by Daria Steigman on January 9, 2012
Web 2.0 was so last year. Or last decade.
Either way, we’re moving on.
So what’s going to be trending in the digital space moving forward?
If you’re in the D.C. region, join me and my fellow panelists for an IABC/Washington breakfast meeting on January 12 as we discuss trends in digital communications.
I’ll be joined on the panel by Dan Horowitz of Fleishman-Hillard’s Digital Group; Steve Radick of Booz Allen Hamilton’s Digital Strategy and Social Media Practice; and Rick Dunham, Washington Bureau Chief of the Houston Chronicle and chief author of the Texas on the Potomac blog.
This should be fun. If you’re in the Washington area, please do join us.
Photo by Rosaura Ochoa (Flickr).
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Tagged as:
Communications,
Communications Strategy,
IABC/Washington,
Social Media
by Daria Steigman on July 11, 2011
A colleague complimented me on my tact, saying I “have a wonderful way with words… poise and grace.” Another likes my bluntness, saying that “real friends tell it straight, compliments AND criticisms.”
Tact and bluntness.
My mom once said she was glad that I had acquired some of my dad’s diplomacy to go along with her outspokenness.
Tact and bluntness. In business (and in life) I think you’re best served when you use both.
Photo by Chris P. (Flickr).
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Tagged as:
Andy Steigman,
Business,
Communications,
Heather Rast,
Judy Gombita,
Meryl Steigman
by Daria Steigman on January 18, 2011
You can’t really shake a first impression. It’s done. When we screw it up, we have to live with that.
But I’ll share a secret: You can make a second impression.
I received a call recently from someone I’d talked to a few months ago about a possible project. She had read my blog post on The Importance of Saying “No” and saw herself in there. And so she called to say “I’m sorry.”
It takes guts to apologize. More important, it takes a lot of class.
In my earlier post, I wrote:
Most of us have mental lists of people who have gone out of their way to be helpful–or not. To answer or return phone calls–or not. To give an honest answer to an honest question–or not.
Guess which list she’s on now?
Photo by David Spender (Flickr).
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Tagged as:
Brand,
branding,
Business,
Communications,
engagement
by Daria Steigman on November 22, 2010
Saying “NO” is becoming a lost art in the business world. The losers are the people who ditch phone calls, avoid e-mails, and twist and turn themselves into pretzels rather than tell someone they don’t have the job, the project, or five minutes of your time to hear or help them out.
It’s okay to just say NO:
- You can say NO to the job applicants who don’t make the cut.
- You can say NO to the prospective bidders who don’t win the work.
- You can say NO to the vendor who’s looking for new customers.
- You can say NO to the consultant who is cold calling.
What you can’t do (or shouldn’t do) is ignore them. Devalue their effort. Treat them as disposable, unworthy of common courtesy.
I make it a priority to answer personalized queries, whether from a company pitching a report, a printer looking for new customers, or a colleague looking for work. In my condo leadership role, I made it a point to personally call the lead attorney at a firm we were about to fire to give him a heads up, and I sent thank you notes to the losing law firms we’d interviewed to replace the old one. Why? Because it was the right thing to do.
If you have the guts to say NO, you gain a competitive edge. Most of us have mental lists of people who have gone out of their way to be helpful–or not. To answer or return phone calls–or not. To give an honest answer to an honest question–or not.
Which list do you want to be on?
Photo by Simon Doggett (Flickr).
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Tagged as:
Business,
Communications,
engagement
by Daria Steigman on September 23, 2010
Do you lead with your attitude?
Trick question actually. We all lead with our attitudes. It’s just what attitude you’re showing that counts. And you can learn a lot by how people act when they don’t know you.
There are 5-10 “regulars” who strength train at my gym around the same time every day. We tend to say hi or at least nod as we navigate weight benches and barbells.
Except that guy.
I don’t think he’s acknowledged me once. Or anyone else, so it’s not an anti-girl thing. I think I could collapse in front of him and he’d just walk around me.
The thing is, I could be his next customer. Or his patient if he’s a doctor. Or have connections at the company he really wants to work for next. But he’s blown his chance by conveying that I’m irrelevant. Guess what, that guy? No one’s going to help you if you treat us this way.
Business is about people, and your attitude can make or break you. Make sure you know which signals you’re emitting.
Photo by Joccay (Flickr).
Have you signed up to receive the Independent Thinking newsletter? Now’s the time! Once a month I’ll send you exclusive, subscriber-only content highlighting interesting articles I’ve found, as well as tips on marketing, social media, and how to grow your business. Sign up today!
Tagged as:
Business,
Communications
