A few years have passed since I had a go at faddish words that have already worn out their welcome. As we’re communicators, speaking in understandable language is the thing. But using clichés and hackneyed expressions and words may seem like an effective use of language, but, in truth, it grates on the ear. Using [...]

As communications professionals, we are well aware of Awareness Months / Weeks / Days. This rings especially true if you work in health care. Considerable planning is done around these occasions and ultimately our campaigns depend on being seen during these times. Ironically, communications professionals are constantly fighting for awareness of their awareness. So imagine [...]

Pictures and photographs have always been a powerful way to tell a story and convey a message. Throughout history there are several images that we associate with events, such as the famous World War II kiss in Times Square or the firefighters raising the American flag at Ground Zero after 9-11, to name a few.
But [...]

He opens his eyes, reaches for his phone, and starts reading the headlines on his news app. Then, he checks e-mail, tweets, sends a Facebook message and makes a new connection on LinkedIn. He gets out of bed. He was a communicator in 2011. And, it’s no surprise that this was and continues to be [...]

With the New Year comes all manner of “year in review” lists, articles and coverage across the media spectrum. Some of these will simply summarize the previous year’s highlights, while others will take a more nuanced and critical approach, attempting to learn from the year past and consider the lesson’s we can all take forward.
Amongst [...]

I am very proud of the numerous long-term client relationships we have at Environics Communications. Considering it has been less than 18 years since we opened our doors, we have several clients with 10-years-plus relationships. In most of these cases, one of the original Environics people who pitched and won the account is still involved [...]

The world is still mourning the passing of Steve Jobs, the former leader of Apple Inc., especially communication professionals and technophiles who anxiously await the newest creations in technology that will advance our personal and business lives in both epic and subtle ways.
As a former Business Manager at Apple, Steve’s passing marks the loss of [...]

I grew up hating lists.
My mother was a list person, and consequently I had “to-do lists” haunting me most of my adolescence. Send thank you note to Uncle Mark. Cut the grass by EOD Sunday. Reminder that your History thesis is due 11/15 . . .
In business, we all keep lionized lists of one degree [...]

I am reminded frequently how important creativity is to our success in winning and keeping clients. Just recently, a client asked us to pick up a new product category because the incumbent agency “lacked creativity.” Our dozens of industry awards over the years frequently recognize our creative thinking in addition to other aspects of our [...]

My husband and I were recently discussing our individual strengths, puffing up each others egos and what not. I told him that he’s more musically gifted and athletic than me. His response: “Hmm . . . you’re better at talking than I am.”
Talking?
At first I was insulted. But the more I thought about it – [...]