Media Issues Archives
Tuesday, February 7th, 2012
It’s Halftime…Are You Ready?
How many times have you started a presentation or interview and thought, “gosh, I wish I had a better start?” Have you started down a line of ideas and then lost your train of thought mid-sentence and hoped for the hail Mary idea to get you back on track? If so, you’re not alone!
As an enormous sports fan and former physical athlete who still feels she has some sports psychology still left in her, I found myself thoroughly inspired by the message in the Chrysler Super Bowl ad narrated by Clint Eastwood. The concept that halftime can be a game changer, and if you persevere you can get through any tough time was a powerful message of both strength and hope. The same holds true whether you’re out on the gridiron, making your winning putt on the golf course, shooting the buzzer beater basket, or standing in front of an audience hoping to sway, motivate, inspire or move them to follow your lead.
Tuesday, November 1st, 2011
Campaign Crisis Communications
Tuesday, September 27th, 2011
Winning Webinars
Planes, trains and automobiles, we’re all getting tired of traveling for every meeting and workshop, so webinars and teleconferences are becoming more common. I, myself lead a webinar this afternoon for the Association of Women in Communications on media interview preparation. We focused specifically, on ambush, walk and talk, and impromptu interviews. You know the kind of interviews where someone stops you on the street, or throws a camera in your face just after you walk off stage from making a speech, or leave a hearing room when testifying in front of lawmakers. Whatever the scenario, if you’re a newsmaker, there’s no such thing as an ambush or impromptu interview. Be ready at all times.
Wednesday, June 22nd, 2011
A funny thing happened on my way to the podium…
I have just returned from one of the most enjoyable facilitation experiences I’ve had in a long time. I conducted a brief workshop on crisis communication for the Cooperative Communicators Association Institute in San Antonio. The Annual Conference was packed with more than 130 communicators from coops around the country. Every industry from financial to farming, power to produce.
A funny thing happened to me on the way to the podium, so I couldn’t help but change my open:
“You know, when I lead presentation workshops, I always tell clients to ‘lead with sexy.’ Not the Congressman Weiner kind, but definitely something that grabs the audience’s attention so you start with a bang! Of course, I wasn’t planning to start a fire as my open, but how appropriate and convenient is it, when the conference is called Caliente! Hot Ideas for Cooperative Communicators, and the opening workshop is Crisis Communications: Staying out of the Hot Seat?! A little crisis, with a fast clean up is the perfect way for us to get started!”
Sunday, May 1st, 2011
Let the Political Games Begin: Obama & Meyers 1, Trump 0
At the risk of sounding redundant, please check your red, blue, and tea party hats at the door. We’re talking communication today, not politics. One can’t help but comment on the White House Correspondent’s dinner, Saturday night. It’s the best dinner of the year, and an annual event where every sitting President gets the opportunity to poke a little fun at themselves, and their critics. It’s the most “real” you’ll ever see any of the Presidents (and in some cases, their spouses) as they’re allowed and, in fact, encouraged to let the sarcasm roll, the cheap shots fly, and the pure acceptance of the successes, failures, criticisms and challenges they’ve faced for the previous 12 months. It is in fact, to borrow a phrase from Fox…a no spin zone.
Sunday, March 27th, 2011
Lothery & Associates Gets Radical!
Saturday, while most people were running errands before the basketball games started, Lothery & Associates, LLC was sponsoring the Get Radical! Conference in Washington, DC. More than 500 ambitious and upwardly mobile women attended to get pearls of wisdom from Jillian Michaels, Rhonda Britten, Niecy Nash, Ali Brown, and Doreen Rainey. Speakers covered everything from overcoming challenges, beating procrastination, better financial planning, and of course taking care of your body and health.
As a communication coach, I couldn’t help but watch all of the above for their information, but also their delivery and approach. If you missed this amazing and empowering day, allow me to point out some key communication strengths they all shared.
Friday, February 4th, 2011
Meteorologists: The Model Crisis Communicators
There’s a lesson to be learned about communicating in a crisis, from the meteorologists who have been working hard all week. They communicate early, and often! Lack of information brings panic and confusion. Consistent flow of information establishes trust, minimizes the effects of rumors, and allows a direct connection between you and your customers, employees, and other stakeholders.
Sunday, January 23rd, 2011