Communication Counselor

Posted on November 25, 2009 by Jarhead

A few days ago, I posted the following question on a professional networking site called LinkedIn.

Here’ the question:

Why is “Communication” or “Corporate Communications” a job function so difficult to find?

i.e., take a look at LinkedIn’s “Categorize your question” fields or any company’s hiring board. We are asked to categorize our profession, yet it is often a toss up between Marketing or Public Relations. Have we, as a profession of communicators progressed so little that Corporate America still lacks awareness that this is a vital segment of successful business operations?

Everything from human resource functions to crisis communications are critical to having professional communication experts at the helm, yet this does not seem to be the case. Or at a minimum, there is a distinct lack of awareness.

Your thoughts?

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Hot-Spot target, bulls-eye!

The responses from the LinkedIn Community was overwhelming. Most responses resoundingly indicated a need to identify and BRAND our profession. We are public speakers, writers, media relations, community relations, and reputation managers… We manage expectations, keep employees engaged, and ensure everyone, from every corner of the globe understands the corporate message… We provide not only the feedback, but plan and manage the avenues for feedback… We are communication enablers.

In reference to this question, one response caught my eye. The below is an excerpt from a response posted by Mr. Jim Lukaszewski. He asks if professional communicators can answer the following:

Can you give me advice on the spot?
Will you tell me things I don’t already know?
Can you help me with what to do next?
Will you ask managerially relevant questions?
Can you help me finish the stuff I was supposed to have done last Week?
Will you help me identify the options available to me?
Can you be brief, succinct, and helpful, from my perspective?
Are you on my team or somebody else’s (like the reporter’s?)
Will you work without a lot of praise and recognition?
Can you let go of your ideas when I take credit for them?
Will you tolerate my ignoring your advice a lot, and asking others the same questions?
Can you work without whining about the lawyers and my other consultants?

These and others are relevant and vital questions to ask yourself.

As communication professionals, we are so much more than simply a mouthpiece, we are a counselor.

As a Public Affairs Officer for the Marines, Danny is an innovative and forward-thinking executive, with a passion for leveraging effective communications to fuel employee-engagement, build community goodwill, and drive profits.

It’s on a NEED TO KNOW Basis!

Posted on November 24, 2009 by Jarhead

Really. Listen here or keep reading…PAO

In fact, this is the toughest part of my job as a Public Affairs Officer managing communication for the Marine Corps.

As a PAO, I don’t “spin” the facts and I don’t “doctor” the news. I tell the truth. I have nothing to sell you; only to communicate facts and bad news doesn’t grow in a vineyard, nor does it get better with age.

My job as a PAO is to communicate factual information about the Marine Corps, good or bad to our constituents in a timely manner, while balancing your right to know with my need to survive.

Steps 1-5: Everything is Communication

Posted on November 24, 2009 by Jarhead

Let’s recap the first 5 steps:

The Long Dinner
Reconnect and Connect
Get Branded
Wear It Right
Don’t Talk, Communicate!

If you forget everything, remember that in all five steps you are communicating. The Long Dinner is setting the stage for proper communication; networking is communicating; branding is communicating… you get the idea.

Someone once said, you are ALWAYS marketing yourself. I submit that we are always communicating something. The boots you wear, the color of tie, even the perfume says something.

Do you carry an iPod or a Blackberry? Do you drive a Camaro or a Hybrid? Do you speak with an accent or a drawl?

Communication never stops.

Marketing on the other hand is wearing the loose-fitting jeans, boat shoes, t-shirt, un-tucked of course, and unkempt hair.

Marketing is wearing cuff links with slacks and dress shoes.

Marketing is selling; communicating is not. (More on this later)

Know what to say; how to say it; and who you’re saying it to. Be a professional communicator. This is step 5.

“CNN” is not a degree

Posted on November 23, 2009 by Jarhead

The Colts nearly lost to the Ravens because Manning was unable to communicate with his team.

Flacco did not communicate a plan clearly to his team, thus resulting in a nearly missed hand-off leading to a 2-yard loss vice a 1-yard gain giving them a touchdown, not to mention a win over the Colts.

Lack of communication leads to loss of profits, employee disengagement, and eventually the demise of a business or organization. But why do major corporations continue to drive their businesses into the ground? Did you think Enron faced ruin because of finances? I submit it was due to a lack of clear and coherent communication.

Watching CNN makes someone a professional communicator as much as watching ER makes me a medical doctor.

The truth is, watching the news does not make you a qualified corporate communication professional.

Strategic communication planning, preparation for crises, and continuous fostering of media and community relations are all key components of communication. Yet, most seem to think communication is a verb that takes place only when the issue arises. A true communication professional is one who already knows what to say, when and where to say it, and who to say it to.

Communication is a process, which if used properly will keep your employees engaged, foster valuable relationships with community leaders and members of the media, and continue to drive your profits through the roof.

Say What You Mean and Mean What You Say

Posted on November 20, 2009 by Jarhead

I was sitting in the student lounge at Loyola‘s Columbia Campus taking slow bites out of my Cheeseburger-Cheeseburger cheeseburger. And if not for this one lady talking on her cell phone, I might have enjoyed this burger.

My attempt to not listen to her conversation was an act in futility. I could not only hear her, but I could hear the person on the other side describing her indecision as to what to do about an immigration issue. I won’t name names… I’m not even certain how the two were actually communicating.

But more to the point, every other word out of her mouth consisted of “whatever”, “like”, and “you know”. She would begin her sentence, then abruptly pause, and fill in the void with “you know”.

Her entire conversation for 10 minutes was filled with those three words (well, actually 4 if you count “you know”).

It occurred to me that we fill our speech with umms, ahhs, you knows, and whatevers because we are inept at speaking coherent English. Our speech is filled with slang, jargon, and sounds. We speak in examples vice descriptions. Pictures rather than words.

Not only is our acumen in the English spoken word waning, but so are our writing skills.

I challenge you to correct yourself next time you find yourself speaking this way and replace those words with specific words, which depict what you actually mean to say.

A good boss once told me “say what you mean, and mean what you say.”

Going UP?

Posted on November 18, 2009 by Jarhead

As a transitioning Marine Public Affairs Officer, I’ve found little in terms of resources geared for officers. As such, unless you’re looking for a position as a defense contractor or to continue to serve as a civil servant, there isn’t much out there to help you make that professional transition.

While maneuvering my way through this jungle, I hope to document lessons learned and add some personal insights to help following Marines, officer or enlisted, make the right transition as efficiently as possible.

I truly believe our military retirees have strong potential in the civilian sectors of our society, yet few are willing to take that small leap of faith to hire on a military executive. I hope to change that.

Semper fidelis and I look forward to your candid feedback.

-Danny

Jarhead Communications

Driving Employee-Engagement , Fostering Community Goodwill, and Fueling Profits from the ground up.

Tag Archives: Communication