Repition

One does not have to read too many of these blog entries to understand that their constant theme is that communication is a big deal. It has impact. It makes a difference. It matters. With each entry, I attempt to drive home this point by use of past or current events, various works of scholarship, and my own real-world experiences. With each entry I strive to drive-home the value of effective communication. While we can certainly argue as to how well I do this, there can be no doubt that my focus remains constant. I do this so that persons who do read even a few entries of this blog walk away understanding that communication is a vital aspect of our lives. 

I repeat this overriding point because, to me, it is worth remembering. I want people to navigate each of their days remembering that how well they communicate helps determine the quality of their days and lives. For it to "sink-in" as deeply as I wish, this message needs to be repeated. People need to hear and/or read it more than once. Any marketing or advertising research expert will attest to the reality that for any message to be emotionally and intellectually embraced, then far more often than not, it must be read and/or heard more than once. Repetition is the key.

How many advertisements do any of us hear on radio where the "number to call" is mentioned multiple times throughout the 30-second spot? The same is often true when it comes to television advertisements. People, generally, are busy or distracted or both and do not always "catch" points that are being put forth to them all that quickly. Consequently, key points must be repeated for the key information in messages to be fully embraced. This also holds true when it comes to more informal settings, such as one-on-one conversations. The challenge for all of us is to repeat those key points in ways that are creative rather than insulting. Coming up with ways to repeat one's self is but one more challenge of communicating effectively.

Entering the Select Circle

2019 has approximately ten weeks left before it fades and re-emerges as 2020. While that is inevitable, I find it also comforting in the sense it assures us that no matter the trials and tribulations of the present, there is definitely a future that stands in the on-deck circle. It will have its turn at bat regardless of whatever challenges we as individuals and as a society may be facing now. The news at-present is dominated by the political posturing of our elected leaders. As part of that, each is putting forth a number of messages designed to bring those of us on the receiving end into their tents with the idea of becoming active followers and supporters.

On the surface, that is not a bad strategy for any politician to pursue, standing in front of a group of people or in front of a camera and let all who listen know how strongly you believe in such things as honest government, clean air, economic opportunity, strong defense, international leadership. The theory is the more successful one is the greater number of listeners/supporters they will collect. Also, their bully pulpit will expand, thus giving them greater and, yes, louder voice. The top dogs are heard the most. Making a place for one's self in such a select-circle is not easy, particularly since the competition is so strong.  

Each politician is vying for their place in that select-circle. Even for one news cycle, you can bet it is where they want to be. This reality of politics is not unlike the efforts the rest of us face. While we may not be talking about the same things and to the same size of audience as politicians, hardly a day passes when we do not wish to be heard above all others. Communication revolves around making one's way into that select-circle. We speak and others listen. Even better, we speak and others agree. If you are a parent, you compete with your children. At the office, you compete with your co-workers. Regardless of our station in life, entering into our desired select-circle is one more commonality that we share.     

Handling Disruption

I am a person who likes routine. To site a few examples, generally, I prefer having dinner at the same time, going to the gym at the same time, producing blog entries on the same days of the week, and going to bed at night around the same time. I admit all this may point one into concluding that I tend to be a bit boring. That may be true. But in fairness, I am an "old dog" and we all know how difficult it is to teach a critter like me new tricks. I share these fun facts about me because my sense is there are others whose lives revolve around similar routines as well.  (I would say we should all get together some time, but, then, that would not be part of my routine.)

Seriously, given this similar characteristic, the challenge we routine-lovers share is, from a communication standpoint, how we handle things when there is a disruption to our routine. What feelings does the disruption trigger? How do we communicate them to others? How well do we communicate whatever follow-up steps or actions we might take in response to the disruption? Depending upon the specific circumstance, in the past not all of my responses have been that mature. The disruption becomes a focus of my frustration and anger and the person around me becomes the entity or target of my negative feelings.

Communicating one's thoughts that are triggered by feelings of frustration and anger is not easy, particularly if the disruption is caused by another. Successful communication at such a moment begins with a clear recognition of what has just happened. "My dinner has just been disrupted," we acknowledge. "How do I feel about it? Do I need to share my feelings on this matter with any one else? If so, how can I best communicate that message in a way that will be properly heard and appreciated?" Such questions may seem simple. At the same time, they are pointed enough to help one craft talking points to themselves and others. The goal is to communicate in a way that builds bridges and then helps one maintain them.

Opening Lines

Any entertainer be it a comedian or musician will tell you that you that a strong opening joke or song is important to their performance. It gets their show off to a good start and both reaffirms and builds on the anticipation of the audience of what they hope will be a fun time. If well received, that opening line or number also serves as a powerful life-off to the performer for them to be at their best. In sports, perhaps a good example of the value of a strong opening line would be a race horse getting a powerful jump out of the starting gate. Without it, the chances of their winning the race or even coming close drop considerably.

Writers will affirm the value of an opening line in terms of bringing the reader into their story. The examples are many: "It was the best of times. It was the worst of times." "Lolita, light of my life, fire of my loins." "In a hole in the ground there lived a hobbit." "What can you say about a twenty-five year old girl who died?" Powerful opening lines in books are grabbers. In essence, they grab the reader by their lapel, sit them down and demand immediate attention. If the opening line is, in fact, that strong, then the reader goes along willingly.

Of course, the great majority of us are not performers or professional writers. We do our best to connect with others in ways that may not be memorable or attention-getting, but are at least good enough to trigger some level of notice or acknowledgement. Despite that reality, there is something to be said for all of us to give thought to how we first present ourselves to others each day. Those "others" can be strangers or folks we see on a regular basis. A strong opening line gets whatever communicating is about to follow off to a positive start. That opener can come in the form of a smile or wave as well as some sort of verbal communique. The truth is effective communication involves some degree of performance, energy, heart and, above all, thought. 

Communication: Second-to-None

Any one who has read even just a few of my nearly 1,100 blog entries over the past decade or so should have no doubt figured out pretty quickly that I am a big proponent of communication as a profession, social science and practice. To me, it ranks second-to-none. Let me note that this is no way to minimize or criticize other fields of social science. They, too, remain vital to our growth and ongoing positive evolution toward becoming beings of the highest order. What distinguishes communication, however, is the fact it is our most fundamental of activities. It speaks to our how well we interact with others, how well we put forward our own messages and feelings, and how well we develop a deeper understanding and appreciation of others.

There is not a moment in our days when we do not communicate. It is not a coincidence that the same is true of breathing. Communication is that basic. The challenge is found in how well we communicate. The better or more effectively we communicate the less confusion, stress, anxiousness, misinformation, frustration, and discord there is in our lives. How great is that! This is not to say by communicating well there won't be times of disagreement Don't forget, we are humans and disagree is what we do. Effective communication helps us contend or process those bumpy moments and then, ultimately, address them.

Communication speaks to formulating and putting forward our messages, processing all the information that comes at us every day, and doing the needed due diligence in regard to learning how to compose substantive messages, learning how others prefer to receive messages, and being as knowledgeable as we can regarding subject matter and audience. Granted, none of these points is easy; but the bottom-line benefit is it makes our lives better much more satisfying and enriching. Who doesn't want that?

Second-to-None

Fun fact: Tchaikovsky's famous 1812 Overture was not written in 1812. The great composer wrote it in 1880 as a tribute to Russia's successful defense against Napoleon and his attempt to invade that country in - you guessed it - 1812. Here's another one: Aunt Jemima, known for her pancake mix owned by the Quaker Oats Company, was not a real person. Aunt Jemima was a character played by Nancy Green, a former slave from Kentucky who served as the inspiration for the character for over 30 years until her death in 1923.

I mention these two tidbits as examples of how all of us at times take things for granted that turn out not to be true. While Tchaikovsky's masterpiece and Quaker Oats' recipe are innocent enough examples, when it comes to communicating, it is vital that our hold on what is true needs to be as lock-sure as possible. Taking something for granted implies a leap of faith or hope that information one is receiving is all that it seems. Successful communication is built on the premise that all that is put forth is labeled correctly. If it is meant to be a fact, then it is labeled as such. If something is merely a guess or opinion, then it should be presented that way. Receivers of information have a responsibility to make sure what they are taking-in is true.

Of course, those who send out information or messages have an equal responsibility. They need to make sure what they impart is properly labeled without any intent to mislead, deceive or confuse. Without question, truth is the most important ingredient when it comes to communication. Senders and receivers of messages and information share in the responsibility of ensuring that truth takes a backseat to nothing. I concede that such a burden is not easy to carry. At the same time, the benefit - like truth itself - is second-to-none. We owe it ourselves as well as to all communicators everywhere. That, of course, includes everyone.

Timely & Timeless

Timely and timeless. Upon first blush, that probably sounds like the name of a law firm. But it is not. Instead, it speaks to the strategies that public relations professionals devise, launch and sustain. Pretty much all communication campaigns are time sensitive. That means outreach efforts need to occur at a certain period of time in order to have even a chance of achieving the maximum return. As a result, the public relations professional creates a set of tactics that may range from press briefings and media advisories to advertisements and social media communiques, all of which follow a specific timeline. This is the timely aspect of their job.

Timeless speaks more to the quality of their work. How well done is it? Does the groundwork launched maintain a level of benefit long after the campaign itself is over? If, in part, a public relations campaign is designed to establish positive ties between publics, then what is the state of that relationship weeks and months after the campaign is over? As is the case with any two people, while they may never interact again, how fond is the memory that each has of the other after they have gone their separate ways? This speaks to the second key element of the public relations professional's job: relationship building.

When the public relations professional roles up his or her sleeve at the outset of any job, their focus must be on the immediate as well as the long term. The PR worker may want to generate a sizable audience for an event their client is sponsoring, but they also want the attendees to have a good time and to think well of the client long after the specific event is over. In other words, the PR worker wants folks to feel good about their choice to support whatever issue or product that is being promoted. Public relations professionals strive for a good return in terms of the immediate and the long-term.

The Public Relations Professional

What is a public relations professional? This is a person who is politically-correct. They are sensitive to not offending or alienating any one. Being inclusive is their driving force; gathering as many people as possible to a cause or issue. While they recognize generating 100 per cent support is not realistic, they still strive for that goal knowing they will fall short. They do this by devising specific messages designed to persuade. They do that by getting to know their potential supporters, including what is of most concern to them, what questions they may have, and what choices, if any, they have made in the past.

The public relations professional knows all communication efforts are not about them or who they represent. Their efforts are about "the other guy."  They know that building a bridge between their client and perspective customers or allies can only be done properly by looking beyond their own perspectives. Thus, they are loyal to their clients by gaining as much insight into non-clients as possible. If successful, they know that not only will they generate greater support for that which they represent, they will also create alliances that will likely last beyond a specific campaign. Public relations, they know, is as much about persuasion as it is developing partnerships.

Public relations professionals know the act of communicating is much like walking a tightrope. One misstep can often lead to a breakdown between publics. They respect all efforts to communicate. They hold it to be sacred because they know, much like love, its only chance of lasting is through continuous effort. What works today may not necessarily work tomorrow. The public relations professional may get discouraged but this solider does not give up. Ongoing relationships, they know, are worth fighting for, especially when built on honesty, mutual trust and respect. The public relations professional sees effective communication as being essential to the betterment of mankind.

A Communication Tight Rope

Even if one does not follow politics at all, they would still have to be aware of all the talk these days about the impeachment investigation currently underway regarding President Trump. Rightly or wrongly, not only is it very much underway, it even seems to be picking up momentum with each passing day. My goal here with this entry is not to share my personal view of the merits of the investigation. Instead, my intent is to assess the efforts on both sides of this matter from a public relations perspective. Make no mistake, players on both sides of this debate are very much caught up in a public relations battle.

The primary objective of Trump's defenders and accusers is to rally as many supporters to their point of view as possible. Each recognizes that for their position to "win the day"in a manner where their own public reputation remains positive, they must do all they can to sway public opinion to their side. It is members of the public, after all, that ultimately will decree how pleased or not they were with their representative's performance in this entire proceeding. Part of that assessment, of course, will revolve around whether they agree with how the representative votes. Additionally, voters will also make known how they believe their representatives conducted themselves in this matter.

There are several challenges that each member of Congress is facing these days: determining whether President Trump does in fact, deserve to be impeached; assessing the opinions of the voters they have been elected to represent; properly making known the reasons behind their eventual decision on this issue; and maintaining open channels of communication with the voting public for the duration of the debate. This is an emotional matter, which means people are going to be upset regardless of how it ultimately plays-out. Such a reality points to the precarious tight rope that each elected member of Congress is currently walking. As voters, we should at least be mindful of the communication waters they are now seeking to navigate.