A really good communication strategy is hard to think up, and sometimes even harder to write down. But a great strategy can be the difference between effective and ineffective communications, so it’s an essential, if challenging, part of communication practice. Although practitioners are rightly wary of strategy templates - because every strategy will be different,… Continue reading Can you template strategy?
Author: traceybridges68
Things I’ve learnt from those we’ve lost
I haven't written much these past eight months. My last post was in late July, and by early September two dear friends had died, within two days of each other. For those two, and then in February for another dear departed mentor, I wrote the stories of what I owe to the people we have… Continue reading Things I’ve learnt from those we’ve lost
We can be the changemakers
Public Relations Institute of New Zealand Changing Mindsets Conference 2019: opening speech We’re gathered here today in the name of change. Each block of presentations in this conference is framed around a different aspect of change, and each presenter will offer their own observations on change. And for everyone here it’s an opportunity to think… Continue reading We can be the changemakers
Can’t you take a joke?
I grew up with comedy, listening to and reciting Rowan Atkinson and Monty Python while doing the dishes with my brother in our suburban Palmerston North kitchen. We would invent and record or perform sketches, and put on shows for anyone who would watch – costumes, recorded music and all. At university, we wrote and… Continue reading Can’t you take a joke?
Framing and Free Speech: are we letting the alt-right win the battle of wits?
In his 2004 book, Don’t Think of An Elephant, American linguist George Lakoff described the power of “framing” – the use of commonly understood metaphors, or narrative constructs, to describe issues or events in a way that makes sense to people, and means they will be more easily convinved of a contrary world view. Thus,… Continue reading Framing and Free Speech: are we letting the alt-right win the battle of wits?
Life lessons from the netball court
I'm nearly 50 years old, I've been playing netball on and off since I was 11, and recently on the netball court I learnt something about how to be good in the game. Like lots of lessons, it’s possible I already knew it. But I certainly wasn't applying it in my game. And because I think it… Continue reading Life lessons from the netball court
Can you live without praise?
“Give me compliments, I said give me compliments” is the refrain from a strangely compulsive YouTube video (pictured above). No matter what the under-appreciated protagonist achieves - getting to work on time, loading the dishwasher - he gets no praise. His awesomeness is written off as if it were “of coursedness”. It’s good to learn to live… Continue reading Can you live without praise?
Tell it to me straight
If you’ve ever been given bad news, you’ll know that the best way to hear it is straight. Facts, stated clearly and compassionately, allow you to process and act on the news, however unwelcome. Last week I got some bad news. I was partly expecting the bad news. What I didn’t expect was that it… Continue reading Tell it to me straight
Purpose is personal: what’s yours?
What is your purpose? Have you thought about it recently? Just over a year ago I realised that mine had shifted, and I no longer felt – as I had for so long – that what I did was me. That realisation sparked a major change in my professional life. Last month I was asked… Continue reading Purpose is personal: what’s yours?
The female gaze; the mother tongue
When I was in my mid-twenties I was a junior member of the editorial team in a television newsroom. I had a lot to learn about television news, so I tended to just listen, and when I did contribute, I quickly learned that my input was offtrack. It turned out I wasn’t really very good… Continue reading The female gaze; the mother tongue
