The Heroes of 2010

The holiday season is rapidly drawing to a close. 2010 is standing at the door. It does not matter whether we open that door, it's going to come in any way. If, for one, am eager to usher it in as I figure the sooner we rid ourselves of the first decade of the 21st century the better. On so many levels for our nation and our world, it was pretty poor. Sadly, as we approach the first days of the next decade, there remains far too many people who seem intent on keeping us on the same path that made the last ten years so unfortunate. Those that are trying to move our country and the world to a higher, better place in terms of seeking more positive interaction, meaningful collaboration and increased selflessness are going to have to work that much harder. May they continue riding on the wings of strong hearts, open minds, sturdy wisdom and effective communication skills.

Even with these "tools," their challenge remains imposing. When faced with opponents whose only goal is to obstruct, tear down and do only what is best for them, they must be at "the top of their game" virtually non-stop. The seemingly endless health care debate is an example within the United States. On the one hand, this issue is one in which our national leaders reportedly agree on two levels: they view it as being of national importance and they acknowledge that more people in our country need health care insurance as the current system, if left unchanged, will soon bankrupt our country. So, one asks, what's the problem? To my mind, not everyone is being honest. There are enough nay sayers who really do not want to see any changes made in the health care system because they are putting their own self interest ahead of the greater good of society. They either do not want to jeopardize the financial support they receive from insurance companies or they do not want to see the Democratic administration succeed on any level or both. As a result, they make up such lies as death panels and government takeover of the health care system. It's maddening, frustrating and sad. On the international basis, another example are the terrorists, those groups whose are only goals are to disrupt, create chaos and kill innocent people. These evil-doers are in a category all their own in terms of being a black mark on civilization. No other explanation is needed.

Unfortunately, 2010 will not see the extinction of either dishonest obstructionists or terrorists. But I predict what it will see is an increase in their isolation. More and more people will recognize them for what they are and stop following giving credence to their lies and terrible ways. This will happen because of the work of the heroes of 2010 - those who speak truth, demonstrate compassion and place the betterment of society above short-sighted selfish self-interest. These heroes will win-out because of the positive actions and words that serve as their communication tools. Their struggle may not always be pretty, nor may it not be without setbacks. But this time next year it is they and, as a result, all of us, who eventually will be perched on the higher plain that is their vision.

The Cycle of Issues

It has always been a source of fascination to me that all aspects of life run in cycles. This, of course, includes life itself. Things begin, go through some type of evolutionary process, and then eventually regress and ultimately come to an end. We see this in everything ranging from people and pets to fads and food. Recently, I have been reading about the life cycle of issues. A number of scholars have already written on this topic, but nevertheless I think it is worth revisiting as our nation and our world slide from one year to the next with a range of issues on our collective to-do list. Two scholars, in particular, (Carl Botan and Vincent Hazelton) have done a good job of identifying the life cycles: pre-issue, potential, public, critical and dormant. It is important for communicators to have a good sense of what each of these are so as to be better able to devise specific strategies in which to contend with them.

The pre-issue phase refers to those matters that have not yet appeared on any public's official radar screen but nevertheless are bubbling beneath the surface and are worth making note of. A simple example might occur in winter and involve a person's lawn that will need to be cut when the spring season arrives. A potential issue is basically a pre-issue that is recognized by a public as something that is going to have to be dealt with. Spring is almost here, the weather is growing warmer, and grass is beginning to grow again. Public issues are distinguished by the fact that there is a general acceptance and/or recognition of a particular issue or problem that needs to be addressed. For instance, if there is media coverage of the issue, then there is general public acknowledgement that not only does this issue exist, but it needs to be addressed as well. Issues become critical issues it is time to make a decision or take action on them. Finally, a dormant issue is when it has either been addressed or has simply lost its urgency or is no longer the focus of public attention. But this should not be interpreted as meaning the issue is gone forever. In other words, dormant should not be confused with dead. Think of the character Jason in all the Friday the 13th movies. He is dormant for a while and then reemerges more public and critical as ever.

Given this cycle, then, what is a primary take-away lesson for communicators? For me, at least, it confirms that a communicator's work is never done - much like the need for effective communication. Communication is very much on a 24/7 cycle. It ebbs, flows, dips, peaks and levels off during the course of any cycle. As a result, communicators as strategists must remain ever on the alert to help their clients and organizations successfully navigate the challenges that come with any issue.

Giving Thanks

It is now Christmas Day and I wish everyone a very happy and safe and warm holiday. I do not see myself being all that different from many others on this day in the sense it fills me with gratitude, reflection, hope and affection for others. Almost by definition, Christmas day is a good day and I hope it's that way for others, too. I recognize not everyone celebrates Christmas the same way, nor does everyone even believe in it the way I do. And that's ok. As this blog revolves around communication, I wish to devote this particular entry to this vital topic. Specifically, I want to recognize the role communication can and does play in helping foster tolerance.

Communication, at its best, is a two-way encounter. Listening and talking. Talking with, not talking at. Conducting extensive research on one's intended audience. Learning of their needs, hopes, concerns and interests and then framing messages and conversations that speak to them. Not catering to audiences or simply saying whatever it is you think they might wish to hear. Speaking truth. Speaking to them and not over them. Being honest and respectful. Working to establish ties that bind and remain bound. Recognizing that all of us have much more in-common than not and, consequently, seeking ways to build on those commonalities rather than exploit or sensationalize differences.

These are the goals and actions of what I consider to be good communicators. And those are the kind of results that I believe communication, at its best, can bring about. It all adds up to tolerance. Yes, we have differences. And, yes we have different perspectives and attitudes. But, ideally, none of that should lead to ill-feeling or disharmony. Obviously, in many parts of the world, including our own imperfect country, those things exist just as there are people who seem to devote their energies to doing all they can to creating friction and discontent. These people are hate mongers and shame on them for making the choices they make. My hat, then, goes off to the communicators who seek to build even though they do not always succeed and even though their efforts at times fall short. Nevertheless, thank you for being good communicators and for helping to spread tolerance.

Human Ethics

All of us live under sets of rules or guidelines. This includes those among us who claim to be their own person (whatever that means). In our work and personal lives, we all have to conduct ourselves within certain parameters of behavior or decorum. It is reality. Subscribing to it  does not necessarily make any of us less as individuals. Even jazz musicians known for a free-style way of playing or improvising work their creative magic within a particular framework dictated by the notes on the song sheet from which they are playing. In communication, human ethics serves as one overriding framework around which many practitioners in this field carry out their responsibilities.

What is human ethics? Basically, it is as fundamental as human nature itself. It revolves around treating others with respect and in good faith; being honest and not deceptive. It refers to pursuing your own goals in ways that do not harm others. At the same time, it involves balancing one's own needs with those of society itself. Sometimes, they may seem to conflict, but how one contends with life's inconsistencies is, itself, a test of a person's ethics. Aristotle once wrote of virtue ethics. Choices people make help define their morality, he said, particularly if they seek a path of moderation - avoiding extremes. In the world of public relations, building and maintaining relationships is the primary goal. In doing this, often times charting out and then following a middle road built on compromise, respectable negotiation, and good faith information sharing is often times the most ethical way to proceed.

With Christmas now literally just a few days away, it certainly does not hurt to remind ourselves of the importance of human ethics. How we stand today as people is often dictated by how well have stood in the past. Communicators may be effective at what they do but if they are not ethical in their behavior, then their overall effectiveness will not have a long shelf-life. If an organizational leader is unethical, then whatever ability they have to dictate the actions of others will not be long-lasting. And if a person like you and me is unethical, then our ability or desire to connect with others will see little success.

The Quiet Ones

Like a lot of people, I have been following the not-so-pretty verbal jousting that has been going on in both Washington, D.C. over health care and in Denmark over climate change. Without question, passion reigns supreme regarding both issues. Because the news media seems to be doing little else but focusing on the people making the biggest noise at each site and on each issue, I keep wondering about the men and the women who are quietly working well with others to try to find common ground so that some agreements or consensus can be reached. For a change, I would love to hear about those people and not the ones who are making the wildest charges and who seem to be more interested in hearing themselves talk than actually contributing to the process.

Eventually, if agreements of some sort can be reached on these issues, then those quiet, behind-the-scenes workers will certainly get my vote as the unsung heroes. In terms of strategy, I will concede there may be times for public posturing. But more often than not, building on commonalities in a respectful, honest and cooperative manner will get one to the finish line faster than bullying or name calling ever will. Both styles represent different ways of communicating. But at the end of the day, which one makes the most solid contribution toward resolving a difference of opinion? It is a shame those who make the most noise, yet contribute the least to obtaining a resolution get the headlines.

This is one reason I believe we all need to be a bit skeptical of those in the headlines. Just because they are the ones standing in front of the microphone does not automatically mean they are meaningful contributors. When I see someone step in front of a camera to talk, often my gaze goes to those behind them. My hunch is it often those people who probably have the most to say; those people who spent long hours working through the details of an issue; those people who slogged away at hammering out some sort of agreement that, while not perfect, more often than not brought all of us closer to adequately addressing the issue at-hand. In these cases, it is health care and climate change. Both are long reaching and both affect all of us. I tip my hat to the quiet ones who often do so much of the heavy lifting in life. While they may not make the headlines, yhey sure do make the story.

Image Versus Reality

The other day I had a conversation with a family member who commented how upset they were at the revelations that have been coming out over the past few weeks about the golfer Tiger Woods. My relative expressed sadness over the whole Woods situation because "he seems like such a good man." My response was, "How do you know that?" The great majority of us only "know" Woods by watching him on the golf course or by seeing him in various advertisements. And that is about it. Any conclusion we might draw from such limited exposure is flimsy at best. This is not to pick on my relative or, for that matter, Tiger Woods. It is obvious that, up till now, his handlers have done a great job of controlling his public appearances and therefore ensuring he is always showcased in the best possible way. As one of Woods' legions of fans, all of us, including my relative and me, for that matter, bought into it. It is no wonder, then, that this new reality is such a shocker.

Everywhere we turn we are surrounded by celebrities. Some of them have become well known because of circumstance and talent, while how others maintain their fame is a mystery. Some of them we gravitate toward to the point where we feel like we have a good sense as the human beings they are. My own sense of famous people is unless we actually do know that person in the same way we do our next door neighbor, old college roommate or the person who works down the hall from us, then all famous people need to be taken with a grain of salt. They are to be admired or even appreciated for their skills, but going beyond that is a mistake. 

At least part of communication is image building. But when does creating an image became an outright lie? If a politicians is actually not very bright, yet their image makers seek to present them as an intellect, for instance, then isn't that doing society a disservice? If image makers seek to present a would class athlete as a good family member and loyal husband when it turns out he is neither, then aren't they actively participating in a lie? The answer to both questions is a loud "yes." I call upon all image makers to stop doing that. Sure, your client may be offering you tons of money to perpetuate a falsehood. But remember: those who knowingly support a falsehood lose their credibility just as shady as the person they represent.

The Voices of Our Time

2009 has been quite a year when it comes to communication. I am specifically referring here to the voices we hear. No, not just the ones in our heads, but the ones coming from our televisions, radios, computers and other sources. Collectively, they are a major part of our daily landscape and are the loudest voices in our society. They come into our our living rooms, our cars, and our offices all packaged in serious tones, smiles, jokes, grimaces, anger, frustration, arrogance, curiosity, and even kindness. We find them, at times, comforting, funny, appalling, distracting, nonsensical, annoying, informative, engaging and off-putting. We like them. We don't like them. We need them, yet often pretend we don't. The mouths from which they erupt include those of commentators, comedians, television personalities, newscasters, disc jockeys, actors, entertainers, elected officials and even non-celebrities. These voices are a significant part of our lives and, in many ways, play a vital role in helping shape our bases of knowledge, values, perspectives and, at times, daily habits. Whether we like it or not, that is a lot of influence.

Are we their prisoners? I hope not. Do they have a hold on us that we cannot break? Maybe. But it does not have to be that way. After all, two weapons are in our favor - two big ones - our spirit and our brains. While these voices may be inescapable, their degree of influence is only as great as we allow them to be. We can, after all, think for ourselves. We can ask questions. We can challenge what we hear. With effort, we can separate those who babble and talk nonsense from those who do not even though that may not be as easy as it may sound. Some of those nonsense talkers can be pretty tricky at times. One other thing we can do is not limit ourselves to the voices we allow into our heads. All those voices do not have to agree. They can represent a wide range of views and perspectives, thus giving us greater opportunity to analyze what we hear and then make choices based on intellect, not just emotion. Doing that allows our own voice, the one that should have the most influence over us of all, to maintain its rightful place.