what they say and/or do is no longer just about them. All they communicate has impact. The same holds true when becoming a presidential nominee except on a much broader scale. His irresponsible words have taken the current presidential campaign into an ugly level where now both candidates are now at greater risk. Words matter.  

Wild Card Clients

In pretty much every text book about public relations, the authors discuss the relationship between the practitioner and their client. The two discuss the client's outreach goals, outline a game plan resulting in the achieving of the goals, and then establish a budget and timeline to make it all happen. Part of the plan involves actions to be taken by the client, including talking points they should follow when interacting with the public, including the media. As put forth in the texts, though complex, this process is pretty straightforward. The practitioner and client are in-sync, thus making the implementation of the ultimate plan a simple matter of execution.

But what happens if the client is not all that cooperative? What happens if they refuse to follow the advice of the public relations professional? The client says what they want and when they want to with little regard for what has been previously discussed and agreed upon? They are, in essence, a wild card. What does the public relations practitioner do then? What options does the practitioner have when their advice is ignored? What do they do if rather than being proactive in their planning and activities, the bulk of their time is spent cleaning up after the client, putting out one brush fire after another?

Unfortunately, there are no easy answers to these questions. Even quitting is not an easy solution as such a step carries with it the possibility of hurting the reputation of the professional communicator. Short of that, the practitioner is left with the uphill challenge of continuing to give their client the best advice they can and content themselves with having to constantly connect with reporters and key members of the public to ensure how they report and/or interpret the client's remarks comes close to reflecting the talking points earlier agreed upon. There is also, of course, coming to grips that with wild card clients come late nights and gray hairs.    



   

Dueling Feelings

It is a big day for the wife. Her birthday. She wakes that morning with excitement and the hope that those around her will make it a special day for her. Her husband wakes with plans to cater to his beloved and give her as many smiles as he can on this special day. A house guest, the wife's mother, is in town specifically to help make her daughter's birthday one to remember. It is one of those rare days when multiple people under the same roof enter into a new day with hopes very much in-sync. They are united in their desire for a most happy day. What, as the old saying goes, could go wrong?

The wife awakes with the expectation that her wonderfulness will be the main focus of those around her. The husband wakes only to learn that there is a work-related emergency that he must address. The visiting mother is tired from her trip and decides not to wake with the other but instead sleep late. The result is suddenly there is a division in the feelings of the three people. The wife is disappointed. The husband is frustrated. And the visiting mother is focusing on her own needs. The morning hours tick by and the wife begins feeling angry as she is feeling ignored and not very special. The husband is increasingly annoyed at having to contend with problems on a day-off that were not his doing And the visiting mother, finally awake, is feeling good about her decision to sleep-in.

The feelings of each individual grow to the point that the three are no longer in unison. Where once there was harmony there is now division. This scenario is not all that uncommon. Often times people begin days or projects or enterprises with similar goals, expectation and even feelings. But then life's unexpected twists and turns happen and suddenly people are knocked off balance. Their focus is no longer on the same thing. What is the best way to handle such an ordinary situation? The answer is found in one word: communicate. In times of disruption or ground-shifting, the best way for folks to cope and successfully contend with the unexpected is to be vigilant about what they are thinking, feeling and focusing upon. None of this is easy during times of stress, but it is vital if that stress is going to be kept to a minimum.    

House Guests

There is an old one-liner that goes like this: "A friend in need is a pest."  It is funny, in part, because it is true. Yes, we love our friends and, yes, we do not mind helping them in any way in can. At the same time, favors they request from time to time can be a bother especially when life is so much easier when things - or people - are not pulling at us. The pressure from friends takes on a different level of complexity when they visit and stay at our house. Recently, we had this experience as a good friend of ours stayed at our house for several days. This was her first visit to our house as she resides in South Korea and has been to the United States before only a few times. 

Having a house guest is not like meeting a friend for, say, lunch. In that scenario, there is a mutual understanding that you will be together for a prescribed amount of time and that the responsibility of being engaging resides equally on both parties. But when someone stays at your house, the burden is largely on the host to fulfill the role of "entertainer-in-chief," initiator of activities, conversation-driver, etc. Make no mistake, those responsibilities are no small things. You have the home-court advantage and, consequently, are very much in the driver's seat when it comes to the entire dynamic between you and your guest.

It is times like this when communication can and should play a key role in helping ease whatever pressure that exists. This includes eliciting a ton of information from the guest. For instance, what kind of food do they like to eat? Are there local sites they wish to see? are they early risers? do they like going to bed late? and - the big one - how long are they staying? These and others are, of  course, fundamental questions. However, finding answers to them is not always easy because, as the host, the last thing you want the guest to feel is that you are eager for their visit to end. The trick is to be straight-forward in asking them but try doing so with a smile. After all, we are glad to hosting them. Aren't we?  

Being Likeable

Who among us does not want to be liked? Sure, we want to be respected and even loved. But in addition, no matter who a person is or their station life, I would be mighty surprised if someone said that they - deep down - did not want to be liked by others as well. Given that, then, what does a person have to do to be liked?  Is there a special to-do list of how one should be have or conduct themselves if they are going to have others feel warm and fuzzy toward them? As it turns out, the answer is "yes." Recently, I came across an article on the web (author unknown) that listed actions that "extremely likeable" people do on a regular basis.

The observations ranged from smiling a lot, practicing good hygiene and making good eye contact with others to taking responsibility, focusing on being happy and getting off their cell phone while interacting with others. While those particular points are interesting, others hit home even more with me because they spoke directly to how well one communicates with others. These included paying attention to others or listening, remembering names, asking questions, not interrupting, not turning every comment from others into a form of competition, being respectful, and accepting that not everyone is going to agree with your perspective.  

Being an effective communicator involves recognizing that any interaction with another is not just about oneself. It very much involves engagement, talking with rather than at another or others. Unfortunately, too many times there are those whose focus rests entirely on making their points at the expense of not providing others with opportunities to be heard, ask questions or add to the dialog. The result, at least according to this article on the web, is that in doing this, one runs the risk of reducing how well they are liked. Maybe that might seem like a big deal, but just between you and me, I think it is.      

A World of Strugglers

People are many things. Dreamers. Social-oriented. Self-absorbed. Compassionate. Knowledgeable. Not-so-knowledgeable. Worldly. Unsophisticated. Lots of what they - we - are is contradictory.  Some of it is flattering. Some not. The focus of this entry is another thing we are: strugglers. Each day, regardless of our station in life, we struggle to overcome a challenge or obstacle that looms before us. For some, it might be the need to finally balance their checkbook. Others might have to figure out how best to pack everything in preparation for that long-awaited family vacation. There are those who work on coming up with ways to keep their nations secure. And there are even some who struggle with the best way to connect with those around them.

The focus for this latter group of strugglers is, of course, communication. It is a category to which all of us belong. Granted, some are better at it than others. Their ability to empathize may be more keen than some. Their ability to string together coherent thoughts may be stronger than most. Still, despite this, it does not mean these folks do not struggle as well. As we know, communicating well is not something that any of us do perfectly all the time. Figuring out the best way to be understood without being offensive, off-putting or even boring is not an exact science. For those who do it well, however, one could even argue their struggle is more intense than those not quite as capable.

We run into an old friend or are introduced to a stranger. What are the best words to fit such occasions? We find ourselves arguing with a loved one. How can we say what we feel without further aggravating the situation or alienating them even more than they already are at that moment? Tough challenges. I wish I had sure-fire answers to both. Perhaps the path to a solution begins with recognizing communicating well is  not easy and, therefore, requires thought and being able to look beyond our own interests and understand the perspective of others. That is a struggle that, ideally, from which we will never shy away.

Our Nature

What is the nature of man? That continues to be a question of and for the ages, one that philosophers, scholars, scientists and, yes, even regular folks like me have been wrestling with for a long time. Recently, I came across a quote put forth by Immanuel Kant that speaks to that question. Kant said, "With men, the normal state of nature is not peace but war." Upon first glance, and perhaps additional glances as well, that perspective does not place humans in a very positive light. War not peace. Are we always butting heads or, if not, looking for ways to initiate some sort of head-butting contest? This is what Kant seems to suggest.

From where I sit, however, I view Kant's observation as addressing man's perpetual struggle with all aspects of life. This includes man's struggle with outside forces such as the drive to seek and obtain food and water and internal elements that speak to man's need to feel good about humor herself and achieve some sort of sense of fulfillment. There is a difference between this type of "nature" and one where man is viewed as preferring to do battle with others. Granted, man's struggles often seem to involve conflict or "war." But war only represents one way in which man's struggles are played out. To me, struggle is man's nature rather than war.

There is no better area where this is represented than communication. All of us constantly struggle with figuring how most effectively to make our thoughts, feelings and actions best known, understood and ultimately accepted. This struggle is not necessarily driven by a need to conquer others but, rather, gain acceptance or, more basically, get along. This is a good thing. Unfortunately, not communicating well or successfully can be quite frustrating and eventually lead to some type of head-butting. This is why we all need to work harder at becoming better communicators. It helps make our struggles all the more easy.

A Human Voice

To begin, it is only fair that I concede the fact most every business uses a voice recording to handle incoming calls from the public, including customers, makes sense. The volume of calls, I assume, has got to be quite large on any given day, so to have workers handling an array of incoming calls may not seem like the most cost-efficient way to utilize an employee's time as well as contend with the public.  Businesses, after all, exist to make money. Anything getting in the way of that should be looked at very closely. The last thing an entrepreneur wants is to spend money unnecessarily or to accrue costs not needed.

I get that. At the same time, it also needs to be pointed out that for businesses to do well consistently, then they must have positive interactions with the public, including valued customers. Without positive ties, any business' efforts to remain economically viable become all the more imposing. this, then, brings me back to the reality of voice recordings versus using real-live people as operators. Recordings are more cost-efficient while operators are more customer friendly. Which one is better for a business? Which one better enhances a business' ties with its public? Which one better communicates the message "we care about you" to all taking the time to call?

I am a strong proponent of using human operators. Recordings are fine when the business is closed or during off-hours. Otherwise, nothing connects better with people than people. While it goes without saying that businesses need to produce a reliable product and/or service to survive, hand-in-hand with that must be friendly and personable interactions. The human touch. There is nothing better when it comes to making persons feel welcomed and appreciated. When that kind of communicating occurs, then not only are persons more apt to return to a particular business, but they are more likely to feel better about it.