by Daria Steigman on February 12, 2010
[Note: This post originally appeared on IABC's Communications World blog.]
One of the questions at last month’s IABC/Washington panel discussion on 2010 trends was on core competencies. What skills do communicators need to have today?
Panelists cited several, including:
- the ability to identify influencers
- knowing how to tell a story
- tech skills and proficiency (including a working knowledge of WordPress)
- thinking more like journalists (accountability and transparency)
And, of course, writing skills.
But are writing skills still important? In an age of fragmented attention spans and 140-character tweets, there’s a battle going on between communicators who believe the AP Stylebook still has its place and those who think grammar rules and style points are so 20th century.
What’s your take? Is writing a core competency? And what other skills must communicators have to succeed?
Photo by karindalziel (Flickr).
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Tagged as:
AP Stylebook,
IABC,
IABC/Washington,
WordPress
by Daria Steigman on November 30, 2009
My first podcast is out!
I was interviewed by IABC’s Natasha Nicholson for CW Radio, and the topic is lessons learned in 20 years of business. The premise: the fundamentals of running a business haven’t changed in the last 20 years, but pretty much everything else has.
The 12-minute podcast looks at:
- how I got started
- how technology has changed business
- what the current economic climate means for small business
- tips for starting up
Take a listen, and then come back and let me know what you think.
Note: I’m trying to get the podcast uploaded to this post; hopefully I’ll be able to quickly sort out a file size limitations issue.
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Tagged as:
Business,
CW Radio,
Entrepreneurship,
IABC,
Natasha Nicholson,
podcast
by Daria Steigman on October 24, 2009
Apparently I had too much on my plate when the IABC Research Foundation study on information overload was released last year because I missed it completely. Big mistake, because it contains some useful takeaways–which Julie Freeman discussed in her Heritage Region Conference session.
The authors highlight six paradoxes that can help us shape our communications efforts to reduce overload and “get attention, comprehension, and retention”:
- Familiar Surprise–communicating in a novel yet understandable way (i.e., intriguing graphics, visual metaphors)
- Detailed Overview– telling readers what to expect (i.e., executive summaries, word clouds)
- Flexible Stability–using standard structures, formats, and terminologies
- Simple Complexity–reducing messages to their essential elements (i.e., maps, step-by-step animation, or just picking up the phone)
- Concise Redundancy–making a message accessible to different people in different ways (i.e., using facts, diagrams, numbers, models, and/or stories)
- Unfinished Completeness–leaving opportunities for people to respond (i.e., polls, comments, or leaving your readers with an open-ended question)
A couple of other takeaways from the conference:
Bob DiBiasio talked about the way “the reduction of uncertainty” is guiding how the Cleveland Indians communicate internally and externally (including getting bad news out quickly, avoiding self-inflicted wounds, and communicating directly with those who matter most). He also stressed that “it has to be an absolute mindset of a company” to communicate with stakeholders.
Tim McCleary did a terrific session on how to stop telling people what to do and instead start involving your employees to foster change. There was music, cinnamon, garlic, basil, and a green tricycle. Storytelling matters.
Photo by TonZ (Flickr).
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Tagged as:
Bob Dibiasio,
Cleveland Indians,
IABC,
information overload,
Julie Freeman,
Tim McCleary
by Daria Steigman on October 8, 2009
My latest IABC Independent Thinking column is out, and the focus is on lessons learned over my 20 years in business. The article looks at six keys to business success, including blowtorches, community, quality, and change.
Take a read, then come back and tell me: what would you add?
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Independent Thinking
by Daria Steigman on August 5, 2009
Many independent consultants and small business owners are notoriously bad at delegating, whether it’s because they don’t want to spend the money or they don’t know where to start. Yet building a successful business means focusing on those tasks that make the most sense and delegating or eliminating those that will distract you or eat up valuable time.
One solution: a virtual assistant. The right virtual assistant can be invaluable.
My latest IABC CW Bulletin column is out, and the topic is how to expand your team with virtual help. The article looks at the varied ways that virtual assistants can help and offers some tips on finding the right one for you. It also features two people, Gloria Bell and Zane Safrit, with great insights on the topic.
Read the complete column here.
Photo by ShellyS. Flickr Creative Commons license.
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Tagged as:
CW Bulletin,
Gloria Bell,
IABC,
virtual assistant,
Zane Safrit
[Note: This post originally appeared on IABC's Communications World blog.]
