IABC Be Heard Weblog

Wow! If you didn’t get a chance to read the December e-newsletter issue of CW Bulletin from IABC headquarters, make a point to do so this week. It is jam-packed with advice from senior communicators about Navigating the Economic Crisis.

My favorite article is from fellow Texan, Sheri Rosen, ABC.  She advises communicators to stick to basics. No need for a special dog-and-pony show, just follow your strategic communications plan. This is also no time to run and hide. You’re a communicator. Communicate.

“People want information to help them sort through their thoughts, and that’s where you as a communicator can help. Explain what is happening in the marketplace from the perspective of your company and industry. Information fosters understanding, and conversation leads to shared understanding,” Sheri says.

Also, get out your calendar and mark these dates: January 22, February 12, February 26 and March 26. IABC Houston will be bringing you programs on Strategic Planning, Small Business Longevity, Employee Communications and the International Perspective, respectively. A networking happy hour is also in the works for February. That’s where you can really gain persepctive on the state of communications by talking with your peers. We also plan to offer a complimentary Webinar this spring. Stay tuned for those dates.

With all of these resources, there’s no time for hand-wringing and lamenting the state of the economy. Just communicate!

I am honored to share this space with Lauren Fry, the past president of the University of Houston Chapter of IABC. Lauren and her board were instrumental in not only establishing an IABC presence on the campus this year, but generating an excitement about the organization that has led to 20 students signing on as members and eager volunteers.  I wish you all the best Lauren and look forward to working with you as you transition from student to graduate and join the workforce.

In April, when I became the first president of the IABC-UH Chapter, my first thought was “this will be great on my resume!” Little did I know, the great responsibility I would have and the wisdom I would take away from this adventure.

The first few months of my presidency were a little slow, and I was testing the waters of what it meant to be the president. At summer’s end, we planned to get things kicked off and ready to roll for the semester. Well, I soon learned that getting everyone to agree to a retreat time and place was a difficult task. I realized that I wasn’t the only one with a full plate. I was working with a group of my peers, who were just as busy as I was. Whether it was going on a last minute vacation before school started, working on personal crises or having to work last minute—I realized how flexible I needed to be. This was my first of many lessons I would learn in the next 5 months.

Our biggest event for the semester was our “UH Media Homecoming” meeting. We invited professionals from different media outlets, all of which had graduated from UH, to come and speak on a panel. For this meeting, I was the moderator. My job was to ask the panel questions and attempt to keep the meeting running smoothly. My goal was to get as much valuable information out of the panel as I could for the audience full of eager students. This was a huge success for us. The most valuable thing I gained from this meeting was confidence in my ability to handle a meeting “on my feet”- so to speak.

After the meeting, our faculty advisor, Mike Emery, sent me four emails that he had received from his colleagues telling them what an excellent job the moderator did. I had no idea how many people were paying attention to the job I was doing. I was so proud of the organization, and myself. That was another lesson I learned, just have confidence in yourself and your organization that you represent, and everything will fall into place.

I have mentioned a couple of lessons that I have learned while being the president, but the most valuable thing I am taking away from this organization is my growth as a leader. I believe that Jesse Jackson described leadership the best when he said, “Leaders must be tough enough to fight, tender enough to cry, human enough to make mistakes, humble enough to admit them, strong enough to absorb the pain and resilient enough to bounce back and keep on moving.”

I once heard someone describe the difference between a manager and a leader. A manager can tell someone to do something, and a leader inspires someone to do something.

Have I figured out how to be a great leader? No. I have figured out that being the president has helped me grow as a leader. That growth is more than I could have ever asked for from this experience. A leader does what needs to be done even when no one else steps up, and even if no one else is watching.

As I am nearing graduation, I know that I can graduate with confidence that I have learned a very important life lesson while being the president of IABC-UH Chapter. The characteristic of leadership is a quality I will be taking into the real world, and that, I believe, sets me apart.

I would like to thank the IABC-UH Chapter, and I wish it all the best. Now, I look forward to enhancing my skills and my professional growth as a member of the IABC Houston Chapter.

IABC Houston is making a list and checking it twice, asking for things not naughty but nice. Here’s a peek.

More members. Our goal for the 2008-2009 board year is to increase membership by 15%. We’re well on our way. When the board year started in July we had 312 members. We now have 332. During December each member can help the chapter achieve its goal–refer a friend or colleague for membership. You’ll be rewarded with three free months off the cost of your yearly membership. Not a bad deal in these financially troubling times. Learn more on our Web site.

Professional development opportunities. Our VP of Professional Development, Pam McConathy is excited about the slate of programs taking shape for 2009. She welcomes Chris Wailes as the Director of Meetings and Seminars. Chris just moved here from North Carolina and has joined Pierpont Communications. Thanks Chris for jumping in to volunteer. We will kick things off in January with a workshop and luncheon on strategic planning, an important skill to hone especially these days. Also planned for first quarter is a presentation on internal communications, a visit from our International Chair, Barbara Gibson and a Webinar on a topic to be determined.

Be Heard opportunities. In January we plan to launch a weekly poll in our Insider newsletter. The first poll will present some choices for the Webinar mentioned above. Members will be able to choose which topic they would like to see. Then each week, members will have an opportunity to be heard on what topics they would like to see us delve into for luncheons and seminars, where they would like to meet, when they would like to meet and so on. No need to waste your time on a lengthy survey, just take two minutes to answer a few questions (no more than three at a time). It’s quick, easy and important to make sure you’re heard.

No more hurricanes. We may not be able to do anything about this one, but here’s hoping for a calm hurricane season next year.

Peace and fellowship. The IABC Houston Board wishes the best for you and yours during the holidays and in the new year.

Chris Hall, IABC chief IT guy, at left by the screen, and his assistant at right, talk with a group of Houston ESIG members about the new Vendor Search service. Around the table counterclockwise are Carole Minor, Encore Communications; Jamie Roark, Simply Communicate; Susan Burnell, APR, Imagination Ink; Elaine Krause, Communications Outsourcing; Ben Wheatley, ABC, APR, Ben Wheatley Public Relations; and Theresa Parker, Torma Communications. Pam McConathy, Foresight Communications Group, was our photographer.

I had the privilege of participating in a focus group on Friday to give my opinion on an awesome new service that IABC is about to launch. Vendor Search (they’re still working on the name) will allow an independent contractor IABC member to post a page on the international site. It’s like the Houston Chapter’s Find a Freelancer section on our Web site, only global.

In fact, Houston’s leadership in starting an Entrepreneur Strategic Interest Group was a major reason for Chris Hall, chief technology officer at IABC headquarters, to come to Houston and find out what we think. Chris worked with Mark Schumann, ABC, to arrange the sessions at the Towers Perrin office downtown. Mark is the vice-chairman of IABC and will take the role of chairman of the international group next June. He is never at a loss to promote the Houston chapter and its innovative members.

Getting back to Vendor Search. About 20 percent of the IABC membership is made up of independent consultancy businesses from one-person shops to major companies such as Towers Perrin. Not since 2000, when the last 16,000-page Worldbook directory of IABC members was published, has there been a “yellow pages” section that promotes this important membership segment.

Unlike the print directory, IABC will not charge extra to be added to Vendor Search. “This is very much a value-added service for members,” Chris explained. “In these tough economic times, IABC is looking for ways to add value.”

It was tough economic times in the oil bust days of the 1980s that created an entrepreneurial spirit in Houston. “The role of the independent is unique to Houston,” said Carole Minor, Encore Communications and charter ESIG member . “No one has been doing this as long as we have and with a sense of community among our competitors like we have.” We all agreed that’s what makes ESIG so great. We’re all competitors but we like each other and support each other. We want to see each other succeed.

The IABC Vendor Search will be one more tool to help us succeed. IABC members in need of services in writing, design, PR or video for example, will be able to search the membership’s list of experts. It will be especially helpful when trying to find an expert in a certain part of the world.

Chris says the new service is on the fast track to be up and running in January. Be Heard. Be Noticed. Be Marketed.

The economic crisis will pass. At least I hope so. We have been through tough times before and survived, so it’s just a matter of time before all the smart people figure out how to fix this. Never mind that it was the smart people who got us into this mess. Anyway, I’ve been watching ezines come through my inbox with advice on how to cope. Here are few I thought worth mentioning starting with what our international office has to offer.

IABC Cafe2Go podcast
IABC President Julie Freeman, ABC, APR, and 2008–2009 Chair Barbara Gibson, ABC, discuss the impact of the financial crisis on the communication profession, the challenges for internal and external communicators, and how communication professionals can demonstrate their value during tough economic times.

Also coming

• The transcript of a panel discussion on the role of communication in the financial crisis will appear in the January–February issue of Communication World magazine.
• IABC and Mercer conducted a survey on the impact of the financial crisis on communication professionals and what they are doing to deal with it. The survey findings will be available free to IABC members in early December.
• In the December issue of CW Bulletin the foremost leaders in organizational communication will offer their advice and tips on how communicators can ensure they are a valuable asset to their organization during the current economic downturn, and look at what steps they can take to help their organizations survive.

Prolific Advice

Ragan Communications, that prolific authoritarian group out of Chicago, sends out out an enewsletter almost every hour (at least it seems that way) packed with advice. A recent one had the headline and summary, “Measurement and Creativity Are Important in Tough Times: Tips from communications experts on cutting costs without cutting corners.” Sounds good, but you have to be a Ragan Select subscriber to find out. What if your cost-cutting measures include paring down your subscription list? By the way, a Ragan Select subscription costs $279, about the cost of an IABC membership, which provides resources either at no cost or nominal cost. Anyway, Ragan is good at what it does and you might want to check out ragan.com to determine if a subscription is right for you.

Smooch Says…

I also received an email from someone named Smooch Repovich Reynolds who offered Ten Career Tips to Bring You Up in a Down Market. I don’t know if it was the name or the lure of another Top 10 list that made me open the email, but either way she (I’m assuming Smooch is a she) had some good points. Smooch is the CEO of her own executive search firm specializing in communications placements. So here are a few of the tips. If you’d like the full list, post a comment or email me (theresa@torma.com) and I’ll share.

Her first tip was to Focus, focus, focus – on the idea of doing great work in every aspect of your job. Also,

Be a superb listener for your colleagues at all levels of the company.

Reach out to experts outside the organization to learn more about key indicators that may affect the business of your company, and your role, in order to anticipate future issues better and provide more appropriate counsel. (Use IABC resources and network with your fellow chapter members, for example.)

Understand the pressures that your management team is facing and learn how to “lean into” them and provide strategic support as they determine how to navigate a troubled economy.

Yea! for Yahoo!

And here’s some advice from the all-knowing Yahoo! site. When stressed, repeat this mantra:

I am grateful.

I am strong.

I can get through this.

Communications is finally getting the respect it deserves on college campuses. At last month’s luncheon, speaker Deborah Barrett announced that Rice University has recently established a Program for Communication Excellence for its students. “We plan to position our communication program so that it reaches all students across the curriculum as part of their general education to ensure that our students obtain the level of communication excellence needed to be the global citizens we hope they become.” That’s what it says on their Web site. They have recognized the importance that communication plays in their graduates becoming successful engineers, business executives and scientists. Awesome! To read more about Rice’s program, see www.rice.edu/comm.

I am also very proud of the great strides that the IABC Student Chapter at the University of Houston has made. The chapter now has 20 members, led by Lauren Fry, president. The group has shown its creativity in sponsoring events of great benefit to its members. They have launched a lunch-time program called Pizza with the Pros in which they invite students to share a slice with a communications professional.

They also hosted a Media Homecoming event which featured a panel of UH alumni media types who shared their experiences in how they landed their jobs and advanced their careers. It was a standing-room-only crowd. I think the panel offered some interesting insights. The television and radio guys have been in the field for a while (seasoned I believe we say). Both wore suits. Another panel member was a former radio reporter now in media relations. She offered a unique perspective of going to the dark side. And the two guys who just graduated I mistook for students and not speakers (Oops!). Both work at the Chronicle. Both wore jeans. Both are bloggers–one in arts, one in sports. Both are contract personnel, which seems to be the way of the printed press these days.

One message they could all agree on was, “Don’t expect to land that end-all, be-all job right out of college. Be persistent. Be prepared to fetch the coffee, work the holiday shifts if that’s what it takes.

I am very proud to see communications students taking advantage of these programs. It would have been great to have this type of support when I graduated from UH in 1981. Thanks to IABC Board Member Lauren Bohnstedt and UH School of Communications rep and teacher Mike Emery for launching the student chapter. Thanks to Lauren Fry for being an outstanding first president and assembling an enthusiastic board. The UH IABC Chapter is one of only 25 student chapters in the IABC international organization and the only active one in Texas right now.

Houston universities rock!

Dad let me borrow his crown for a photo.

On October 23, I had the honor to be among some real celebrities–none of those tabloid types who pretend they are somebodies. I’m talking people who have accomplished great things in the real world. It was the 25th anniversary celebration of Torma Communications and 2d-a design collaborative. I have had the privilege of working at Torma for the past 10 years. To show you how this IABC networking thing works, Tracy and I were introduced to Ellen Custer, graphic designer and principal of 2d design about the same time I joined Torma. The client was Transocean. Our contact was Susie McMichael, ABC. We were working with Susie to develop a magazine for the company. In search of a designer, Susie asked fellow IABCer Ben Wheatley, ABC, APR, who he would recommend. He suggested Ellen, an active member of the chapter’s ESIG.

It was a good match. Ellen and I still work with Transocean even though Susie has gone on to other companies. But there you have my testimonial. Tracy spoke briefly at the monthly luncheon that Torma sponsored and said more than 90 percent of her business has come through networking and referrals in IABC.  Now that’s results!

Back to the dancing part. Ellen, Tracy and our Torma colleague, Susan Diemont-Conwell, all attended my wedding a coule of years ago. It was held in the Czech and German tradition of entertaining reception guests with a polka band, barbecue and cold beer. In fact, I never knew there was any other kind of wedding reception until my family and I attended a punch and cake affair when I was 10 or so. I kept asking, “When’s the band gonna get here?”

Anyway, they loved it so much, it was a unanimous decision that the Torma/2d design celebration would be a polka party. Cheers to 25 Years was a blast. It was held at the same hall as my reception. Same band, same caterer. Plenty of Shiner beer and an infusion of dancing by the Polka Lovers Klub of America (Po.L.K. of A.) Texas Chapter 1, of which my parents are the prince of princess. They wore their red and white costumes and performed traditional Czech and German dances. These folks are in their 60s, 70s and 80s and they can outlast anyone, any age on the dance floor. Their love for the music and dance is contagious. Our guests felt comfortable venturing onto the floor to learn more.

As my dad says, “It’s just hard to be sad or worried when you’re listening to such happy music.” I think that was his stress relief and I think that’s why he’s still dancing at the age of 83.

The stars of the evening were many. My husband, John, who wasn’t sure about the polka thing when we first started dating but who has come to love it as much as I do. My two sons–Will, who came in from Austin and has made music his profession, and Alec, who at age 14, is already quite an accomplished dancer. My dad and his fellow Klub members. Most are WWII vets who have a strong sense of family and country. I may not agree with their politics, but they are shining examples of what hard work and sound moral character can achieve. My employer and friend, Tracy, and colleagues and friends Ellen and Susan. They are stars in their profession, family and communities and I have learned so much from them. Our clients, family and friends and IABC colleagues. Each one shines brightly for their companies, families and communities.

All in all, I would have to score the evening a 10 with no one being voted off!

We had a great time doing the Chicken Dance, which according to IABC colleague Gretchen Weis, is also popular in mainland China.

IABC colleague Pegge Bogle, ABC; me; BHP Billiton client Teresa Wong; and Torma colleague Susan Diemont-Conwell make a grand entrance.

We see a red outfit in Ellen's future!

Tracy says Cheers to 25 Years as guests arrive.

For the first time in a very long time IABC and a “competitor” organization, PRSA, collaborated on presenting a professional development event. Insider’s Guide to Internal and External Branding was held October 21 at the Briar Club.

The panel was stellar–Mark Schumann, ABC, with Towers Perrin, who has written two books on the subject; Bethany Haley, president and brand director of Savage Design; Karen Love, director of practice growth with PKF of Texas, an accounting firm; and Christine Mathers, corporate communications director, Weatherford International. Denise Patrick with Pierpont was the very able and entertaining moderator.

The sponsors were impressive–Brookwoods Group, Beth S. Miller Marketing Communications, Art Squad, Business Wire and Houston Wellness Association.

I just have one question–where were you?

Those who did attend came away with pages of notes, some of which I had planned to share in this space. But I changed my mind. You really had to be there. You really should have been there. I’m at a loss as to why more IABC and PRSA members didn’t take advantage of this professional development opportunity. I believe the topic was relevant. So what was it? Too early? Too long? Everyone was out by 10 a.m.

I’d like to thank Travis Harper, our board’s marketing VP, for representing IABC so well and working with PRSA’s Suzanne Lammers and Melanie Brenneman to plan the event. Thanks to the speakers who took the time from their busy schedules to participate. Thanks to the sponsors for investing in the program. Thanks to PRSA President Priscilla Tinsley and her board for the willingness to collaborate with IABC.

And thanks to those who attended. I know that like me, you came away with valuable information you can use in your jobs and careers. Special kudos to the students who attended.

We plan to work with PRSA again to present another program next year. Maybe then I can add you to the list of thank-you recipients.

No stock tips here, just some tools IABC can offer.

1. Monthly professional development meetings. Now’s not the time to hunker down (my favorite phrase from the Hurricane Ike coverage) at your desk or under your desk. It’s time to learn from our speakers, network with other members and, if nothing else, get a change of scenery and perspective. It’s a great time to find out how other communicators are dealing with the crisis in their businesses.

As for learning something, we have a great line-up over the next few months. Rice Professor Deborah Barrett will kick it off in October with how to counsel the senior leaders in our companies or clients’ companies during these unsettling times. In November, much-sought-after speaker Carol Kinsey Goman talks about the Nonverbal Advantage and how our body language communicates way before we even open our mouths. This no doubt will get you to stop wringing your hands over what to do about your 401k.  In December, we’re going to try something a little different–an evening meeting. The September presentation by political analyst Dr. Richard Murray was wiped out by Ike, but he has graciously agreed to come back for a less formal presentation. We’ll meet for post-election analysis and appetizers in a Q&A format. And what better time than in January to have a session on strategic planning led by well-known UH futurist Dr. Peter Bishop.

You’ll also get to experience some of Houston’s top restaurants as we try out different venues while our beloved Brennan’s rebuilds. It’s quite a line-up as well–Damian’s, Escalante’s, Alden Hotel and Maggiano’s–so far.

2. Social media forums. IABC International has the IABC Exchange and a Facebook group. IABC Houston also has a Facebook group. It’s a great way to venture into cyberspace to find out how other communicators are coping and add your two cents.

3. IABC membership. As people look for ways to cut expenses, the inclination is to get rid of the extras. But if you are a communicator, an IABC membership is not an extra, it’s an essential part of doing business. It’s a value to you and your company to stay current on skills and trends, plus in the unfortunate event that you lose your job, it becomes invaluable in terms of networking. Watch for a special promotion in December on how you can earn up to a year of free membership.

4. Mentorship. We have an awesome group of students in our UH Chapter. They’re full of energy and ideas and anxious about what the future holds for them. We can help each other out. They can rejuvenate our passion for the profession and we can be a positive light to guide their way with advice and encouragement.

5. Your thoughts. Let me know your ideas on other ways IABC Houston can provide the tools you need to be a successful communicator. We have a great board open to breaking with tradition and trying some new things. We have to be creative. The times call for it. Post a comment to this blog or send me an email theresa@torma.com with your suggestions.

And we’re not talking cell phones.  Over the next few months, the chapter’s professional development luncheon meetings will be held at a different restaurant each month. Hurricane Ike not only dealt us a blow by canceling all of our events in September, our beloved meeting place, Brennan’s, was destroyed by fire. An employee and his young daughter were injured in the blaze. Thanks to you who have made a donation to their medical fund. Go to www.brennanshouston.com for information on how you can help if you haven’t done so already.

Our October meeting will be held on the 23rd at Damian’s–another Houston institution only a few blocks away from Brennan’s. It’s well known that Houston is a well-fed city with some great restaurants. Our goal is to check out what the city has to offer in different parts of town. If you can’t make a luncheon downtown, maybe you can join us in the Galleria or West Houston areas. Once we’ve had a chance to sample several venues, we’ll ask you to choose which one you liked the best. We’ll then stay with the winning venue until Brennan’s has been rebuilt–which the Brennan’s family estimates will take about 18 months.

Join us for our tour de restaurants. Is there a restaurant you’ve always wanted to try or one you swear by? Let me know by posting a comment here or emailing me theresa@torma.com. Remember, the restaurant needs to have a good-sized meeting room. Let the tour begin………