Weasel Words: The Lexicon of TV Pundits (But Not Exclusively)
From CommPro, written by Arthur Solomon, Public Relations Consultant: Depending upon which dictionary you use, a weasel will be defined as “sneaky or untrustworthy,” (Meriram-Webster); “achieve something by use of cunning or deceit,” (Oxford Living Dictionaries); or “a word used “to temper the forthrightness of a statement; that makes one’s views equivocal, misleading or confusing,” (Dictionary.com). Perhaps […]
Once a Social Media Crisis Hits, the Reputation Management Clock is Ticking
From New York Times staff writer Michael Grynbaum: The toppling of Roseanne Barr — from her racist late-night tweet to the early-morning backlash and ABC’s axing of her highly rated show — took less than 12 hours. That is the equivalent of hyperspeed for businesses and brands that are accustomed to taking their time when […]
Are Women Leaders More Calm In A Crisis? 6 Tips On Keeping Cool
From Michelle Weldon, writing in Take the Lead: Gender may or not play a role in how a leader handles a crisis, but as a women leader, you can decide how you will behave. And it is likely you will have a crisis on your hands eventually. “A disaster is a moment of truth for […]
Examining the Body Language of Charisma
From Carol Kinsey Goman, Ph.D.: Let’s face it, in business dealings, charisma counts. A lot. And charisma is as much about impressions and body language as it is about issues and substance. I’ve seen many qualified people get passed over for promotion (or lose a sale or fail an interview) simply because they couldn’t project an engaging […]
How to Shoot Yourself in the Foot with the Media in One Easy Step
[by Howard Fencl, Hennes Communications] Education Secretary Betsy DeVos stumbles through an interview with 60 Minutes veteran Lesley Stahl, seemingly ignorant to basic facts about U.S. public schools. She blows the perfect opportunity to “up” her embattled reputation with the enormous audience the program always delivers. Later, she issues tweets bemoaning the report saying Stahl […]
Public Speaking Is the #1 Skill That Will Make You Stand Out. Here Are 4 Simple Ways to Master It.
From Kindra Hall, writing for Inc.com: Public speaking can feel overwhelming and maybe even terrifying, especially if you don’t do it often. Whether it is a simple presentation to just a few co-workers or a huge event to a ton of people and your career depends on it, the first instinct is usually panic. However, because […]
The Art of the Public Apology
From Ashraf Rushdy: Just prior to his sentencing, former USA Gymnastics physician Larry Nassar formally apologized to the more than 160 women whom he’d sexually abused. He joins a growing list. Over the past few months, many public personalities accused of sexual assault have apologized in public. Many of us at this point are wondering what these apologies mean. Indeed, like […]
Lawyers Who Do Their Own Media Strategy Have a Fool for a Client
From our good friend, Gene Grabowski: A disturbing sidebar to the story about accusations that Hollywood mogul Harvey Weinstein engaged in decades of alleged sexual misconduct features the performance of his former lawyer, Lisa Bloom. Bloom, who resigned after clashing with the Weinstein Company’s board of directors, was recently exposed for presenting to the board […]
10 Body Language Myths That Limit Success
From our industry colleague, Carol Kinsey Goman, Ph.D, writing in CommPro: Body language plays a key role in your career – from your first job interview to the ongoing process of building professional relationships to being perceived as having leadership presence. But not everything you’ve heard about body language is accurate. Don’t limit your success by buying into […]
After Las Vegas Shooting, a Columbine Expert Offers Heartfelt Advice About the Why of It All
From Roy Peter Clark, writing for Poynter, on the why of it all. For journalists, that means get it right the first time on the why. Mistakes on the why will live forever. Our worst blunders are immortal. If I made a list of books that all journalists should read, “Columbine” by Dave Cullen would be near […]