Whatever happened to manners?

It doesn’t matter if you are leading in a multi-million dollar business or heading up a team project for a class.  The manner in which you lead will be noticed and will be responded to accordingly.  If we know this, why is effective leadership so elusive to many?   Why is it so hard to find good leaders and why is there such a lack of trust in leadership?  These are all excellent questions that are worth looking at to gain a better understanding.

The world today, both business and personal runs on a clock that doesn’t stop at the end of an eight hr work day.  Information bombardment overloads 24/7. I would suggest the answer is more straightforward than most would think.  A look in the rearview mirror back to a more simpler time will shine the light on what works…every time.

A common sense approach to using manners can make a huge difference.  Being honest, the Golden Rule, having an ethical based moral compass, and open communication are keys to success in any venture one encounters in life.  These simple tools are basics that are taught at an early age. So why not continue to use these simple tools to lead as adults? Using these foundational skills set the right example while fostering an unwavering trust. When this process is repeated over time, a new standard can take root. Forget the buzzwords. Focus on manners and building a stronger rapport to lead more effectively.  It will go a long way and leave a legacy of making a difference.

 

manners

 

 

 

 

 

The Journey…developing an ePortfolio

My website, www.gaylehibbert.comis an ePortfolio featuring a sampling of work, experience, professional interests, and personal bio detail.    The portfolio was designed as a collaboration of bringing over 20 years of experience together with knowledge and skills acquired from a series of courses as I come into the final stretch of completing my BA in Communications with a focus on media studies.

Specifically, the site presents a clean and colorful backdrop for the information. All detail is organized in a logical manner with all links opening up in new windows to keep visitors on the mail site longer.  The information is layed out in a consistent manner to afford easier navigation. There is a variety of technical advances featured, slideshows, videos, hyperlinks to social media accounts, and a fully functional contact page.

The blog, tweets and personal mission statement provide a framework of thought leadership in terms of where my experience and new information join together. There are additional links, pictures and comments therein that will further explore concepts and suggests thoughts for consideration.  The professional interest page also gives easy access to other professional organizations that present ideas to incorporate into decision making, as well as methodologies and learning.

In my journey to locate a second career, I will utilize this website/ePortfolio to promote education and awareness on topics that are important to me and relate to the type of work I am hoping to move with.  Selecting a domain name that was my personal name provides a method to include on any online application that will lead recruiters to my site. The complete presentation of my personal work history, thought leadership, and experience will give recruiters a better view of me as a candidate over a simple form submission.

As with most projects, there are always tidbits of lessons learned while working through the development steps.  For me, I would have given more consideration to the option of utilizing the same platform for both the website and the blog from the beginning of both projects. Although I did not know that an upcoming course during the same timeframe was going to require the development of a blog, it would have been helpful to have co-developed them.  None the less, I embraced the technical challenge working with two platforms presented.  Embedding the blog worked out very well; however, the Tweets page has proved to be troublesome, but after much effort was resolved.  The main issue with the Tweets page is a technical glitch on the WIX side, therefore requiring me to be patient with the delays until a solution was identified for the application.

This course turned out to be advantageous and beneficial in terms of renewing my skill set to a more contemporarylevel than when I stepped out of the corporate world. The ePortfolio demonstrates much more than my experience and education, it also represents a digital accomplishment of my design and technical skills, thereby functioning as a digital stage of achievements.

In the development of the site, I utilized sharing the site in various stages to gain input from others for a fresh view.  The process of sharing broadened the awareness of my project and the talent I was applying to it.   One of my reviewers for the website project ended up referring me to one of their close business colleagues to help them build their company website.  The testimony to how effective sharing accomplishments can be.  I look forward to applying the same skills employed in this project in this potential opportunity.portfoliojpg

What an incredible investment in their employees and their families! Way to go @CardinalHealth

So refreshing to see a company allow their employees to engage their kids in their workspace. The future leaders from these families had a Birdseye view of the real work world where responsibility, accountability, and integrity count!

The Journey and Reality – How media relations has changed

Back in the day, it was about faxes and segregated marketing departments from public relations.  Marketers and Public Relations were not utilized as cohesive tools, rather they were treated as two different worlds with very individualistic values.  This is not the reality of the present.  Stephanie Huffman, Owner of Epiphany Creative Services shares that the classic PR and marketing departments are now fused together thanks to social media (Huffman, 2018).  The pervasive world of social media has engulfed our society at a rate that is escalating every day, both in business and our personal lives.

It is estimated that 2.44 billion, (Social Media is changing the world, 2016)people use social media every day.  That is an astounding 970,000 more than just 8 years ago. Social media is woven into the very fabric of our lives.

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Image: Data from Socialnomics and Mass Planner

Social media has a quantifiable impact on the way businesses engage consumers according to Anna Johansson, (Johansson, 2016). Communication is facilitated at a much fast rate through real time data while at the same time presenting the option for forging relationships to strengthen loyalty.  Likewise, companies are able to respond to concerns and address consumer complaints in a more efficient manner.  According to Johansson, Delta is a good example of social media use as PR in relationship development.  They are able to identify problems through their Twitter feed and address directly with the consumer in real time.

Beyond the concept of service related matters, social media provides marketing and PR entities insight on who their consumers really are and a plethora of additional details about consumers habits, interests and preferences.  Understanding the consumer enables the business to create content that is relative to the consumer and meet their needs on demand.  Business operations are no longer beholden to gatekeepers because they can reach their intended audience directly.  Likewise, the audience has access to them.

Concerns that cloud all the positives of social media include the concern of social media’s intrusion into the lives of the consumer.  If not handled responsibly, privacy breeches can lead to consequences without boundaries.  Facebook is currently in the news for their failure to manage the private info of their users.  In community crisis, social media can be used as a resourceful tool to meet the needs of those in need.  However, it is also likely that others will disseminate incorrect information, thus compromising rescue or service efforts.  Society can interfere with the efforts; thus, lives can be lost, or damage incurred because there are not controls over social media and its live feed.

Social media is here to stay, and it is the PR company’s job to make sure that all appropriate platforms are utilized with a singular message that meets the needs and speaks to the audience.  The PR company is also responsible for developing the plan to execute the use of social media to get the message out instead of utilizing a fax list to share the news in hopes that someone will pick up the content and run with it. Gone are the days of fax machine promotions, and I dare say that PR staff who have experienced the value of a digitally driven campaign, don’t miss their fax machine one bit.

#socialmedia #publicrelations #realtimemarketing #UCCS4050

 

Huffman, S. (2018, April 20). Owner Epiphany Creative Services. (G. Hibbert, Interviewer)

Johansson, A. (2016, May 10). The Blog. Retrieved from Huffington Post: https://www.huffingtonpost.com/anna-johansson/how-social-media-has-changed-the-way-that-we-engage-consumers_b_9874242.html

Social Media is changing the world. (2016). Retrieved from We Forum: https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2016/04/6-ways-social-media-is-changing-the-world/

Putting the Pieces Together

The landscape of Public Relations is not what it used to be.  The mandated use of press releases, expensive advertisements, and other costly media strategies has faded into the background.  The Public Relations field is juggling the new landscape of social media, real-time marketing, and a fresh client focus from a traditional marketing platform according to David Meerman Scott in his book The New Rules of Public Relations.  The new direction has a high concentration on content, buyer persona’s, and collaboration with digital media.   The focus is on building relationships first and understanding your client’s needs. From there you develop your content to meet those needs, so they are easily located for the potential client searching for answers.

The relationship development concept is one that distinguished Mary Kay, Inc from other companies over 50 years ago.  Mary Kay Ash had many naysayers in those early years, but the consistent application of the process netted both the company and consultants revenues they never imagined initially.  So, we have come full circle in how we approach marketing and public relations as a whole, but this time it’s on steroids thanks to the plethora of social media now readily available.

With the digital driver being accessible to everyone, the ability to conduct real-time marketing, create content that speaks to each consumer in their reference language. Being able to anticipate the needs through carefully outlining a persona for each type of user/client, allows for the narrative to resonate with the search.  The rapport is initiated, and they love the fact that someone took the time to answer their questions, some before they even knew they were questions.

Other trending pieces that promise to integrate into Public Relations are Artificial Intelligence (AI) and the diversity of additional languages other than English.  The AI factor can streamline the story and it’s dissemination.  Another language provides influence by further meeting clients where they are and better understand their unique needs.

Integration of these features will vary with the overall collaboration as is appropriate for each business.  What is certain, the traditional world of relying on press releases, massive ad budgets, and image management are fading.  Listen to your clients and speak to them for the greatest success.

The New Rules of Marketing and PR – David Meerman Scott (2017, 6thEdition) @dmscott

What lies ahead for Public Relations in 2018? – PRsay

#PRTrends #SocialMedia

PR puzzle

 

Trust & Transparency

Trust is Everything! A principle rule in any business should be the garnering and caretaking to honor the trust that others evoke through the use of your product/services.  To have a straight forward response on any question posed by U.S. Senator Kamala Harris, gives reason to be skeptical about the lack the transparency of the Facebook leadership.  There was not one direct response to the questions submitted by.  The users of Facebook deserve better answers after bestowing their trust in ultilizing the services of your platform.
https://twitter.com/gaylehibbert/status/983923785442168832
#practicingthepause #transparency #facebookdatabreach

The Heart of Diversity and Inclusion

Social media provides the way people share ideas, content, thoughts, and relationships online.  Social media differs from so-called mainstream media in that anyone can create, comment on, and add to social media content.  Social media can take the form of text, audio, video, images, and communities. (Scott, 2017).  With the blurring of the marking, PR, podcasting and online videos toolkit, the impact of social media on society is quantifiably stronger.  This strength creates questions of responsibility, as well as cultural implications.

Jay Baer, President of Convince and Convert aptly points out, “If social media is going to be a public ‘face’ of organizations, and drive kinship with the populace, we have to do more than rely on a bunch of 30-year-old white people to do so,” (Baer, 2018).  It is imperative that the crafting of messages and the relationships being built are indicative of a broader scope of influence, hence calling for a stronger focus on diversity and inclusion to do so.  Media delivers the message and is quite literally the message itself.  An equally important aspect is to listen to what the audience needs and wants.  By doing so, the message will be readily available to fulfill those needs at the precise time they are needed, (Scott, 2017).  If the messages are primarily created by a segmented and profoundly influenced demographic, there will be a gap in reaching those outside that group, thereby leaving them with unmet needs and missed business opportunities.

The CEO of Emma Bowen Foundation, Rahsaan Harris has witnessed the successes and failures of being mindful of the importance of diversity and inclusion, (Harris, 2016). While many may taut that there is an almost spiritual aspect of focusing on diversity, Ms. Bowen points the importance of diversity to the bottom line.  Companies fair better with they are concerned with diversity.  The concept of being diverse also impacts relations with clients, the hiring process, as well as fostering a stable environment for success.

Emma Bowen shares her 3 C’s of Diversity that creates a greater sense of inclusion; Commitment, Culture, and Communication, (Harris, 2016). Change starts at the top with an investment of maintaining a diverse mission.  Culture incorporates everyone; therefore, all are involved in keeping a watchful eye to meet the overall needs of co-workers and clients, without losing the audience or missing the mark.  Communication is open and transparent throughout the culture to support the relationship focus and to mentor within the company.  Ms. Bowen goes on to share that through the 3 C’s, the transparency and mentoring serve well to equip interns to learn to respond appropriately, as well as be a catalyst to prevent a lack of inclusion or diversity.  This type of leadership will most certainly serve as a role model for others to follow.

 

Baer, J. (2018). Blinded by the White: Social Media and Diversity. Retrieved from Convince & Convert: http://www.convinceandconvert.com/social-business/blinded-by-the-white-social-media-and-diversity

Harris, R. (2016, June 15).Diversity and Inclusion in PR: Creating real change by debunking diversity myths. Retrieved from PR Week: https://www.prweek.com/article/1398346/diversity-inclusion-pr-creating-real-change-debunking-diversity-myths

Scott, D. M. (2017). The New Rules of Marketing & PR.Hoboken, NJ, U.S.: John Wiley & Sons.

The value of Integrity

Definition of integrity

1: firm adherence to a code of especially moral or artistic values : incorruptibility

 

Winning is not always the answer and sometimes we have to acquiesce when it is not fair.  When we have integrity, we have the strength to sustain a loss or bear the brunt of a wrong.  Our integrity is the vehicle to carry us through, insulate us from the stones being thrown, and strength to endure the storm before the calm.  For me, I would rather loose at times and be able to sleep peacefully than compromise my ethical standards.

Integrity is the cornerstone of a leader.  One who see through chaos and guide others to safe passage on the other side of turmoil.  It is not about perfection, nor is it about being superior.  Rather it is about believing in others and empowering them to their greatest version of who they were meant to be.  Integrity is the fuel that makes that possible, creates trust and gives credence to the purpose.

Develop your integrity and gain inner peace.  Know the phenomena of being a better you and the value of transparency.  Integrity…never loose it.

 

#UCCS4050 #onlineallthetime #successforyou #integrity #leadership

Social Media in Disaster

When disaster hits, the need to respond is critical, and there is no time to spare because lives are depending on help.  Society has indeed been witness to crisis and knows all too well that tragedy is not respective of any demographic and takes place with little or no warning.   What is clear is how we reach out for help has been altered from the typical 911 call.

Hurrican Harvey was the epidemy of such disaster with cries for help being very real.  The predominant challenge was the sheer volume of calls.  With countless numbers of families in need, the “911 dispatchers were not responding at times,” (Rhodan, 2017).  The system was simply not equipped for the scale of need that Hurrican Harvey left in its wake.  Social media “supplanted the overloaded 911 call systems,” (NSF Backs Research into Role of Social Media “Calls” for Help during Hurricane Harvey, 2017).

Facebook responded as they have with other disasters to create a ‘Safety Check-In’ for victims to allow their friends and family know they were safe.  This simple effort goes a long way to help alleviate stress for both victims and their social world with most communication methods being compromised or down entirely.  An additional benefit resulted from the crowdsourcing of mapping victims to assist first responders in locating those in need.

The advantages of using social media were also ladened with concerns.  There was widespread dissemination of “unvetted information,” (Rhodan, 2017).  This unfortunate reality had the potential of slowing down the assistance process, as well as, putting victims at risk for insurance scams and more.  Although sharing one’s address is not recommended on a social media platform, victims abandoned most precautions in the desperate cry for rescue.  The concern here wasn’t that someone was going to rob them in the middle of a flood, but instead that it would set them up for identity fraud unscrupulous individuals preying on such circumstances.

With the reflection of just how many lives that social media is attributed to saving, I would post my address and personal information in a heartbeat if it meant living or dying.

#socialmedia #onlineallthetime #UCCS4050 #

NSF Backs Research into Role of Social Media “Calls” for Help during Hurricane Harvey. (2017, September 27). Retrieved from UT News: https://news.utexas.edu/2017/09/27/nsf-backs-research-on-harvey-social-media-help-calls

Rhodan, M. (2017, August 30). ‘Please Send Help’ Hurricane Harvey victims turn to Twitter and Facebook. Retrieved from Times: http://time.com/4921961/hurricane-harvey-twitter-facebook-social-media/

Every Idea Starts With A Problem

“Every idea starts with a problem” Neil Blumenthal, Andrew Hunt, David Gilboa, and Jeffrey Raider problem was they believed glasses were too expensive and they set out to solve that lofty challenge.  They created Warby Parker (WP) as the alternative to the single company that controlled the glasses industry.  They not only responded to the problem, the end result was a socially conscious business that bypassed the traditional options and offered value and exceptional customer experience.

Their business model is one that is worthy of attention.  “Our customers, employees, community and environment and our stakeholders.  We consider them in every decision that we make.”  WP stays connected to their consumers, gaining feedback, responding to questions and concerns, as well as providing valuable feedback through social media practices.  Their blog echoes their website and features engagement from their clients.  They have tied in their Twitter, Facebook, YouTube and Instagram accounts to further their reach and consistency of brand.  The content is relevant and engages the consumer and strengthens the relationship.    In comparison, similar competitors utilize similar social media type accounts.  However, they use a more traditional approach of marketing of merchandise promotion.

This dynamic four-some started the company in 2010 and had over 100 employees in less than two years.  This is largely directly due to the fact “they treat customers the way we’d like to be treated.” Likewise, they don’t consider themselves an island and are committed to giving back in addition to creating an environment that empowers their employees.  Their strategy is building a company that has had consistent growth with now having near one hundred retail locations and stealthy funding initiatives to support further growth.

@WarbyParker    warbyparker.com     Recode.net

#UCCS4050 #onlineallthetime #contentcounts

http://www.warbyparker.com