How to Bring Senior Leadership Onboard to New Ways of Communicating
How to Communications
November 22, 2022
Whether I’m working with a client on strategic planning, communications, community engagement or coaching, the question I most commonly get is how do I bring senior leadership onboard to new ways of communicating.
While there are leadership teams who embrace change in areas outside of their comfort zone, they are few and far between. For many, communications is an area that is a bit of a mystery.
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Tags: Business Strategy, Leadership, Public Relations
4 Ways To Move From Judgement To Curiosity
Learn Patient Advocacy
November 22, 2022
Here’s the thing about curiosity. When you’re curious, you allow your mind to explore all possibilities. You’re open to new ideas, opinions and perspectives.
The simple shift to a curiosity mindset can be a gamechanger.
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Tags: Diversity and Inclusion, Health and Wellness, Mental Health
Why Being A Truly Inclusive School Shouldn’t Be Scary
Learn Patient Advocacy
October 28, 2022
Despite all the talk about diversity and inclusion in classrooms, many schools and families still struggle with what this actually means and why it matters. Just having a child with disabilities or complex needs in a classroom isn’t enough. They need to be seen as a valued member of the school community.
Too often the conversation focuses on the challenges versus gifts these students bring to the classroom.
How can any kid be successful with this approach?
As a parent of an autistic child, I see this attitude taken way too often.
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Tags: Diversity and Inclusion, Leadership, Mental Health
Why Facebook Live is a Key Communications Tool in an Emergency
How to Communications
October 28, 2022
When bad weather is forecasted or an emergency hits, the first place most people go to get information is social media. They’ll scroll Facebook to get updates from friends, media outlets and emergency information channels (both official and unofficial).
Despite the known trend to check social media first, many organizations are still resistant to using Facebook Live and other livestream video to provide updates in an emergency. Why? It’s a mix of holding onto traditional emergency communications tools (press releases, website updates, emergency notifications) and fear of messing up or stumbling through a live video.
This reluctance from official sources to use a free and powerful tool only pushes people to get information from other sources (often less reliable).
As someone who has worked in crisis communications for over 20 years, I not only see the value in Facebook Live but also embrace it as a key communications tool in emergencies.
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Tags: Business Continuity, Business Strategy, Public Relations
Why We Need to Include Neurodiversity in the Diversity Conversation
How to Communications
September 26, 2022
I was recently at a workshop about the importance of diversity in the workplace. While I value and appreciate how far we’ve come in many areas of diversity, and the conversation on the work that’s still needed, there was a glaring absence in this discussion – neurodiversity. When I brought it up, a panelist admitted she hadn’t thought about this important group of current and potential employees. I’m sure she wasn’t the only one.
This is why we need to include neurodiversity in the diversity conversation. Approximately 15 to 20% of the world’s population exhibits some form of neurodivergence. This includes individuals with autism, ADHD, dyslexia, mental health conditions, dyspraxia, dyscalculia, Tourette syndrome and more.
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Tags: Diversity and Inclusion, Future of Work, Leadership
How to Own and Protect Your Genius
How to Communications
August 29, 2022
As a business coach and entrepreneur, a common challenge that continues to come up for both me and my clients is people asking us to give away our time and gifts for free. This could be inviting us to speak, picking our brains or submitting a detailed proposal that basically outlines the entire project. The common element is an expectation of us giving with no reciprocation from the other party.
While we can’t stop the flood of requests, we can learn how to own and protect our genius. Because if we don’t, no one else will.
Since many people struggle with this issue, I thought I’d share some tips on how to own and protect your genius.
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Tags: Business Strategy, Entrepreneurship, Leadership
Why Advocacy Is Not A Popularity Contest
How to Communications
August 29, 2022
As kids head back to school, many parents and caregivers will be rolling up their sleeves and advocating for the supports their child needs and deserves. While some of us are seasoned veterans when it comes to advocacy, I know it doesn’t come easy to everyone.
Advocating for your child, or any child, can be frustrating, lonely and overwhelming. It can also cause friction with family members, educators and even friends.
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Tags: Diversity and Inclusion, Health and Wellness, Mental Health
Limit Your Baggage – Don’t Own Others’ Emotions
How to Communications
July 29, 2022
Being a consultant, entrepreneur and mom comes with enough pressure, without having to hold the emotional load of others. But it can take courage and persistence to set boundaries and not own others’ emotions.
It was only when the load became too heavy, threatening to bury me, did I realize it was time to make a change.
While I still get bombarded by the emotions of others, I’ve found tools over the years to limit the baggage I carry and protect my energy. Check out these tools to help lighten your load.
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Tags: Entrepreneurship, Leadership, Public Relations
It’s Time To Stop Ignoring Women’s Health
Learn Patient Advocacy
June 15, 2022
As I was scrolling through Twitter, I came across a CBC article about the lack of appreciation of the pain caused to women during the insertion of birth control devices. In reading other women’s experiences, I jumped in and shared my own stories of not receiving pain management for extremely painful procedures.
It quickly became apparent that I’m not alone in going through unnecessary pain.
Despite the shared experience, women’s health still doesn’t receive the recognition or attention it deserves. It’s time to stop ignoring women’s health.
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Tags: Diversity and Inclusion, Health and Safety, Health and Wellness
4 Tips for Going from Boring to Impactful Presentations
How to Communications
June 06, 2022
While it’s great finally being able to get together with colleagues, the downside is more in-person meetings. And boring presentations. At least on Zoom you can turn off the camera and zone out. Not so easy when you’re in person.
I don’t think anyone ever plans to give a boring presentation that has people staring at the clock, hoping it will end. But with up to 75% of people having a fear of public speaking, many of these boring presentations stem from fear vs lack of personality.
Here are 4 simple tips to go from giving boring to impactful presentations.
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Tags: Entrepreneurship, Diversity and Inclusion, Public Relations
Understanding Why Authentic Leadership is Important
How to Communications
May 19, 2022
Leadership is a pretty big buzz word that’s regularly misused – with the terms leadership and management often interchanged (incorrectly). Adding to the mix, the term authentic leadership is also starting to be used more. But what is authentic leadership?
Simply put – it’s a person who shows up as their authentic self. It goes beyond taking leadership courses, implementing the hot lesson of the year or seeing leadership as a role.
When you’re working with an authentic leader, you feel it. Why? Because they are truly engaged, passionate and connected to not only the work they do, but those around them.
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Tags: Culture, Entrepreneurship, Leadership
Self-Care - It's Not All About You
How to Communications
April 26, 2022
We hear a lot about self-care in ads, emails from HR and in the news. We’re constantly told to go on a tropical vacation, enjoy an expensive latte or take up meditation. I don’t know about you, but for years I thought – who has time for self-care? I’m working, raising kids and trying to keep up with household demands. I don’t have time for me.
But here’s the thing – self-care is not just about you.
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Tags: Future of Work, Health and Wellness, Leadership
How Leadership Affects Organizational Culture
Data Driven Investor
March 01, 2022
As we continue to navigate life in a global pandemic and the impacts of the great resignation, leadership is a hotter topic than ever before. Why? Because there’s finally concrete proof of the impact of how leadership affects organizational culture.
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Tags: Entrepreneurship, Leadership
On Pink Shirt Day, the Kids Who Are Bullied the Most Are Being Forgotten
The Mighty
February 22, 2022
February 23 is Pink Shirt Day and February is also Kindness month. Both get lots of coverage at schools and in the media. The growing awareness of Pink Shirt Day has shone a spotlight on bullying. But has it moved the needle in preventing bullying?
Not for diverse learners and kids with disabilities. While these students are most likely to be bullied, Pink Shirt Day ignores their high bullying risk.
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Tags: Diversity and Inclusion, Mental Health
4 Ways to Amplify Your Voice in 2022
Data Driven Investor
January 03, 2022
With all the noise in our lives (social media, fake news, negativity), we could all use some help in amplifying our voice for the positive.
Learn 4 ways to amplify your voice in 2022 that will work for your personal and professional life.
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Tags: Entrepreneurship, Leadership, Public Relations
How Storytelling Makes Us Human
Data Driven Investor
November 01, 2021
Throughout human history, storytelling has been at the foundation of our visual, written and verbal communications. It’s how we pass knowledge from generation to generation, or break complex ideas into something manageable and relatable. But for some reason, when go to the office or put on our work hat, we tend to push storytelling to the side.
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Tags: Entrepreneurship, Leadership, Public Relations
It’s Time to Embrace the Gifts Diverse Learners Bring to the Table
The Mighty
June 16, 2021
There are so many gifts diverse learners bring to the classroom. We need to celebrate these gifts instead of just focusing on the challenges.
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Tags: Diversity and Inclusion, Mental Health
Raising and Advocating for Kids with Special Needs : Mom advice from the trenches
Learn Patient Advocacy
May 06, 2021
As someone who is passionate about advocating for kids with special needs, I often hear stories from parents and caregivers on the roadblocks they face or obstacles in their path as they try to get support for their children.
These conversations inspired me to write this e-book, which is a compilation of articles I’ve written on www.learnpatientadvocacy.com. Each of the chapters are written to give you the skills and confidence to be your child’s voice or megaphone.
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Tags: Diversity and Inclusion, Health and Wellness, Mental Health
The Power of Storytelling - How to make a personal connection
How to Communications
April 01, 2021
This e-book explores the foundation of storytelling, what personal details we share through our stories, how to create impactful stories as well as getting clear on the elements of a story (and knowing if you really have a story to tell).
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Tags: Entrepreneurship, Marketing, Public Relations
Social Media - How to go beyond likes to true engagement
How to Communications
April 01, 2021
Social media is essential marketing, public relations and communications tool for all businesses and organization. While there is no cookie cutter approach, there are some key strategies that will help your posts not only be read, but also connect with your followers.
In this e-book, you will learn how to create content that engages with your followers, based on their needs, not yours (don’t worry, this is a good thing).
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Tags: Entrepreneurship, Marketing, Public Relations
How to Make Personal Growth a Priority
How to Communications
April 01, 2021
Practical advice on sharing your voice and expanding your network
In writing this e-book, I read through blog posts I’ve written over the years at howtocommunications.com. I found that many of my most popular posts were on personal development topics.
I have grouped these posts into three sections – Sharing Your Voice, Expanding Your Network and Surviving Work Travel.
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Tags: Entrepreneurship, Health and Wellness, Leadership
How to Harness the Power of Media Relations
How to Communications
April 01, 2021
From writing a press release to getting the coverage.
Media relations is a key tool in sharing your message or story with a broad audience. It requires understanding the role of the media and your role. It’s about seeing journalists as individuals and looking at media outlets as unique entities with their own audiences and stakeholders.
This e-book takes you through the media relations journey – from understanding what media relations is, to getting the coverage that connects with your audience.
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Tags: Entrepreneurship, Leadership, Public Relations
How to Get the Most out of Your Content
How to Communications
April 01, 2021
Content planning tips and tools
Websites, social media channels, newsletters and emails are just some of the platforms that require a constant stream of content. Knowing what content to produce, who it is for, how to share it and the best way to maximize its reach can be overwhelming. In this e-book we look at why content planning is important, how to get the most out of the content you produce and how to evaluate the effectiveness of your content.
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Tags: Entrepreneurship, Marketing, Public Relations
Taking the Pulse of Your Organization – How to conduct a communications audit
How to Communications
April 01, 2021
Although the term audit may sound formal or daunting, a communications audit is about taking a snapshot in time – assessing what’s working, what’s not working and identifying areas of improvement for an organization’s communications. This e-book walks you through the steps of conducting a communications audit.
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Tags: Entrepreneurship, Marketing, Public Relations
Business Communications – How to break through the noise and be heard by your customers and stakeholders
How to Communications
April 01, 2021
Business owners and organizational leaders are expected to be great communicators, yet often have no formal communications training. Communications is the foundation for many areas of business growth and development. This e-book provides tips, insights and ways to ensure your communications efforts are heard and connect with your customers and stakeholders instead of being additional noise.
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Tags: Entrepreneurship, Leadership, Public Relations
How To Make Patient And Family Centred Care More Than A Slogan
Learn Patient Advocacy
April 01, 2021
This e-book provides advice, tools and insights into the world of patient engagement from the perspective a patient advocate and volunteer. Learn some simple ways to embed patient and family centred care throughout your organization.
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Tags: Diversity and Inclusion, Health and Wellness, Leadership
Patient Advocacy - How to Share Your Story and Make a Difference in Healthcare
Learn Patient Advocacy
April 01, 2021
Learn how to share your patient story while advocating for yourself or a loved one. This includes practical advice on how to stay focused and have impactful conversations.
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Tags: Diversity and Inclusion, Health and Wellness, Leadership
How to grow your career on your own terms
How to Communications
March 02, 2021
As I sat down to write this e-book, going through various articles I’ve written over the years, I realized I’ve spent a lot of time giving career advice. Many of the chapters were written after a deep discussion with a client or friend who was struggling with an aspect of their career.
Instead of breaking this into smaller e-books, I decided to compile the articles into 5 parts, looking at various aspects of professional development and career change.
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Tags: Entrepreneurship, Leadership, Management
How to present like a pro
How to Communications
March 02, 2021
Learn to create engaging and impactful presentations
This e-book will help you identify some common mistakes speakers make, provide some insights and tips on how to create engaging presentations and connect with your audience, while giving you the confidence to share your story and be heard!
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Tags: Entrepreneurship, Leadership, Public Relations
Crisis Communications - How to Take Control When You Feel You’re Losing Control
How to Communications
March 02, 2021
Whether it’s communicating business impacts due to COVID-19, having a board member resign or dealing with a natural disaster, at some point many businesses and organizations will need to communicate in a crisis. Like any business strategy, the key to successful communications is in the planning.
This book takes you through some of the key areas of crisis communications.
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Tags: Management, Public Relations, Risk Management
Why You Need to Stop Saying I'm So Busy
Nonprofit Conversations podcast
August 08, 2022
Have you ever said "No, I'm too busy!"?? If you have, then watch my podcast interview on Nonprofit Conversations. Did you think about the message this sends when you tell someone you are "too busy"? From hurt feelings to damaged relationships, these phrases we all use too often are not necessarily what we want to communicate. Do you ever say "that's my 2 cents"? If so, you NEED to watch this episode to find out how much more that "2 cents" is REALLY costing you.
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Tags: Leadership, Entrepreneurship, Public Relations
Crisis Communications
16th Annual Municipal Communications Conference
November 23, 2021
As BC experienced its worst flooding event in history, communicators across the province rolled up their sleeves and got to work. Hear about how pre-planning played an important role in responding to a local flooding emergency and how COVID communications best practices were implemented. The result – clear and coordinated communications to a variety of audiences.
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Tags: Business Continuity, Leadership, Public Relations
How to Make a Personal Connection through Storytelling
7th Annual Saskatchewan Communications Forum
June 23, 2020
We now have countless technologies and ways to share information. Yet the age-old tool of storytelling is still the best way to make a personal connection so people tune in to what you’re saying. Cynthia will break down the elements of a story, uncover what makes a good story, learn the importance of storytelling as well as how to use it in your social media, presentations, emails, social media and more.
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Tags: Leadership, Marketing, Public Relations
How to Host Engaging Online Meetings
How to Communications
July 14, 2021
The abrupt switch from in-person to virtual meetings requires new skills to ensure people are engaged and participating. Learn some tips on how to moderate meetings, stay focused, generate conversation and get the most of your time online.
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Tags: Entrepreneurship, Leadership, Management
How to Harness the Power of Storytelling to Make a Personal Connection
How to Communications
May 03, 2021
We now have countless technologies and ways to share information with our customers and target audiences. Yet the age-old tool of storytelling is still the best way to make a personal connection so people tune in to what you’re saying.
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Tags: Entrepreneurship, Marketing, Public Relations
How to Present Like a Pro
How to Communications
May 03, 2021
Learn how to go from giving a boring presentation to connecting with your audience in an impactful way. This includes an overview of key messaging, preparation basics, use of body language as well as pitfalls to avoid. These skills can be applied to formal and informal presentations, media interviews as well as everyday interpersonal communications. Don’t fumble through your next presentation, reading from notes and staring out onto blank faces. Download this package to go from being a mind numbing to engaging presenter, connecting with your audience.
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Tags: Entrepreneurship, Marketing, Public Relations
How To Make Your Website Work For You
How to Communications
May 01, 2021
Gone are the days of putting up a website and walking away. For your website to get traffic and connect with your customers it needs to be updated regularly as well as referenced on social media and other websites. This helps increase your SEO (search engine optimization which means it’s not lost on Google searches), and shares your content with people who don’t visit your site. You’ll learn tips on maximizing content, distribution channels (Medium, LinkedIn articles, social media) and how to keep your website fresh.
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Tags: Entrepreneurship, Marketing, Public Relations
How To Manage Crisis Communications
How to Communications
July 14, 2020
This package breaks down the elements of a crisis – pre (planning), during (managing the crisis) and post (lessons learned), walking you through the role of communications at each step. Learning how to prepare, take control and ensure lessons learned are implemented will help your organization plan for the next event. Don’t let a crisis be the first time you think about your response, resulting in confusion and mixed messages. Download this package to help your organization develop a crisis communications plan and think through responses to potential crisis scenarios.
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Tags: Business Continuity, Management, Risk Management
How To Prepare For A Media Interview
How to Communications
June 08, 2020
Giving a media interview involves planning, key messaging, body language awareness, as well as an understanding of the various media and their needs. There is a lot to think about before you pick up the phone and return a reporter’s call or stand in front of a camera. Listen to a former reporter share tips and techniques to ensure your story is told. This package helps take the fear out and uncertainty out of media interviews so you can have the confidence and skills to conduct an impactful media interview.
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Tags: Entrepreneurship, Marketing, Public Relations
How To Pitch To The Media
How to Communications
June 08, 2020
This package helps you understand the various ways to pitch your story, from a simple phone call to a more complex news conference. Learn about the media’s needs and how you can tailor your pitch to ensure it hits it mark. To avoid wasting your time sending emails that never get read or wondering why the media never returns your phone, learn how to pinpoint your pitch to meet the needs and interests of your targeted media outlet.
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Tags: Entrepreneurship, Marketing, Public Relations
How To Conduct A Communications Audit
How to Communications
June 08, 2020
A communications audit is used to take the pulse of an organization’s formal and informal communications processes, while measuring their effectiveness and identifying gaps. This package not only walks you through the planning and execution phases, but also includes sample interview, survey, CEO and focus group questions to get you started. To avoid spinning your wheels and getting frustrated by ineffective communications, download the How to Conduct a Communications Audit bundle to figure out what is working, what’s not working and where you can make meaningful improvements to communications processes in your organization.
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Tags: Business Strategy, Entrepreneurship, Public Relations
Issues Management - How To Turn Reactive To Proactive
How to Communications
June 08, 2020
The key to successful issues management is taking control early on and ensuring a coordinated approach – both internally and with key external stakeholders. Learn essential tools and techniques to minimize the impact and duration of a negative issue. To avoid having your issue dragged through the media or becoming water cooler chatter, this tool will help you identify red flags early on, common pitfalls that complicate an issue and learn how to get control by developing an issues management team.
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Tags: Business Strategy, Leadership, Public Relations
How To Be An Active Listener
How to Communications
June 08, 2020
Many people listen for the next opportunity to talk rather than truly listening to what the other person is actually saying. This can cause conflict and confusion, as the other person does not feel truly heard. This package breaks down the various elements of active listening, to help you be more engaged in your next conversation. It will help minimize frustration, for both you and the speaker, and allow you to have less conflict and more memorable conversations (which ultimately makes you look better).
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Tags: Business Strategy, Entrepreneurship, Leadership
How To Answer Tough Questions
How to Communications
June 08, 2020
Need some help preparing for a tough meeting or presentation? Or do you want some tips on how to handle difficult media interviews? This package highlights common pitfalls and how to be in control when answering tough questions. To avoid getting pinned in the corner and on the defensive, learn how to stay clear on your messaging, and take control in tough situations.
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Tags: Business Strategy, Entrepreneurship, Leadership
How To Write A Press Release The Media Will Actually Read
How to Communications
May 01, 2020
Learn how to write a press release the media will actually read, with insights from a former newspaper editor. Learn what grabs the reporter’s attention and what common errors encourage the reporter to hit delete. This package will walk you step-by-step through each element of writing a press release, outlining common mistakes and tips on improving readability. Don’t waste your time writing a press release that reads like a sales sheet. Instead, download this package to learn how to tell a story that interests reporters and resonates with your target audience.
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Tags: Entrepreneurship, Marketing, Public Relations
How to Write a Crisis Communications Plan
Summers Direct
August 29, 2022
COVID has changed how we communicate and has given many of us more experience in crisis communications. As such, it’s important all municipal governments have an up-to-date crisis communications plan that reflects lessons learned from COVID. In this workshop, participants will learn – the importance of gathering input prior to developing the plan – key elements to include in the plan – how to make the plan a reality. Cynthia will use real life examples of how a plan helped an organization respond quickly in a crisis, as well as how the lack of a plan resulted in missteps.
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Tags: Risk Management, Business Continuity, Public Relations
How to Conduct a Communications Audit
16th Annual Municipal Communications Conference
November 24, 2021
A communications audit is used to take the pulse of an organization’s formal and informal communications processes, while measuring their effectiveness and identifying gaps. In this workshop we will look at the steps to prepare for an audit, the various audit tools available and how to create an audit report that will be read. You will leave this interactive workshop feeling better prepared and more confident so you can figure out what is working, what’s not working and where you can make meaningful improvements to communications processes in your organization.
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Tags: Business Strategy, Marketing, Public Relations
How to Conduct a Communications Audit
7th Annual Saskatchewan Communications Forum
June 24, 2020
A communications audit is used to take the pulse of an organization’s formal and informal communications processes, while measuring their effectiveness and identifying gaps. In this workshop we will look at the steps to prepare for an audit, the various audit tools available and how to create an audit report that will be read. You will leave this interactive workshop feeling better prepared and more confident so you can figure out what is working, what’s not working and where you can make meaningful improvements to communications processes in your organization.
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Tags: Business Strategy, Marketing, Public Relations