The World’s Volatile, Uncertain, Complex and Ambiguous. So … How is your organization going to thrive?

Spend five minutes watching broadcast news or scrolling social media feeds and there’s little doubt the world is becoming increasingly volatile, uncertain, complex, and ambiguous (VUCA). For organizations and those driving communications, this reality presents challenges … and opportunities.  While technology – including AI – functions as an accelerant, it’s people, judgment, and decision-making that will ultimately determine who’s able to thrive in our VUCA world. Information is always imperfect and traditional linear problem solving is simply inadequate for dealing with today’s complex, non-linear issues.

Several recent studies — including those from Edelman, The Commission on Public Relations Education, and Future of PR/Comms and their Social Value  — highlight the importance of critical thinking and effective decision-making in public relations.

And while business publications are filled with ideas and life hacks about making the most of uncertainty, a little-know, often misunderstood military strategy that was developed four decades ago by a maverick fighter pilot may well hold the key to most VUCA concerns. Air Force Col. John Boyd, sometimes called American’s greatest military thinker and strategist, developed a comprehensive theory of warfare known as the OODA Loop. It describes the ongoing cycle of observation, orientation, decision, and action that commanders and organizations should engage in to gain an advantage over rivals. The OODA Loop has been adopted by militaries around the world, and it’s also used in business and other fields.VUCA

Boyd’s theories – which our firm has embraced — depart from linear problem-solving, instead embracing the intricacies of complexity. By recognizing the multifaceted nature of challenges, Boyd’s decision-making process promotes distributed leadership and involves orchestrating interactions and collaboration among diverse elements. These can enable organizations to respond nimbly to evolving contexts and foster innovation.

Collectively, Boyd’s concepts focus on outmaneuvering opponents. He argued that the best way to achieve victory is by thinking and then acting more quickly than rivals. These skills are essential for today’s professional communicators and marketers. Every competition, conflict, controversy, crisis, and even relationship is, by nature, uncertain. The OODA Loop can help public relations professionals make better decisions and act more quickly and effectively in even the most complex, uncertain environment.

Email Mike Cherenson to schedule an appointment and learn how to thrive in today’s VUCA world, mcherenson@successcomgroup.com.

Back to the Classics: A Suggested Reading List

I’m a public relations practitioner, and my profession’s core is communication– the development and expression of ideas and information. I’ve been at it for a long while, but I still find it beneficial to periodically return to the artistic classics of communicating, whether in the form of music, film, or literature. These provide us with a standard of excellence, while reminding us what true clarity of thought looks like.

 

With all this in mind– and also for fun– I’ve compiled a chronological list of seven classic novels (complete with general remarks) I enthusiastically recommend to anyone who’s ready to take a break from the here and now and gaze back upon the exceptional.

 

Wuthering Heights (1847), by Emily Brontë

Fabulously atmospheric, it’s a darkly troubling love story featuring multiple narrators and a series of flashbacks. The fact that this was Brontë’s only novel (she died in 1848, at age 30) is a tragedy for all readers.

 

Dracula (1897), by Bram Stoker

Thrilling, harrowing, and terrifying– this is the gothic novel that laid the foundation for modern horror. Dracula is about the vision of pure, ancient evil, and the circle of friends who dare to defy it.

 

Hound of the Baskervilles (1902), by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle

The Sherlock Holmes canon is composed of 56 short stories and four longer works. Collectively, they’re the origin of modern detective fiction, and this novel is the best of them. Also worth noting, Conan Doyle is a vastly underrated writer.

 

A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man (1916), by James Joyce

To me, Irishman James Joyce is the greatest writer of modern English– and this is his most accessible novel. It’s a coming-of-age tale, and though set in late nineteenth-century Dublin, it remains stunningly modern.

 

The Great Gatsby (1925), by F. Scott Fitzgerald

Considered by many to be America’s finest novel, it’s a window into a very different time– but with characters and themes that remain entirely relevant. Speaking of those characters, they’re detailed, layered, and brimming with intrigue.

 

Lord of the Rings (1954-1955), by J.R.R. Tolkien

This series is one epic fantasy tale divided into three volumes. Tolkien draws upon the root myths and legends of northern Europe to weave what I consider the most powerfully magical novel in the English language.

 

Watership Down (1972), by Richard Adams

All the main characters are rabbits. Really. It’s a mesmerizing, edge-of-your-seat story with marvelous heroes and one of literature’s most wicked villains. Also– its author didn’t begin writing until he was 46 years old.

 

Kurt Praschak

Vice President, Public Relations

SCG Advertising & PR

Promotional Products Work From Home

Promotional products and apparel are an excellent way for companies to build engagement with customers and employees. Strategies have shifted slightly with so many employees working remotely or in a hybrid schedule. We increasingly take into account what items would improve productivity in a home office or move easily with the employee between home and office.

TECHNOLOGY

All those Zoom meetings mean that we need to stay connected and organized.

  • Chargers
  • Ear Buds
  • Mouse Pads
  • Cord Organizer
  • Camera Cover
  • Ring Light
  • Branded Desk Organizers
  • Pens

APPAREL

Since your fellow Zoomers are only seeing the top half of you, you might as well have warm toes with branded socks or slippers. Logoed apparel keeps comfortable clothing professional for those on-camera moments.

TRAVEL

Traveling from home to office is a marketing/recruitment opportunity with branded bags, laptop sleeves, phone wallets, or pop sockets.

GIFT OPTIONS

To keep distribution simple, consider a gift program that allows recipients to select from a range of items that are delivered to their preferred address.

We’ve all seen the social media posts of connections starting a new job with a delivery of employer swag, but I recently saw something even cooler. A departing employee received an Alumni gift thanking them for their service and wishing them luck in their new endeavor. We’ve talked to clients about using “return tickets” officially giving employees in good standing permission to change their minds if the grass isn’t greener within a specified period of time, but this takes it one step further.

There are so many ways to use company swag to reach customers and potential employees. Contact SCG today to brainstorm ideas and make your next event memorable.

 

What if you decide to abandon Twitter?

Tada Images – stock.adobe.com

One of the best-known of all social media platforms, Twitter, is in the process of dramatically altering itself. Some changes that have already been implemented – or are thought to be coming soon – are concerning both to individuals and organizations that have utilized Twitter for years. So, in the event you find yourself making a decision about shifting away from Twitter, here are several alternatives to consider.

TumblrIt began as a microblogging platform in 2007, and has a vast number of users. Tumblr’s fanbase may not be as passionate as those of other platforms, but the site offers a wide variety of options for posting and sharing text, images, video, audio, and links.

LinkedInMore sophisticated than many other social media platforms, LinkedIn’s emphasis is on helping users locate new clients and employees, and share details of professional successes. While it may be business-focused, it’s the online home for individuals in a broad range of endeavors.

Hive SocialOn the rise since 2019, Hive Social’s audience has grown by one million users since changes began at Twitter. The platform enables users to post content without length limitations and already offers an editing function. The key drawback with Hive Social is loading time and a few other technical irregularities.

Discord – Beginning as a communications app for sharing voice, video and text chat with friends, game communities, and developers, Discord has steadily expanded. It is currently popular for networking, particularly in the music, entertainment, and sports sectors, with emphasis on internal group chats.

MastodonIt’s a federation of independently operated interconnected servers, offers microblogging features akin to Twitter, but also features other functionality allowing for message that are 500-characters in length. Mastodon also offers extensive privacy features, plus the ability to hide spoilers and add trigger warnings.

Post – For now, there’s actually a waitlist for joining the platform. Post is intended to be “A Social Platform for Real People, Real News, and Civil Conversations,” and is geared toward journalists who want to share stories without being edited.

Or … do nothing – Sometimes, taking no action is the most appropriate action. If you have an audience on other platforms and all is going well, it may be fine to simply step away from Twitter without identifying a replacement.

For more information about the recent and upcoming Twitter changes, check out the following articles:

https://techcrunch.com/2022/11/25/elon-musk-says-twitters-new-multicoloured-verification-will-launch-next-week/

https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/business/story/2022-11-07/twitter-layoffs-media-verification

https://www.politico.com/news/2022/11/24/musk-twitter-suspension-policy-00070819

https://www.fastcompany.com/90804776/elon-musk-massive-changes-twitter-one-week

International Podcast Day

A lot has changed, and quickly, in terms of the media that we create and consume. We went from radio and TV, CDs, vinyl records and so on, to being able to stream every medium possible in the palm of our hands. One new media that’s continues to grow in popularity is podcasting. So we’re all clear, a podcast – per thepodcasthost.com – is “an audio program, just like Talk Radio, but you subscribe to it on your smartphone and listen to it whenever you like.”

Many of my friends have podcasts. Two of these are “Bopcast” and “Ayoochill Podcast,” both of which focus on interviewing a variety of individuals, from entrepreneurs, event hosts, musicians, emcees, and others. I’m always fascinated by my friends’ podcasts because they bring unexpected perspectives and interview styles, and ask thought-provoking questions.

Other podcasts I enjoy listening to are Barstool Sports’ “Call Her Daddy,” hosted by Alex Cooper, and “The Daily Stoic,” hosted by Ryan Holiday. “Call Her Daddy” focuses on issues facing women, and also offers celebrity interviews. Within these celebrity interviews, many issues are spoken on including feminism, the real life of a Hollywood star and so much more. Podcasts are used for entertainment from time to time but most importantly can be used for educating others.

“The Daily Stoic” is a definite departure from the other podcasts I listen to. My wise and wonderful boss Mike got me into it, and I’d say it has actually changed my life. Holiday focuses on many historical figures, many of them Stoics,  and provides easily digestible insights. Many perspectives pioneered by Stoic philosophers like Epictetus and Marcus Aurelius, form the basis for Cognitive Behavioral Therapy. Each episode is eye-opening, and I highly recommend it if you’re looking for something to make you pause and think.

Along with listening to podcasts, I’ve actually produced several myself – though nothing I plan on releasing publicly. I’ve just been practicing and honing my skills. And with this in mind, I’m now working with my colleague Kurt to develop a podcast series for our agency that will serve to inform about public relations, advertising, recruitment, and communications overall. In past SCG has done post production and creative slates for several podcasts for our client Rutgers University. You can see some of this work on our SCG YouTube page here.  The quality that we give to our clients is superb, we are great listeners and enjoy collaborating with creative people. We would love to produce your next podcast!

Happy International Podcast Day!

Lupe Dragon

The Public Relations Side of Music

Lupe DragonA lot of musicians think that blogs and online publications are an “outdated” way of finding music, but I tend to disagree with that. As a PR professional and a musician myself, I use public relations to help boost engagement with potential fans. When you google my name, you see tons of interviews and reviews of my music from the past four years. These are in the form of podcasts, news coverage, blog posts, and social media content. It’s what we call being “social proof.”

Social proof is “the idea that consumers will adapt their behavior according to what other people are doing.”

Here are some key examples of how you can attain “social proof.”

  1. Expert’s stamp of approval
  2. Celebrity endorsement
  3. User testimonials
  4. Social media shares
  5. Earned media (i.e., news coverage)

Check out this article for more information on examples of social proof. 

A musician without public relations is the same as an author without an agent – an absolute nobody. If the general public doesn’t know you exist, how do you expect to get results?

In 2022, musicians need to be both talented and business savvy. It’s a harsh reality, but if you put even half as much effort into your marketing and PR as you do into your next single, you will be making it easier for yourself to branch out to a broader audience. That’s the reward you’re looking for.

A Poet on National Poetry Month

Since way back in 1987, I’ve earned a living as a public relations professional. I was a reporter before then, and wrote upward of a thousand newspaper articles. I’ve been an absolute Facebook addict for the past 13 years, and I’ve penned a few freelance magazine pieces. I’ve dabbled in writing fiction, with an emphasis on novels and screenplays, I’ve been known to occasionally slap acrylics on a canvas, and I’m an inveterate consumer of podcasts.

In essence, I’m a communicator. I’m naturally inclined to convey and consume information, whether in the form of facts or feelings. It’s what I do for a career and it’s how I prefer to spend my spare time.

This said, I’ve long been convinced that the purest, most potent form of written communication is poetry. It’s this perspective that makes me an appropriate author for our agency’s latest blog, since April happens to be National Poetry Month.

Both as a reader and writer, I’ve been invested in poems since I was quite young. And in the time necessary for me to transform from student to practitioner of the art, my personal style took shape. I dispensed almost completely with rhymes, but embraced alliteration. Never comfortable with lines, and less so with stanzas, I’ve come to employ a breathless, stream-of-consciousness style that to an inflexible English professor might seem suspiciously like a run-on sentence.

Over time, I’ve enjoyed some entirely non-financial success, with my poetry selected for inclusion in a variety of literary publications. One of these (“Concordance of Color,” from the spring 2015 edition of Miller’s Pond Poetry Magazine) follows here, because it seems awkward to discuss creating poems without also sharing a sample.

As if God spent an hour fingerpainting with white and black tempera, streaking November’s sky in unsettled grays, mostly dull, with a whisper of threat, and walking below I watch the drab shades run, seeping down on trees, across lawns, transforming unremarkable structures into mansions of film noir moodiness, absent all hues, save for you — solely immune to this visual desolation — sauntering in a concordance of color, of crimsons, blues, yellows, drifting along, and I’m induced to follow, enthralled by your conspicuous magic.

There’s a kinship between writing poetry and crafting fine furniture, sculpting with clay, or tinkering with an engine. For me, words are the wood or clay; punctuation the wrench set or lathe. And with any of these creative endeavors, nuance determines excellence. Many a word may be suitable to convey meaning, just as any board can become a shelf. But whether with word or board, there’s only one perfect fit.

What captivates me is the pursuit of the ideal word or phrase – the delicate, precise construction that can stir darkness or light in a reader’s heart. Communication is my compulsion, and there are things only poetry can express.

What do your stakeholders value … and can it predict their behavior?

Image courtesy of the European Commission, Joint Research Centre

 

Given the rise in polarization and misinformation across society, a refined understanding of values is more meaningful than ever before. There’s minimal confusion about the fact that how we interact with the world is driven by what we value and identify with. But, it’s important to realize that because values also trigger appreciation of certain behaviors and distaste for others, an awareness of them can be an effective tool in helping organizations solidify relationships with key stakeholders.

 

A recent report by the European Commission, Joint Research Centre provides a unique look at values and identities and their impact on decision makers and communicators. The report also provides a powerful tool to map values and identities. The map helps marketers and communicators understand value tensions that impact communications, while identifying stakeholders and what motivates them.

 

The report notes:

 

  • “Values are a blend of biological and evolutionary factors coupled with individual and societal histories. Values are highly stable at the individual level and are mostly shaped by life conditions during childhood, adolescence, and early adulthood through the influence of parents, neighbors, friends, and schools.”

 

  • “Personal identity is based on a person’s values, experiences and knowledge, and is mostly perceived to be unique. The relevance of personal identity for policymaking comes from the argument that values are at its core, therefore, when one’s values are threatened, it is also true that the sense of self is threatened.”

 

  • “Social identification can shift a person’s behavior to align with the group by ascribing characteristics, values and qualities of the group to the self and depersonalizing one’s personal identity. Identification of oneself and others into various social groups is human nature. Belonging to a group is a source of self-esteem and distinctiveness. The identification with a group can be an advantage for working together but can also be to the exclusion of others, as seen in many political conflicts of our time. The identification with one group often leads to a reduced willingness to interact and share with others and to perceive others as less positive.”

 

Understanding values and identities enables us to shape research and the gathering of information; accurately assess situations; check assumptions about publics and perceptions; and identify, prioritize, and understand key publics well beyond traditional demographics, geography, and identifiers. Communicators and marketers can utilize this research to develop more targeted messaging, while selecting a spokesperson who will be most appropriate for achieving desired outcomes. And, speaking even more broadly, a full awareness of values and identities can lead to the creation of increasingly effective communication goals and strategies.

Panic Rules (1600 x 800 px) (1)

DOES YOUR ORGANIZATION HAVE PANIC RULES?

11 Rules for Making Better Decisions and Alleviating Panic in the Ranks

We live in fast-paced, uncertain, complex, polarized times … which frequently require decision-making under challenging circumstances. Regardless of the situation at hand – and whether it’s mundane, or truly life-or-death – how one responds is under that individual’s control.

 

As a public relations firm with more than 60 years of experience dealing with crisis and conflict in a wide variety of industries and sectors, we at SCG Advertising + Public Relations are convinced every organization needs a process for complex decision-making and dealing with “moments of truth.”  Does your group have panic rules?

 

The NFL’s Los Angeles Rams do, and they use them to guide on- and off-the-field decision-making. Team General Manager Les Snead recently explained panic rules during an interview on the Daily Stoic podcast. Snead based the rules in question on Stoicism, a school of philosophy that originated in ancient Greece and Rome. It’s a life philosophy that seeks to maximize positive emotions, reduce negative emotion, and help individuals to hone character virtues. Podcaster, author, and speaker Ryan Holiday has recently shone new light on Stoicism via his Daily Stoic brand.

 

So, from the Stoics, here are 11 basic panic rules.

ANTCIPATE

“The man who has anticipated the coming of troubles takes away their power when they arrive.” – Seneca

DON’T FEAR CHANGE

“When we are no longer able to change a situation, we are challenged to change ourselves.” Viktor Frankl

CHALLENGE IS OPPORTUNITY

“A gem cannot be polished without friction, nor a man perfected without trials.” – Seneca

WHEN IN DOUBT, DO THE RIGHT THING

“If it is not right, do not do it, if it is not true, do not say it.” – Marcus Aurelius

ACTION SPEAKS LOUDER THAN WORDS

“Don’t explain your philosophy. Embody it.” – Epictetus

FIND CALM, TAKE PAUSE, BREATHE

“It is essential that we not respond impulsively… take a moment before reacting and you find it easier to maintain control.” — Epictetus

STAY FOCUSED

“He who is everywhere is nowhere.” – Seneca

BE COURAGEOUS

“The first rule is to keep an untroubled spirit. The second is to look things in the face and know them for what they are.” – Marcus Aurelius

PREPARE TO BE BOLD  

“More is lost by indecision than wrong decision. Indecision is the thief of opportunity.”— Cicero

INACTION CAN BE THE BEST ACTION

“You always own the option of having no opinion.” – Marcus Aurelius

SEEK COUNSEL, ASK FOR HELP

“Don’t be ashamed to need help. Like a soldier storming a wall, you have a mission to accomplish. And if you’ve been wounded and you need a comrade to pull you up? So what?Marcus Aurelius

 

The concept of panic rules goes well beyond simply navigating conflict. It provides a reliable framework for addressing key business, ethical, and social issues. As Stoic philosopher Cicero said, “Glory follows virtue as if it were its shadow.”

Click here for a helpful graphic of the panic rules.

 

SCG Survey

Poll: Employees consider company’s reputation, alignment with their own views more important than higher salary

SCG Survey

Views on vaccine also impactful, says nationwide, online survey of 1,500 adults

WHIPPANY, NJ (Oct. 20, 2021) – A nationwide survey of 1,500 adults indicates that 84.03% of respondents are willing to accept lower financial compensation to work for a company with a stellar reputation. A similar number – 79.59% – say it’s important to have an employer who shares their views. These results – from an SCG Advertising + Public Relations survey – seem to indicate that businesses and other employers ignore employees’ values and perspectives at their own peril.

 

Completed on October 12, 2021, the online poll also looks at vaccine policies, finding that 74.19% of respondents favor a position with a fair salary and vaccine policies they agree with, versus a higher salary and a vaccine policy in contrast to their own beliefs.

 

Full, sortable data from the survey is available here. Also included is a free, interactive white paper that features a downloadable infographic, as well as a “LISTEN” acrostic that can serve as a strong, visual reminder of the value of listening.

 

“It’s crucial that employers consider whether their organization’s beliefs align with those of current and prospective employees,” says Michael Cherenson, executive vice president for SCG Advertising + Public Relations. “The results of our poll are intriguing, and should be particularly resonant at a time when so many companies are struggling to attract and retain talent.”

 

Indicative of how serious workers are about being content with and comfortable in their employment is the most recent JOLTS (Job Opening and Labor Turnover Survey) report, which shows that a record 4.3 million Americans quit their jobs during August. It’s a striking figure – which is equivalent to 2.9% of the entire U.S. workforce – and is made even more so by separate, recent research indicating that the actual cost to an organization related to an employee resigning may be as much as 50% of that individual’s annual salary.

 

Click Here For Your Copy Of Our Interactive White Paper

Another example of how important it can be to embrace positions valued by employees is United Airline’s recent decision to require all workers to be vaccinated. The move was extremely popular with candidates for employment, as evidenced by the airline having received 20,000 applications for 2,000 open flight attendant positions. For United, this represents a decidedly accelerated application rate, versus its typical, pre-pandemic ratio.

 

This said, Cherenson also notes that along with employees, business leaders must also assess the perspectives and values of other key stakeholders.

 

“While the survey data indicates the value of aligning policies with employees, organizations also need to be in sync with where their customers, clients, and society at-large stand on core issues,” Cherenson explains. “When there’s any sort of misalignment, an organization needs to work harder and smarter. To be clear, this survey’s results don’t suggest an organization should shrink from its larger obligation related to vaccines and the public health infrastructure, which a majority of Americans support. Rather, it indicates the advisability of organizations communicating as strategically and proactively as possible with their various publics.”

 

Viewing the poll results from a somewhat different perspective, only 7% of those surveyed said they would consistently choose the higher salary in response to all three questions. In other words, more than six in 10 would consistently follow their gut, versus unquestionably choosing the higher salary.

 

Of further note, in August 2001, SCG Advertising + Public Relations conducted a similar survey. It asked whether those polled would accept a lower level of compensation to work for a company with an excellent reputation. Fully 78% of respondents indicated they would.

 

“That initial survey’s results are in line with this latest poll, but it’s intriguing to see what’s changed in 20 years,” says Cherenson. “Back in 2001, 78% of those surveyed indicated a willingness to forgo a higher salary to be connected with a well-regarded organization. Today, in response to the same question, six percent more people express a preference for the company with a stellar reputation. View side-by-side, the 2001 and 2021 results appear to indicate an ongoing, societal shift – one that should substantially impact how businesses and other organizations present and define themselves.”

 

 About SCG Advertising + Public Relations

Headquartered in Whippany, NJ, SCG Advertising + Public Relations has organizational roots dating to 1958. The agency provides comprehensive communication services for a broad range of clients. Its satellite offices are located in the metropolitan areas of Philadelphia, Atlanta, San Diego, and Tampa.

 

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