How To Be a Strategic Doer
If you’re like many people who have been involved in strategic planning efforts, the thought of becoming involved in another one may leave you less than enthusiastic. Why? Too often, despite the...
View ArticleHow to Meet Senior Managers’ Expectations for Corporate Communications
What are senior managers across the globe and across multiple industries concerned about these days? Reputation. So says a recent study conducted by Spencer Stuart and Weber Shandwick. Not surprising...
View ArticleTop Tips for Strategic Planning
I recently had a business colleague ask me for some advice as she embarks on a major strategic planning effort for her organization. That’s a big question, but I gave it some thought and considered...
View ArticleDon’t Keep Your Strategic Plan a Secret!
Having been involved in corporate communications and public relations for a number of years I’m well aware of the concerns that organizations often have about too much information being shared with too...
View ArticleTake the Time to Plan!
In the interest of full disclosure, I’ll reveal a personal “pet peeve” right up front. I have a strong negative reaction any time I’m approached by someone – colleague, client, prospective client, etc....
View ArticleDon’t Hold Back on Employee Communications
As I work with different organizations I’m struck by the variation in their approaches to communicating with employees. Having worked in director of corporate communications roles for several years in...
View ArticleWhat Every Strategic Plan Should Include
A journalist asked me last week what I thought the key elements of a successful strategic plan should be. That’s not an easy question to answer and there are, in fact, a wide range of inputs and...
View ArticleSocial Media Mistakes that Businesses Make
I was recently interviewed by a journalist for a piece for a business trade publication on the common mistakes made by businesses when using social media. It’s a great topic and one that could easily...
View ArticleMarketing Resolutions for the New Year
As the New Year approaches it’s time to begin thinking about New Year’s resolutions, which might also be referred to as “strategic planning” — although those words tend to strike fear into the hearts...
View ArticleWhat I’d Like To Do Better in 2013: New Years Resolutions
I love a new year. Although I realize that, technically, every day is the beginning of a new year, there’s something about the New Year that makes me both reflective and optimistic about what lies...
View Article#1 Marketing Tip
What does it take to be an effective healthcare marketer? What does it take to be an effective B2B marketer? What does it take to be an effective retail marketers? Regardless of the audience asking,...
View ArticleThe Thing About Strategy – Why You Will Never “Get It Right”
Both the current situation in Syria and the start of my classes for this semester have me thinking about strategy. In fact, my pondering about the news reports I’ve been hearing regarding our strategy...
View ArticleThat “Silly” SWOT and Why You Should Spend Time to Do it Right
I used to consider SWOT analyses to be “silly exercises,” but after using them on a number of occasions during strategic planning processes with clients and, after conducting research for my book The...
View ArticleNew LinkedIn Product Pages – Go or No Go?
LinkedIn recently announced the introduction of product pages—the ability for brands to create pages to highlight specific products. The big question for brands is: “worth it,or a waste of time”? Call...
View ArticleMission Statements: Who Needs Them?
I will admit, that in years past I was a mission statement basher. I considered mission statements to be exercises in futility and a waste of time. I’ve come to believe differently, with one big...
View ArticleBreaking Through the B.S. (Brainstorming) – Some Tips for Better Results
Brainstorming is one of those activities that, on the surface, seems pretty simple. In reality, though, effectively using this technique can be challenging, Why? Because we all have a tendency to want...
View ArticleWhy Your Strategy May Not Be Working: It May Be Just a Plan
I’m a strong proponent of the value of strategic planning but I’m also glad to acknowledge that the vast majority of strategic plans rarely drive real action or measurable results. The reasons why are...
View Article5 Competitive Forces That Should Be Shaping Your Strategy
Every MBA student or undergraduate in an introductory business strategy course has encountered Porter’s Five Forces. The concept, outlined by Harvard economist and professor Michael E. Porter in 1979,...
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What’s in a SWOT? Exploring an Important Input to the Strategic Planning Process
A SWOT analysis – Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats – is a critical element of a strategic plan, if done correctly. Far from being a “silly exercise” (and I’ll admit in the early days...
View ArticleThe “Big Rocks” of Effective Strategic Plan Implementation
Strategic planning is one of those activities that is often looked upon with either fear or disdain. Why? Because all too often business professionals who have been engaged in what can be a very long...
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