Circle of Fellows

For many communicators, work is all about the craft of producing articles, posts, videos, and other content. Moving into the leadership ranks, however, requires more than great tactical skills and, in fact, more than great strategic planning capabilities. Senior-level communicators regularly advise and coach the company’s executives (and others) on how to communicate effectively, both in general a...

The news is full of cyber-attacks on organizations large and small, exposing sensitive customer and other information, forcing companies to pay ransoms to retrieve locked data, and creating public relations nightmares. In episode 51 of IABC’s Circle of Fellows broadcast, five IABC Fellows discussed the PR and internal communication aspects of cyber-attacks, including… The steps to prepare for a da...

Communicators who lack specific expertise and/or resources inside the organization often turn to external consultants to help with everything from strategic planning to project execution. That relationship can be amazing, delivering exceptional results. It can also be a minefield, causing sleepless nights, unsatisfying results, and even diminished trust in the communicator from company leadership....

With dramatic, unpredictable change as a constant in business and technology, how can communication professionals help build resilient organizations and increase the resilience of employees in enterprise transformations? On episode 49 of Circle of Fellows, four IABC Fellows discussed the role of communication in facilitating change Continue Reading → The post Circle of Fellows #49: Ensuring...

The media landscape in which communicators operate is in constant flux. The various kinds of changes the environment goes through can be tumultuous, making it challenging for communicators to maintain alignment between their strategies and the channels and platforms available. Three IABC Fellows -- John Deveney, Brad Whitworth, and Stacy Wilson -- discussed these challenges as they relate to both...

With so much data available, it can be difficult to determine what information is actually useful to track to measure the success of your communication activities.  What and how to measure in order to best inform your work and demonstrate communication impact is the next topic for discussion on Circle of Fellows. Episode #47 of the broadcast will explore measurement for both internal and external...

According to a study conducted by MIT Sloan Management Review and The Boston Consulting Group, three-quarters of executives believe that artificial intelligence (AI) will enable their companies to move into new businesses, and roughly 85% believe AI will allow their companies to obtain or sustain a competitive advantage. At noon ET on Thursday, June 20, a panel of Fellows from the International As...

In May’s Circle of Fellows panel, four IABC Fellows explore the steps organizations need to take to mitigate the risk of reputational crises and address the challenges of consumer activism in highly politicized environments by listening to your customers, understanding their concerns and shaping communication to build trust, clarify and dispel myths. Continue Reading → The post Circle of Fel...

On April 18, four IABC Fellows gathered to discuss the evolution of communication from support service to value contributor in episode 44 of the “Circle of Fellows” program. Continue Reading → The post Circle of Fellows #44: Adding Value Through Communication appeared first on FIR Podcast Network .

Diverse, inclusive workplaces are essential to business success. But how does a company achieve authentic representation without resorting to stereotypes? Four IABC Fellows -- Priya Bates, Todd Hattori, Jim Shaffer, and Brad Whitworth -- joined host Shel Holtz for a conversation about the role in promoting diversity and inclusion for a discussion about how to evaluate diversity and inclusiveness a...

In a recent Weber Shandwick study, among executives who reported working in companies with world-class reputations, 63% favored companies taking a public stance on social or political issues. On Circle of Fellows’ February episode, four IABC Fellows explored how to coach leaders on when and how to take a stand on political/social issues, the pitfalls of CEO activism, and how to maintain a producti...

FIR guest host Brad Whitworth moderated a panel discussion with four IABC Fellows: Alice Brink, John Deveney, Jim Lukaszewski, and Brenda Siler. who explored the role of a free press in supporting a free economy:  How communicators can support their business's efforts to support a free press and the value a free press brings to organizations (such as providing transparency and delivering informati...

Showing how communication benefits your organization depends on measuring what matters most—and how to turn what you learn into actionable results. Join four Fellows of the International Association of Business Communicators (IABC) for a real-time conversation about what technology exists to help you measure your programs, package and present the results, and produce more complex analyses to prese...

How do you build a strong brand? And what role can communicators — from the PR function to internal communications — play a pivotal role? On November 15, four IABC Fellows will discuss how positioning varies, why strong brands are necessary today, and new trends in branding, including how to make employees a part of your brand team. The November Circle of Fellows panel tackling this issue included...

How do you know if you’re using the best structural model for communication? Can hybrid models co-exist successfully? Four IABC Fellows explored the latest thinking on department structures, including how to work with agencies and freelancers (on goal-setting, budgeting, etc.). The panel will also look at whether departments should be consolidated or employ an agency model (with staff embedded in...

Disciplines and functions are converging within organizations—and that can lead to more efficient, successful companies. But to blend functions easily, communication professionals will need to collaborate with other disciplines and departments, including through cross-functional training. It is equally important that communication leaders cast a more disciplined eye on the competencies of their st...

The challenges and complexities of communicating increase with the size and scope of the employee population. It’s one thing to communicate when all your employees are in one city or state. When employees span the country, it gets harder, with the expectations and perceptions of employees in Ohio (for example) not necessarily aligning with those...  Continue Reading → The post Circle of...

On July 19, four IABC Fellows convened for a live online conversation about the communicator’s role in creating a memorable Customer Experience (CX). The panel includes Amanda Hamilton-Attwell, George McGrath, and Jim Shaffer. FIR podcast host Shel Holtz (also a Fellow) served as moderator. Continue Reading → The post Circle of Fellows #35: The Communications Role in the Customer Experience...

Does advancing to the ranks of senior management really require you to win the battle for a coveted “seat at the table?” To make the transition to a top leadership position requires a change in behavior to advance your career and the role of communication. The June installment of “Circle of Fellows” will examine the communicator as facilitator in the boardroom, as a leader of innovation, and a uni...

On Thursday, May 17, four  IABC Fellows  participated in a live online conversation about the emerging role of CEOs as the new global community leaders. The topic was also IABC’s editorial theme for May: “CEOs and other leaders are increasingly looked to weigh in on social and political issues. But how do you determine when your leaders should take a stand? We’ll examine key indicators for when le...

n Thursday, April 18, four Fellows of the International Association of Business Communicators gathered for a live online conversation about the competencies that will be required for communicators in the years ahead — both the tactics and tools used to communicate and the business acumen required to understand the problems leaders need solved that allow us to devise solutions that move the busines...

On Thursday, March 15, FIR host Shel Holtz moderated a panel with four of his Fellows colleagues -- Amanda Hamilton-Attwell, Kellie Garrett, March Schumann, and Jim Shaffer -- to discuss the role communications can play in building and sustaining a strong corporate culture. Watch the video replay here or listen to the podcast. (Subscribe to the podcast and you'll never miss an episode!) Continue R...

Trust in media is at an all-time low, as is global trust in the United States (while global trust in China is soaring). Meanwhile, peers — who have been a top credible source for several years — are waning as people once again turn to subject matter experts, technical experts, and CEOs, all of whom have been trailing in prior years’ Trust Barometers, the annual survey released every January by Ede...