We have found philanthropic activities like this not only support charitable causes, but they also enhance our employee culture, team morale, and bring us closer together. As professional communicators, we’re always striving to find the best channels for our clients to use to reach their target audiences. In a new age of remote work, channels of internal communications are changing and we’ve found one of the best ways to communicate and deepen relationships with colleagues is to work together for social good.
As we’ve all heard, giving back and volunteerism have become core tenets of businesses across industries in recent years. There is a clear business case for philanthropy, as the next generation of workers have a clear interest in working at businesses that back up their values with action. Further, recent studies have shown that customer loyalty may improve at socially responsible businesses.
We believe giving back and volunteering events that emphasize collaboration and bringing communities together find more engagement.
Our client Pennsylvania Lumbermens Mutual Insurance Company (PLM) is also getting fit and having fun while building comradery among team members and raising funds for vulnerable children and communities. Each spring, employees form a team for the Insurance Softball League of Philadelphia, which raises money for local nonprofits while gathering regional insurers for friendly softball competition. Employees have the opportunity to get to know each other outside the office, get a little exercise and breath in fresh air while helping those in need.
With the IICF Step Up challenge, employees, friends and families in and around the insurance industry can form a team and compete with one another in a fitness challenge, measuring their steps, pedal strokes, sit-ups and virtually any other activity against the teams of other companies. Kimball Hughes PR is proud to have been a part of Step Up for the past five years and we have enjoyed learning more about each team member along the way – whether it’s a penchant for morning dog walks, an after-work jog, a Peloton ride or hike through the woods.
Consider reigniting company culture with a collaborative philanthropic initiative this Spring. We’re having a blast. Check out our progress so far here:
While the beginning of May marks the end of Earth Month, sustainability should be a year-round endeavor. Fortunately, there are plenty of opportunities throughout the year for businesses of all sizes to support their communities and maintain and build on the momentum highlighted each Earth Month. With the right communication strategies, sustainability-focused initiatives can benefit not only the planet and the greater good, but your business as well.
Practicing a thoughtful approach
A business that cares for and invests in the environment can offer employees, consumers, prospects and other stakeholders a positive perspective. However, leaders must tread carefully to avoid an adverse impact down the line. Consider posing the following questions when building a sustainability plan:
Are your goals clear? Your sustainability initiative plan should clearly outline what your organization is trying to achieve and/or contribute. For example, if your cause is to support forestry, a goal might be to plant 100 trees by the end of 2024. Having clear goals leaves little room for misinterpretation from the public or from team members.
Are your goals attainable? Business leaders who establish goals within a sustainability plan should consider whether they are attainable given employee bandwidth and company budgets. Overpromising and under-delivering in sustainability efforts could leave leaders in hot water and contribute to mistrust among customers, prospects, employees and other stakeholders.
As mentioned above, companies that fail to deliver on their sustainability promises can and have fallen victim to pushback and negative press. In fact, CNN Business reported on research in 2022 that some of the largest companies in the world missed the mark on sustainability targets. For example, just last year The Wall Street Journal reported on several companies, including United Airlines who made a 2021 pledge to reduce carbon emissions but ended up scrapping their short-term goals to maintain focus on longer-term gains.
While goals can be adjusted over time, business leaders should be intentional about their goals and how they are going to achieve them, and of course, in how they communicate them.
Maximizing your sustainability plan
Yes, failed sustainability plans can lead to bad press, but successful initiatives can be a win for the company when communicated thoughtfully and strategically. Keep in mind these best practices with considering communicating sustainability initiatives:
Consider newsworthiness. A sustainability initiative may not be newsworthy in and of itself. For example, using the tree planting initiative above, if a business plans to hold a fundraiser to purchase the trees, they might consider sharing the cause with local media to reach those interested in supporting local forestry. Businesses might benefit from inviting local dignitaries such as government officials or local organizations with similar goals to attract media attention.
Be transparent. As it is in business, transparency is critical regarding charitable efforts. Business leaders should be forthcoming about their support as well as with the progress they have made toward an initiative with reporters. Exaggerated numbers or claims could lead to suspicion and distrust from key stakeholders and the press.
Rally supporters Recruit team members and the community to help advance the business’s sustainability goals. Engaging and having buy in from local supporters and employees will help drum up buzz around an organization that could lead to your effort making a bigger impact and help to attract media attention.
Stay the course. Business leaders must be prepared to remain diligent with their sustainability goals. Relevant times to discuss sustainability like Earth Month will help create momentum around a business’s eco-efforts, but they should have plan to maintain it with supplemental activations. Continued activity could also help attract media attention to your initiative.
Track your progress. Have a plan to track your progress while executing a sustainability initiative. Make sure to track participating volunteers, dollars raised or testimonials, among other things. Statistics will supplement your business’s efforts and give media outlets a quick glance at your success.
Sustainability has become somewhat of a buzzword in today’s business world, but the sentiment of bettering the Earth is one every business leader should share. As business leaders wind down their Earth Month activations and carry on with business as usual, they should consider how executing on defined sustainability goals year-round, armed with a strong communications plan, can be as good for business as it is for the environment.
Sweaty palms and a microphone in hand, you are called to the stage for your presentation in front of hundreds of your colleagues. You wrote your speech word for word and studied it diligently but as your nervousness grows, those words you meticulously studied begin to vanish. Panic. Anxiety. Is there more you could have done? As in all things, preparation is key.
Power in preparation
A successful speaking engagement is rooted in the right kind of preparation. While writing a speech is an important part of the process, simply putting words on paper could leave a public speaker high and dry on stage. The reality is a memorized speech is full of recollection and verbal landmines, stumbling and missed content. When preparing for your next speaking engagement, consider the following:
Focus on key messages: Rather than memorizing a speech, consider the key messages or the main points the speech conveys. Talking points serve as a speaker’s safety net and help pull them back to their main points when stumbling occurs or they veer off on a tangent. Key messages should include the main idea of the speech, how it relates to the speaker and their organization, as well as the audience and high-level content points.
Follow a formula: Be sure to make your point, provide reasoning or statistics that support your point and consider offering an example to help the audience visualize what you are saying. Telling a story is often easier for a speaker to recall compared to memorizing theories, data or intellectual arguments. Finally, be sure to drive the point home again at the conclusion of your remarks.
Practice makes perfect: Reading your speech ahead of time can be helpful, but nothing compares to giving the speech on camera or in front of colleagues, friends or family. Avoid speaking in front of the mirror as it only serves to distract. Speaking before a friendly audience helps with both familiarity with the topic as well as speed of delivery, your body language, your intonation, articulation and more. Play the recording back afterward to self-evaluate and ask for honest feedback and direction from those who are invested in you making a great impression up on the big stage.
Engage with your audience: Audience engagementis crucial to a speaker’s success, but it rarely ever just happens. Speakers must prepare for what some call crowd work; engaging the audience as part of their presentation and considering potential outcomes. In addition to the fact that audiences do not want to sit through a lecture, engaging with the audience can help them remember your key points. Storytelling, adding a little humor, polling the audience or low-pressure activities can be great ways to garner audience attention and prime them to listen attentively.
Have a backup plan: When all else fails, speakers should be prepared with a backup plan. Comedian Jo Koy saw firsthand what happens when you do not have a plan at the 2024 Golden Globes when his monologue fell flat. His jokes about Barbie and Taylor Swift left him in hot water and his only fallback was to blame the writers. While the Golden Globes is a much larger stage than your average business conference, all speakers should be prepared to pivot. Consider how an audience could respond to all aspects of your speech and have a plan to pivot to a safer topic should you lose the audience.
Public speaking is among the most common societal phobias, but it can be overcome in many cases, with effective practice and preparation. Comprehensive preparation can instill the confidence a speaker needs to be successful on stage. Speakers are selected for the insights they offer. Come prepared for the stage with key messages and a solid plan of action to make sure your messages are conveyed in way that engages the audience and leaves them wanting to learn more.
Last week I spent International Women’s Day with 200 remarkable women in Philadelphia from the legal, marketing, communications, nonprofit and other fields at the inaugural Follow Friday conference aimed at women’s empowerment. Hosted by my friend and chief marketing officer for Legal Internet Solutions, Inc., Robyn Addis, the conference addressed how to rethink gaining entry, focusing on career advancement, managing work-life issues, overcoming fears and challenges, and most importantly, the value in helping each other succeed.
Although the occasion was Women’s History Month, now often now referred to as Women’s Empowerment Month, the speakers demonstrated that these are practical, everyday career and work-life integration issues for women in the workplace that go well beyond any one calendar date. These women inspired the audience with their stories — both professional and personal — of perseverance, resilience and hope.
Kelly Breslin Enache, CMO for Saul Ewing LLP, kicked off the presentations by explaining that while many of us recognize some aspect of imposter syndrome within ourselves, we have to tap into our professional courage to move forward and succeed. She referenced Tracy Brower, PhD, who recognized that while self-doubt is common in successful women, it is not standing in the way of their success. Women with professional courage choose to move forward despite feelings of self-doubt, fear or readiness. “Courage is when conscience, fear and action come together. It is grit, optimism, perseverance and determination,” Brower said.
I believe we have to say good-bye to the plague of imposter syndrome and usher in a new era of success for women grounded in professional courage.
Many women are fighting personal “gremlins,” Elise Holztman, president and founder of The Lawyer’s Edge, told attendees. Not just the gremlins that make us feel we don’t belong at the table or deserving of the professional title we hold, but those that put a wrench into our plans like health crises, family struggles and other personal issues. Some women suggested we give these gremlins a name — and shared the names they put to their gremlins. You would never guess looking at these accomplished women, the multitude of external pressures taking aim to derail their best laid plans of professional progress. But they shared how tapping into the power of each other can help to tackle the challenges before them. They reminded us to create our own personal board of directors to call on for advice, insight and support.
Speaker Beth Mirzai, a professional opera soprano, addressed the power of using your voice with confidence. She noted how critical it is for women in the workplace to remember that no one is actively rooting against us. We all have advocates cheering for our success. One woman in the room reminded us, to some laughter from crowd, that this is not always the case in the legal profession. That may be true, but overall, I agree we generally want one another to succeed. Particularly, as women, we have to be a force of support for each other.
During a break-out “fishbowl” session, one woman after another joined the table to share their professional experiences, accomplishments and struggles. Their words made me consider my own occasional feelings of self-doubt as well as family health issues I’ve struggled with that can tighten their grasp when we least expect it with no regard for our professional aspirations.
I’m fortunate to say I’ve experienced tremendous support from Kimball Hughes Public Relations. Company leaders and colleagues have supported my professional growth and career development as a female leader whether it’s a client win or crisis, a call from the school office, health issues or the little things in life that challenge us all. In fact, when my son was hospitalized a few years ago I was fearful of missing too much work and asking others to carry my workload. I tried to step down but I was told that was out of the question. Whatever time I needed I could have; I was assured my job would be waiting for me when I was ready because family comes first. A few months later, the agency took on the small nonprofit championing my son’s rare disease – The MOG Project – as a pro-bono client. We supported them with a public relations campaign to bring attention to this orphan disease I had come to know too well.
Yes, our jobs are important. We all strive to do our best, but family is critical because if you can’t do the important work at home, the professional work becomes exponentially harder. The women at this conference reminded me of this fact. We are all working to succeed in our roles as female professionals, as parents, as spouses, as valued members of our communities and more. By inspiring and supporting one another, we can build each other up and enjoy our successes and those of others while managing what life throws our way. We can be better leaders, better mothers, better members of our community, mentors and role models for future generations by showing professional courage, using our voice, boosting each other up and remembering we are all rooting for each other.
Public relations is all about relationships—the people behind the stories. That’s why we’re offering this blog series all about our team members. This isn’t about our professional accomplishments but who we are as people. We hope you have as much fun reading along as we do interviewing each other.
1. What got you interested in public relations?
My love of public relations spun off from a combination of my early journalism career, a deep love for American history, and my love of good storytelling. After a short but intense stint covering politics on Capitol Hill at CNN and working local news in a few regional Virginia markets and my hometown in Western Canada, I realized I wanted to do communications differently than I had previously. I learned that I was really excited by taking on the challenges of shaping messaging, crafting narratives, and helping organizations navigate the media world, crisis communications, and engaging the public in mission-focused communications. Working in the non-profit world was an easy jump after graduate school. And that road ultimately led me to here – a new and exciting way to keep telling great stories and engaging clients in new and innovative ways.
2. Tell us about your favorite movie and what appeals most to you about it?
Anyone that knows me knows that this is a multi-hour discussion. However, because I’ve got a word limit, I’ll grudgingly choose one; and that is The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of The Ring. This movie never fails to give me chills to this day – and as a young kid, this movie blew my mind. The movie score, the cinematography, the acting, the scale and scope of what was built and created gave life to Tolkien’s masterpiece. I truly believe there’s never been a movie like it… and short of the new Dune movies, there may never be again.
3. What was the last, best book you read and what about it spoke to you?
The last book I read was a guilty pleasure: World War Z by Max Brooks. Totally just an entertaining and thrilling book, written in the form of a pseudo-documentary about a global war against zombies. The movie wasn’t great, but the book is fantastic. The last book that I read that inspired me and spoke to me was probably Washington: A Life by Ron Chernow. The life of George Washington is truly something that people need to read to believe. There’s something very inspiring about a person whose singular commitment to honor and duty shaped the way that we view civic virtue and our system of government to this day. Not without his flaws, the book also does a wonderful job exploring how deeply complicated and conflicted Washington was with his own family, his career, and his view of the revolution he helped fight. How that book and the story of George Washington hasn’t been given a proper treatment or at least translated into an HBO mini-series a-la John Adams or Chernobyl, is beyond me.
4. Tell us about a meaningful hobby or outside of work commitment that is important to you.
I am really into winter sports, which makes living in Florida an interesting place for someone who grew up playing ice hockey and snowboarding. But any time I can manage to get to the mountains I feel completely refreshed. There’s nothing quite like the total peace and quiet at the top of a mountain. It is a great place to clear your head and decompress.
5. Share a fun fact about you.
I am an avid cook and am constantly trying out new recipes for my wife and me. Not all of them are winners, but we’ve stumbled across some absolutely great ones that have become staples in our house. To quote the great classic, Ratatouille: “You must try things that may not work. Anyone can cook; but only the fearless can be great.”
Public relations is all about relationships—the people behind the stories. That’s why we’re offering this blog series all about our team members. This isn’t about our professional accomplishments but who we are as people. We hope you have as much fun reading along as we do interviewing each other.
1. What got you interested in public relations?
I started out my career after graduating from college as a radiologic technologist. After my first child was born, I was a stay-at-home mom to my four children for many years. Our good friends across the street had six kids and they were friends with our kids. In 2007, Gary (the founder of Kimball Hughes PR and our good friend across the street), asked me if I would like to come and work for him. So here I am, 15 years later working in public relations.
2. Tell us about your favorite movie and what appeals most to you about it?
I have always liked movies that Robin Williams has been in and the variety of characters he has played. One of my favorite movies is Mrs. Doubtfire. He is a father who loves his kids and does just about anything to make sure he is a part of their lives each day. Although everything changes within the structure of the family, they were able to come together, compromise and still be a family, just in a different way.
3. What was the last, best book you read and what about it spoke to you?
I like to read mysteries and one author I enjoy is Agatha Christie. Murder on the Orient Express is one of my favorites that takes place on a train that has had to stop due to heavy snow. One of the main characters is detective Hercule Poirot, who appeared in many of Christie’s novels. He is precise with his methods he uses to solve crimes and not shy in letting everyone know.
4. Tell us about a meaningful hobby or “outside of work” commitment that is important to you?
Becoming a mom has been one of the best parts of my life and now I am a grandmother for the first time. My 2-year-old grandson always puts a smile on my face. He has a great personality and is quite the character. I look forward to spending time with him each week.
5. Share a fun fact about you.
I moved to Florida after I got married and my husband signed me up for scuba diving classes without my knowledge. I was very nervous about taking the classes, but I ended up enjoying the lessons and being best in class on my test. I only got to go diving four times, but each time I enjoyed the experience and the beauty under the water.
Public relations is all about relationships—the people behind the stories. That’s why we’re offering this blog series all about our team members. This isn’t about our professional accomplishments but who we are as people. We hope you have as much fun reading along as we do interviewing each other.
1. What got you interested in public relations?
I spent just shy of a decade as a reporter and editor before switching to what my journalism colleagues and I had jokingly referred to as “the dark side,” meaning public relations. I ended up doing some initial freelance PR work and loved it. Later, I handled PR for several practice groups at a large global law firm before moving to a full-service agency. It turned out the dark side wasn’t so dark and my journalism training and experiences seemed to help a lot in what became my second act. I’ve never looked back.
2. Tell us about your favorite movie and what appeals most to you about it?
I have several favorites, but one stand-out is a Robin Williams movie called “What Dreams May Come.” The theme is a bit dark – death and the afterlife – but much of the cinematography is beautiful. Despite what appears to be a gloomy story, the movie focuses on the connections to, and importance of, relationships among family and friends, and how those relationships make all the difference when we look back on the totality of our lives. This, and the fact that Williams is reunited in heaven with his beloved dog from years ago places it among several favorites for me.
3. What was the last, best book you read and what about it spoke to you?
I love Russell Baker’s book, “Growing Up.” He was a Pulitzer Prize-winning humorist for The New York Times, and the book details … well, growing up in Depression-era America. It’s a rich, non-fiction character drama told with humor and insight by Baker about his childhood. I loved the writing, the humor found in the absurdity and stresses of life, and the pleasure taken in small, everyday things. What spoke to me was Baker’s style of telling a great story that didn’t involve great things — no heads of state, no decisions that impact millions. Rather, the stories of aunts and uncles, childhood friends, and the adults who helped shape and mold a poor kid living in New Jersey into a successful, well-respected writer.
4. Tell us about a meaningful hobby or “outside of work” commitment that is important to you?
About 10 years ago I bought a home on 2.5+ acres of heavily wooded land. To my continued astonishment, what started out as necessary maintenance has turned into a hobby of novice forestry. If you told me 15 years ago I would enjoy the peace and solitude of cleaning up thousands of leaves or taking a chain saw to a dead tree I would never have believed it. However, it’s a great opportunity to clear your head while focusing on a basic task.
5. Share a fun fact about you.
As a 40th birthday gift, a few friends purchased a small souvenir plot of land in Glencoe, Scotland for me. According to the documentation, I can legally use the title Lord. My friends and I find this funny because in addition to this new title my legal name consists of a first and two middle names as well as my family name. I’m also the third, named after my father and grandfather of the same name. Going by Rod saves a lot of time.
If 2020 was the year of the pivot, 2022 will be the year we rebuild. One of the primary ways businesses and nonprofits will do so is, in part, through raising the profiles and awareness of their brands, services and products.
Kimball Hughes Public Relations reached out to hundreds of for- and non-profit entities across the U.S. to get their take on 2022. We asked about opportunities and obstacles as well as about some of the fundamental tools and resources these entities use to connect with their audiences.
Opportunities & Challenges
One third of respondents reported that being seen as experts would be their top priority to achieving business or organizational goals in 2022. Maintaining or expanding awareness of their reputation among their key audiences came in second at 28.6 percent. Sales, product or service awareness and adding new products or services as tactics to improve performance in 2022 as paled in comparison.
The biggest challenge to growth in 2022 was seen as lack of brand or organizational awareness (72.7 percent). Limited marketing budgets ranked second as a challenge at 54.5 percent, while economic uncertainty and competition tied for third as other major obstacles in the new year.
The Road Ahead
To maximize the potential for raising brand awareness in the new year, securing media recognition and generating content will be essential.
Only 20 percent of the organizations we surveyed reported that being quoted or included in the media as a high priority. Fifty percent said it was one among many priorities, and 15 percent reported they were indifferent to seeing their brand represented in a reputable or industry-specific third-party content provider.
For those creating and publishing their own, non-social media content, nearly 23 percent say they do so daily. Forty one percent produce their own website, blog or video content weekly, while another 23 percent do so monthly. Just over 13 percent report leaving content development, as a strategy to expand their reach and reputations, to “when time permits.”
Make a New Year’s Resolution
If you’re resolved to grow or expand your reputation or reach in 2022 — or you know of someone thinking about doing so — Kimball Hughes PR can help. Reach out to us today at info@kimballpr.com or call (610) 559-7585 and ask for a free consultation.
Public relations is all about relationships—the people behind the stories. That’s why we’re offering this blog series all about our team members. This isn’t about our professional accomplishments but who we are as people. We hope you have as much fun reading along as we do interviewing each other.
1. What got you interested in public relations?
As a student at DePaul University, the communications classes I took, along with community involvement, fostered a passion within me for all kinds of media and their ever-changing landscapes. It wasn’t long before I realized how much is involved behind the scenes regarding media relations and creating truly effective communication. I think I knew pretty quickly this was something I wanted to be a part of, and a career in public relations became my path.
2. Tell us about your favorite movie and what appeals most to you about it?
I enjoy tragic films, your typical “almost was” story. One such movie I’ve watched several times is One Day with Anne Hathaway and Jim Sturgess. I enjoy movies that are realistic to the point where you could put yourself in a character’s shoes. If the story is told right, you find yourself feeling what the characters are supposed to be feeling.
3. What was the last, best book you read and what about it spoke to you?
The last, best book I read was Body Counts by Sean Strub. When I read it for the first time, I couldn’t put it down and when I finished, I immediately started over. It was just too good for one reading. Strub’s ability to authentically tell his story spoke volumes to me and gave a huge amount of perspective of the time.
4. Tell us about a meaningful hobby or “outside of work” commitment that is important to you?
Music is a necessary hobby for me. I play a few instruments and like to mess around and free my brain whenever possible. I have found music is a great way to get the creative juices flowing when writers block sets in or when I need a moment to think.
5. Share a fun fact about you.
I became a retired chef at 22. I worked in restaurants throughout college and became competitive, wanting to learn as much as possible about food and the restaurant industry. Before diving into my career in public relations, I was the chef de cuisine in a Chicago Michelin recognized restaurant.
An important factor influencing an organization’s reputation is how it is represented in the media. With this in mind, Kimball Hughes PR recently ran an independent survey of business professionals to get their perspective on how media coverage of their organization reflected on their reputation and, ultimately, their brand.
What we found was broad dissatisfaction among respondents with how their brands are perceived and represented through the media.
Among two significant reputational goals — having a regular presence in news media and being clearly differentiated from their competition in those media — a clear majority of those surveyed (more than 60 percent) did not believe these goals were met.
If these findings are any indication, brands hoping to benefit from any post-COVID economic boom have significant work to do in working with the media.
Survey results:
My organization’s reputation, as it is communicated in the media, social media and other public venues, represents our stated mission, vision and values.
9% Strongly agree
45% Agree
18% Neutral
27% Disagree
0% Strongly disagree
Senior leadership is regularly quoted in news and trend stories about our industry.
0% Strongly agree
18% Agree
18% Neutral
27% Disagree
36% Strongly disagree
If I conducted a Google News search today of topics most important to my industry, I would find my organization quoted or written about in recent news from legitimate, third-party business or trade media outlets or sites.
9% Strongly agree
9% Agree
18% Neutral
9% Disagree
54% Strongly disagree
Our brand reputation, as communicated by the media, adequately differentiates our organization from competitors in the markets we serve.
0% Strongly agree
18% Agree
9% Neutral
36% Disagree
36% Strongly disagree
Worried about your brand’s reputation? Contact Kimball Hughes PR for a free, no obligation SWOT Analysis of your brand’s reputation within the media that provides top line, practical and actionable advice on what you can do to make improvements.
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