Dr. Jacque Lambiase and Dr. Laura Bright are professors in the Bob Schieffer College of Communication at TCU. Together they direct the Certified Public Communicator Program at TCU, now in its seventh year. Since 2010, Jacque has consulted with or spoken to groups about earning their share of discussion in social media and public relations opportunities, including talk to the Texas Association of Municipal Information Officers, Lockheed Martin, the U.S. Department of Labor, among others. Dr. Bright’s research focuses on social media addiction and fatigue, big data and personalized advertising, and citizen engagement online. She also consults various companies and organizations on optimizing their digital presence. For more information, please visit www.brightwoman.com or follow her on Twitter @lbright. You can follow Jacque on Twitter @lambiase. 

Top Takeaways:

1. Executive presence involves breaking down leadership to its core attributes creating a roadmap of traits you can focus on and develop to become a better leader.
2. A connection culture is one where employees feel connected to one another, connected to the organizational mission, and that they can make a difference. This type of culture is key for building brand ambassadors within your organization.
3. Being prepared for a crisis is about more than having a plan. It requires dedicated time to practice throughout the year. The magic of crisis communication happens in the prep work, not what happens during the crisis.

Shownotes:

[4:33] Learn more about the Certified Public Communicator program at Texas Christian University. It’s open to everyone! You don’t have to be from Texas.

[5:35] How do we keep communicators across silos on the same page?

[8:14] You have to nail your internal communication before you can hope to communicate effectively externally. Learn how to create a culture of communication.

[12:45] Executive presence breaks down the different characteristics of leadership that people can learn and harness to become better leaders.

[14:40] The art of listening and the difference of empathetic listening.

[17:53] Executive presence and listening are important ingredients in creating a connection culture—one where employees feel valued and connected to the mission.

[21:21] What does inbound and outbound communication look like internally? “You can’t sit in your office and wait for employees to respond.”

[29:00] Find creative ways to communicate mission and vision. Tell stories around your mission and show how employees are embodying the vision and values.

[36:40] Having a crisis communication plan is not enough. It has to be rehearsed!

Resources:

TCU Certified Public Communicator Program (Sign up early, they fill up fast!)

Make Your Bed: Admiral William H. McRaven

Fired up or burned out: Michael Lee Stallard

Crucial Conversations: Kerry Patterson

Susan Bates: All the Leader You Can Be

Americana: Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie

Samuel Pepys: Claire Tomalin

Sponsor:

This episode is powered by Rogue Water, the public communication company founded by the H2duO, Stephanie Zavala and Arianne Shipley. Rogue Water is dedicated to revolutionizing the water industry—one person, one story, one experience at a time. We are award-winning communication professionals with a decade of experience working in water utilities moving the needle forward in communication, outreach, and education to build stronger relationships between the water sector and the public it serves. These relationships serve as the foundation needed to make the necessary changes that create a sustainable water future for all. Are you ready to go Rogue?

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