The PR Breakdown with Molly McPherson

Knowing how to respond when a friend mourns the loss of a loved one can be confusing.  People struggle to find the right words to say or to the right thing to do to help a friend cope with grief. Many do not know how to help ease the burden of grieving, especially with quarantine restrictions imposed by the pandemic.  This episode is for the person who wants to understand what to say, what to do,...

A holiday primer for sending a holiday card on behalf of your business—the 2020 edition.  Should you send a holiday card this year? Do you send a Christmas, holiday, or E-card? And Hanukkah and Kwanza? Who to send a card to, where, and what to say.  Plus, easy-to-remember, easy-to-apply tips for getting through a task that many of us put off every year.  Don't forget to download your holiday...

We’re all over-talkers. But not knowing when to shut up can lead to bigger problems.  In this episode Molly shares the importance of knowing when to stop talking in a discussion, argument or negotiation so that you don't create an undesirable outcome for yourself. Plus, an easy-to-follow method for how to do it. Listen + Subscribe Spotify or Apple Podcasts   © Molly McPherson 2020

According to this week’s guest, the British royal family has the greatest long-term brand of any organization.   Hard to argue with public relations strategist Julia Angelen Joy. Not only is she an ardent follower of the Windsors, she is also a fan of Netflix drama, The Crown . That’s where I come in. When I read Julia’s blog post, 16 Royal PR Lessons , I knew I needed to bring her on the podcast...

The hottest social media app on the market has exploded amid growing frustration over the alleged censorship of pro-conservative posts by Facebook and Twitter. So what is Parler about and who is using it? Listen to hear everything you need to know about the social media platform and whether it is the right place for you.   Listen + Subscribe Stitcher or Apple Podcasts © Molly McPherson 2020

An estimated 161 million Americans took the polls—either by mail or in-person—to elect a president. What happened after that was a week of division and confusion. One president-elect is declared, the other says, "Not so fast. Even in a competitive election, there was one winning strategy that struck me when it came to creating a wave of support for selling your next product, idea, or campaign...

According to my guest, there are no natural-born experts when it comes to dealing with the media. Even the legends need help speaking in front of the camera.  Why is it then, that so many people who are in a position to speak with the press about positive media coverage, dealing with a contentious issue, or managing a full-blown crisis, choose not to receive the training to help them put their org...

In an interview that made headlines last week, 60 Minutes correspondent Leslie Stahl asked President Trump, "Are you ready for some tough questions?" Whether he was or not, viewers will never know because Trump left the interview. Learn how to build the architecture behind the perfect PR response to stay one step ahead of, rather than behind, a story about your organization. Public opini...

During the recent confirmation hearings, Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, asked Supreme Court nominee Amy Coney Barrett to show the notes she was working from while answering questions for the past few hours. She held up a blank block of notebook paper and said, “Just a letterhead that says United States Senate.”  Now that’s memorization!  On this episode of The Confident Communications Podcast, how to...

If you watched the first presidential debate in 2020, you may have felt like you were watching history - a train wreck of historic proportions. For 90 minutes President Trump repeatedly interjected and clashed with former Vice President Joe Biden. When it was Biden's turn to speak, he vacillated between exasperated smiles and astonished dismay. What may have appeared to look like a chaotic me...

With the rising demand for transparency from the public, organizations and their leaders are learning the importance of interacting openly and honestly with their stakeholders. The leaders and organizations who interact openly and honestly with the media and the public, will be rewarded with trust and credibility. Similarly, those who try to mislead and deceive will find themselves in a hole fille...

Everyone makes mistakes. However, not everyone admits to making them, and that can lead to much bigger problems.  Talk show host Ellen DeGeneres used the opening monologue of her season premiere to address her role allegations of a toxic production environment at the daytime series in her opening monologue. It was time to admit a mistake.  Learn five maneuvers to help create an architecture for ge...

This episode, my 100th, is my treatise for helping communicators do their job in the crazy age of media mayhem. For over two years I have been sharing my advice and experience from the front lines of my client work to help other communicators and PR people become self-confident in their professions.   From crisis management to social media wins and fails, this weekly podcast is my commitment to he...

You know a memorable quote when you hear it. You see it published repeatedly or going viral on social media, you have a quote for the ages. We are weeks into a global pandemic and there are multiple heads of organizations attempting to make their mark on this historic moment. How will they succeed? In this episode, you’re going to learn how to create a memorable quote plus hear examples of memorab...

Given that an estimated 75% of people suffer from fear of public speaking, it is safe to assume that most people, when asked, would say that they want to become more confident in their public speaking.   This means there will never be a shortage of speakers who need a tip or two to calm their nerves when speaking in front of a crowd.   The pandemic may have put a pause on in-person presentations,...

*Jerry Seinfeld voice* What's the deal with all these lame excuses from people??!! The last weeks of August 2020 were far from sleepy and dull. From the DNC to the RNC; from Jerry Seinfeld to Jerry Falwell, Jr. - what a week for people speaking their minds about the heated issues of the week.   On the podcast, the best/worst excuses we heard from the week from people and organizations that la...

Is it wrong to want to be admired?  Of course not! It is natural human behavior to want people to view you in a positive light. This is neither narcissistic nor selfish behavior.  It’s a healthy desire that inspired people to do better — to live up to the admiration. It also helps with your reputation if you find yourself in a PR crisis. On this episode, three approaches for becoming an admirable...

People are social beings who not only thrive on interactions with others but rely on it daily. Whether it’s a conversation with a friend, time with family or a business interaction, I think we can all agree we miss mixing with people. However, with all the chaos and fear COVID-19 brought into our lives, our typical social opportunities as well as norms have gone sideways. Even if when we do have t...

A few weeks back, The Ellen Degeneres Show fell under heavy scrutiny for how it's treated its employees in the past.   Reports came flying in about the working conditions that many employees have been experiencing while filming the show. Many of which include racism and intimidation.   The calls for cancellation are loud and clear - not the for the television program necessarily - but for the...

As much of our communication nowadays shifts to remote platforms, we are having more conversations via text, email, instant message, and chat. Even if there is no personal interaction in communication, you may be exposed to deceptions and lies you may not even notice. On the episode this week, the tell-tale signs someone is lying to you when you read a text or email.   Mentioned on the podcast : E...

For many people , arguing is something they would rather avoid. Confrontation is stressful and it sometimes seems like a waste of time. However, in a cultural climate more divisive than ever, it is not unusual to be drawn into a dispute.   Learn strategies for getting the upper hand in an argument so you can get your point across and win it in the end.      © Molly McPherson 2020

If the quarantine has you feeling a little lost; like you’ve lost your sense of direction, then it’s time for a mental reset to find out matters to you in work and life. Listen to Molly’s conversation with J. Douglas Holladay, author of Rethinking Success, to hear the essential principles to consider to refocus , stay connected and be joyful - starting now. Buy the book: Rethinking Success : Eight...

The political meme posted to Facebook. The tone-deaf tweet.  The clip of your video rant.    The indiscreet post.  If you’re on social media, then the odds are you’ve posted something regrettable online.    It may seem obvious that people shouldn't post off-color, racist, sexist, and inappropriate comments on social media, but lapses in judgment can happen when people start posting when they...

As organizations scramble to turn their in-person meetings into virtual events, the session moderators are scrambling as well, transitioning their in-person presentations for the small screen. For these presenters delivering an captivating presentation in person can be challenging enough, but now they need to compete with technology and distractions. On the podcast this week, twelve tips to help y...

The first half of 2020 has been a challenge to live through, let alone work through, so it is no surprise that the stress and anxiety of coping with the upheaval could be reflected in our emails. Too much of a negative tone in your emails means people may peg you as a sourpuss, add more stress onto your customer or colleague, and increases the risk the conversation may find its way onto social med...