Natural Networking

Recently, there has been a ton of activity on the networking front. This has come across in a very natural manner. Sometimes, it is irritating to continually link every interaction with someone to a possible goal-related item. I'm very sociable and sometimes just want to meet an interesting person removed from their impact on my "circle."

Placing emphasis on those topics and groups where my joy and focus lays has really helped this effort. A contact that invited me for one event has now suggested I become involved with a much larger initiative that would give me political experience. One phone call with a brand new faith-based contact (discussing my termination of automatic donations) has resulted in work on an annual stewardship publication. A few efforts at my church have led to a position on a grant-allocation committee. This is invaluable experience into group communication, time management and setting boundaries when a new member of a group.

The process of just keeping in regular contact with the new faces you meet is actually very simple. I have found that actually sending messages thanking people and remaining on top of your obligations has a huge impact. Your work ethic and drive speaks for itself and begins to float around in circles. Now that I have my business cards and website there is also a common point of reference. Anyone that needs to contact me after having a positive experience knows exactly where to go to continue the relationship.

Utilizing online radio outlets - Blogtalkradio

There are so many new and exciting ways to connect with any audience of choice. The tools at our disposal do knock down many barriers. The means which you choose to get the word out depends on the content and goals of the message. Who is it that you are speaking to? What does the package do to the contents? Does your paper drown out what could be a really engaging presentation?

I have begun a weekly blogtalkradio show under the name DCommunications. It is so amazing to be able to provide information in such a session and cross-reference it on other platforms. What I mean by that is my radio show is linked on my webpage and email signature. There is a brand new way to let people know who I am in a very multi-dimensional way.

When I send out resumes with the signature all of that information becomes available. It's unspoken and there's no need to "check" that they are aware. Someone who is interested in utilizing the resource can access it and, after time passes, people will indeed begin to spread the word.

For the first show I was a bit tense. The structure which I prepare for myself tends to be very light and airy. It's difficult to have a natural speaking voice if all the content is drafted word for word. I approach the radio show as I would a comedy segment - topical indexes. That means figuring out the content mentally and using clue words to spark that portion of the material. Again, this is how I tend to frame a well executed presentation. It depends on the demeanor of the speaker. Many will be nervous and feel more secure with a word for word guide. I tend to over-utilize those resources if they are available so this method forces me to "own" the material.

What I really love about this interface is that there is a dial in number and no other equipment. The system operates like a conference call, very simplistic.

The second show was executed in a much more natural fashion. This is truly a means to deliver a message without holding an audience captive. An intersted person can play the clip and go about life with the volume up.

This Saturday is show three and also my first webinar on time management.

Philadelphia Speech Lessons

Ok, the first public speaking engagement went off with minor hitches. Here's a few bits of knowledge I am taking away.

First, it is important to figure out the logistics of any event early in advance. For this trip, I was taking a very early Amtrak train out of New York City to Philadelphia (4:30am departure). I have been staying up pretty late because I am working on a plethora of different projects. Turns out, changing the body clock isn't that easy. Take a few days prior to get all of that in check or you'll have a 30 hour day like I did.

Secondly, if it isn't a space you have encountered before ensure that all you need is available. For me, I was interested in finding out whether there were plugs in case my laptop needed charging. Also, making sure the projector would shift easily to my laptop from the "event facility" equipment also important. Turns out, we just ended up using mine the whole time.

Thirdly, include a bit of extra time from your run through. Even though I timed my speech there was more interaction with the audience than planned. Also, the interactive components can be a challenge. It's one thing to say that all questions should be held until the end of the event. If you are ushering in feedback by adding anything interactive, please know it opens the flood gates.

Fourth, know all of the material. This is really simple but a huge difference in delivery. You should not have to read one sentence of your presentation word for word. If you have prepped the head shouldn't be drooped down reading a powerpoint slide. I was most happy with my content knowledge.

Internal communications should remain as such

Sometimes, we are given too much information about an organization. We may have no ties or connections but need to access a resource. When it results that we are either denied or wrongly admitted the responses can be awkward.

For example, I am trying to host community roundtable discussions on healthcare. Instead of paying funds to get space secured using libraries would allow for low cost (mostly free) conference rooms. Unfortunately, there has been a lack of clarity as to what each branch requires from me to receive the green light.

In one instance I was actually approved for a space on 9-29-2009. This was a few weeks ago and the possibilities were endless. That is, until I received a voicemail from the head librarian stating that the offer had been resinded. No clear explanation other than the contact authorizing our group was unaware of the new structure of oversight. During the middle of her explanation I simply explained "This is a lot of information which is probably more appropriate for an internal communications exercise." I just needed to know what forms were necessary and how to move forward.

Information can be invaluable. When it's overloaded, however, the weight can be very uncomfortable indeed.

Being open to constructive criticism

Guilty. That would describe my charge to the offense of not taking criticism well at times. It's always a different story when working with a client. There is a sense of amazement when a client won't just immediately implement some overhaul or new process that's been suggested. Lately, I've tried to digest my own absorption of positive feedback that's packaged in a constructive manner.

One such example is the website which I am creating. Last night, one of my buddies here in the city took time at the end of the day to skim my presentation next week. My perception was that it was essentially completed and really didn't require any further work. His thoughts - not an exact mirror. There were some pointers about general flow and word usage consistency. Even though there was nothing major sometimes when we are so invested in a project it's difficult to "move on" from what's on paper. Taking this to heart will definitely be a valuable tool to all future clients.

He also took a look at the new website and I figured that wouldn't be fun. What's so interesting is that even though there was an attempt to speak to a wide audience in terms of what communications consulting was, he didn't get that vibe. We always assume that our audience knows more (closer to our level of understanding) about any topic in which we are well versed. That's definitely been true of the advocacy work that I'm doing with the single payer healthcare initiative. Far too many large words and references to policy numbers that most people don't know anything about. He reminded me to incorporate the same thoughts to really smooth out what I could provide, in terms of consulting services, to a new audience.

Great help for current and future projects.

Very exciting potential project

The nature of the consulting business is the same as with any job - performance speaks volumes. Regardless of the amounts of carefully constructed networking schemes one can concoct work shines brighter than anything. Sure, one method may get you in the door. The other, however, will get you a chair, blanket and access to inside family conversation.

I am thrilled about an upcoming speech next week in Philadelphia, PA. It is a presentation, in tandem with two other dynamic speakers, to the American Society on Aging. The scope of the presentation is Communication 2.0 - social media and it's impact on an aging population. Today, I received a phone call stating that another project, unbelievably immense, could be in the works...we'll see.

One thing that I have always loved is public speaking. It's true that regardless of all the other careers one can imagine for oneself (in my case physician, physical therapist, marketer and etc) those organic traits will always kick in. If it's something that you love doing (which is very true about myself and anything communications related) the projects really aren't strenuous. Yes, it still takes an effort but the entirety of my professional life is that much more enjoyable.

Moreover, the products of my labor will be richer, deeper and much more meaningful for my clients.

Vetting information which is supposed to be objective

We live in an age where information is produced, then copied, at lightening speed. Verifiable sources can be difficult to track and even harder to tack onto an "expanding" storyline. Whether this applies to business in their attempt to position their brand in the market or public policy conversations as weighted by the media - verifiable information should be tracked.

If someone posts a defamatory story about Company XYZ and it is untrue, how do they respond? They simply find the document which verifies their account of the story and present it as primary evidence. I know that sounds a big legalistic, but it's an important point. Word of mouth advertising, positive or negative, can be incredibly difficult to contain. Image, once begun rolling down that snowball hill, can be incredibly time-consuming (and expensive) to repair. Even if the story wasn't factual the damage left behind can be long-lasting.

My thoughts on this subject were triggered by a story posted on CNN which was presented as factual and (through light research) was cast as unsound and over-reaching. The CNN article can be read here CNN article on drug use and risky AIDS incidence. My response can be ready at my Facebook, here David's Facebook page

Webpage building

I am soon to launch my new webpage for D Comm. and it's really coming along. It will be very helpful once there's a central means of communicating with everyone that can be more cross platform (i.e. video, blog, events and portfolio samples).

As I was thinking of the need to get this started I learned about the Brooklyn Creative League. They meet not so regularly but share office space for consultants and freelancers. At the most recent meeting a few days ago a representative for a web development company, wix.com, shared his business card. Once I returned home and emailed everyone from whom I receive a card (great way to build relationships) the next item was to take a look. After just a few minutes of browsing it was clear - this site is amazing. The functionality far surpasses anything I've used previously. It is easy to manipulate pages, there are tons of templates and uploading cross platform is really simplistic.

I will set a goal to have the webpage completed by the end of next week. Ideally, it would have been earlier but it's important to get some feedback before it goes live. My situation is peculair because new business cards cannot be ordered until the webpage is complete. It makes no sense to hand out a business card without the site that's brand new. In trying to rush one project I'd pay more for the other and build relationships in an unbalanced way.

Creating great web content

We are all linked into the global network called the internet. It's accessed every day to retrieve and send messages on an ever-expanding platform. First, there was email, then Instant Messaging and now Social Media sites. For those individuals who are trying to keep a surfer tuned into their content there has to be a connection. Just as with any other message, it must make sense.

I am currently undertaking a web critique for a political organization here in New York City. That involves going through each page and examining content, location and logic. Does the page say what is necessary? Is anything irrelevent? Do I have to click a lot of different links to retrieve valuable information? Is the information mirrored in the title of the page?

These are just a few questions.

Once these are answered a cohesive approach, using what is likely an already existing voice will be applied towards generating new content. It's not just the actual words but also ensuring that the typical surfer will actually look at (i.e. consume) the information. It doesn't really matter how valuable the information is if the intended recipient has left the page due to boredom.

Criticizing group members and selecting "Reply All"

In another example of digital etiquette I have seen group members openly scold others and copy multiple parties. That doesn't strike me as a prudent means to communicate a point. The need of the sender is to either clarify a point or to pose a question about what the sender meant. If this specifically refers to intra-group policies why not pick up the phone?

There has always been the claim that email makes quick work of such interactions. It's very central that we think of the end result and if that will fulfill our need. If an individual has 5 minutes to craft an email there exists just as much time to add a highly personal touch and make a call. It's much more appropriate, in fact, if any criticism is overtly negative. We all know how easy it is to misinterpret anything which is strictly textual. Tone, meaning and underlying subterfuge are very easily lost on the reader.

Copying other parties on such messages is not only unecessary, but also belittling. Even in person, the question can be put forth to the sender within the same group in a tone that evokes care and empathy. Emails can be read as cold, uncaring and why would anyone risk that chance? Group cohesion can be very difficult to build and once you spend the social capital that keeps this high, reinvestment may not be worth the effort.

Setting deadlines for open-ended business partnerships

Recently, I have been speaking with the founder of a rather interesting educational product. It serves as an intuitive system and will be offered to individual schools per contract. During the immediate time leading up to a national marketing blitz (i.e. phone calls, presentations, articles and etc.) the founder has been extremely busy.

In all of my emails this has been duly understood and noted. However, after the passage of several weeks it has come to my attention that several deadlines which were self-imposed not being met may be representative. I was looking to receive updates, which would happen after upcoming meetings and these have not occured either. At this point, I am thinking of a level message which might posit the need for sticking to deadlines. That's especially true in any situation where a consultant relies on the agent of a new product (unestablished) for a dependable compensation schedule.

It may be uncomfortable, but having this conversation in tandem with compensation would only compound that feeling.

Applying practicality when communicating company policies

Yesterday, while at a local Barnes & Noble, I encountered the irritant of managers who do not apply their view on specific situations to declare company policy. Instead of surveying the context in which something occurs company policy is elevated to the status of law: universal and violation of which causes a sliding set of responses.

Law is created so that human beings will not encroach on any other persons natural, or state-specific, rights. Corporate policies which are consumer specific are many times necessary so that duplicitous questions can be answered and products are protected. Using present information to inform response does not presuppose ignoring either of these central principles.

Case and point: I brought a sandwhich from another establishment (actally the components which wtere assembled). When I asked for a plate or container so that I wouldn't make a mess. The response was immediate, "We don't allow outside products." That assumes I am asking prior to bringing something, not true. Also, once I have something it will be immediately disposed or I will leave. The former makes no sense, let's suppose it were a book from another store. Secondly, even if I bring one product does not preclude me from spending on both a beverage and dessert option.

Policy must be extended in an appropriate fashion to seem reasonable or appropriate. If this isn't used judiciously, the entire rationale for the company stance is weakned uneccessarily.

Faith-based institution communication strains

In what would appear to be the ideal setting for mutually beneficial relationships the opposite can often appear. Churches which are homogenous tend to have less strain, other than age based, because of the parallels in value systems. When a place of worship is very plural and diverse differing attitudes as to how the institution should move forwarde can cause serious concerns.

At the Riverside Church, where I currently worship this is our current state. The institution offers a plethora of amazing social services and was the first location where the Rev. Dr. MLK Jr delivered an anti-war speech (i.e. Vietnam). It has always heralded itself as a model for progressive change and ideals. In the wake of the senior minister Rev. Dr. James Forbes departure there has been much jostling for identity.

Several groups believe the institution should proceed forward on the same "arc" as has always existed. The new minister, now departed, felt that the liturgy should be changed. Getting people to accept changes in their style of worship is never easy, he learned that lesson the hard way.

In the midst of these outwardly appearing problems lies a huge opportunity to learn about both PR and group communications.