A Storyteller's Musings on Strategic Communication and Leadership

  Before I decided to pursue a Master of Science degree in Strategic Communications, I did not think of myself as a leader. I thought that I had to be a manager or an editor in order to be a leader. But then I watched Drew Dudley’s 2010 TED Talk for this class. Dudley spoke about everyday leadership and how we all have been the catalyst for what he calls a ‘lollipop moment.’ We create lollipop moments by making a difference in the lives of the people around us. I did not give myself credit for the leadership moments I have had helping people. I thought being a leader was something I could not achieve. But it turns out I have been a leader all along.    Being a leader is not an impossible role that only a few privileged people can fulfill. We can all be leaders in our everyday life. Building a house or paying for someone’s meal are just some lollipop moments that people can do for each other. I have a better understanding of what it means to be a leader. It is not about t...

  As a child living in Florida, one of the first things I learned to do was swim. A teacher showed me how I needed to move my body in order to swim and not drown. Swimming or sinking can be applied to succeeding or failing. In public relations, there are campaigns that either sink or swim. Public relations professionals want to see their campaigns survive and thrive. A failed campaign is like having a science experiment blow up. Scientists have to run tests to evaluate an experiment. Strategic communicators have to use a series of methods to measure the impact and effectiveness of their campaigns.      Tracking Metrics Public Relations metrics are vital components strategic communicators use to see if their campaigns are on track or off course. Strategic communicators want to know if their messages are making an impact for their company’s brand. PR metrics provide companies with the feedback needed to make changes if necessary. Many business executives want valida...

  One of the most memorable movie quotes comes from Ron Howard’s 1995 movie Apollo 13 . Jim Lovell, a character played by Tom Hanks, called Mission Control at the Manned Spacecraft Center, which is now the Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas to say “Houston, we have a problem.” Lovell reported an issue that involved a series of problems that the center worked to address. The center was facing a crisis that they knew was a life or death situation. The astronauts were able to return to Earth thanks to the diligent efforts of the team members at Mission Control. So what does a Tom Hanks movie have to do with crisis communications? Mission Control had to find a solution to a series of problems that had lives at stake and their reputation on the line. While crisis communicators are not necessarily put in life or death situations, they do have to focus on having a plan that can repair their company’s brand when it is put at stake.    Crisis Communication Plan Public relat...