M Power is a Melbourne based public relations company that believes communication empowers. Karen Morath is the founder and Managing Director of M Power. M Power provides consulting, training and communication services to organisations largely in the locality of Melbourne

This is m-news, M Power's monthly e-newsletter. It's in its fifth year and goes out each month to hundreds of people who work in or run organisations and understand the power of effective communication.

m-news includes information about related themes - four snippets about business, organisational and individual effectiveness, communication and public relations.

M Power is a public relations company which also runs a speakers' agency and a publishing service. It was founded on the belief that communication empowers.

Karen Morath, managing director, M Power

The ‘fast four' for March are

1. On congruence
2. A quote we like
3. Writing effective survey questions
4. Five tenets for creating the best future for your business and brands

1. On congruence

Last week, I heard someone use the word ‘congruent’ advisedly in a presentation and as happens to wordsmiths such as myself, I got quite excited about the word all over again, having allowed it to escape my standard lexicon.

An adaptation of the Collins dictionary definition is adj, agreeing, corresponding, ...so that all parts correspond.

And this week it was just the word I needed as the Melbourne lord mayor John So's virtually universal appeal has been discussed during his appearances at the Commonwealth Games. I say he is popular because his talk is congruent with his walk and as such he never disappoints. He is what he appears to be and that's congruence (and great communication).

2. A quote we like

“There's no scarcity of opportunity to make a living at what you love. There is only a scarcity of resolve to make it happen.”

Source - Wayne Dyer

3. Writing effective survey questions

Surveys can be a critical tool of effective two way communication - but only if they are done well.

Survey questions should elicit reliable, valid and unbiased responses.

Whenever possible, ask questions that can be easily answered based on respondents’ personal experience. They are more accurate than those based on personal opinions or attitudes.

For example asking ‘how many times have you used the community park in the last six months?’ will provide a more accurate measure than ‘do you like the community park?’

Source - article by Theresa Robertson-Phillips in Participation Quarterly, February 2006

4. Five tenets for creating the best future for your business and brands

1. Be there. There’s no substitute for seeing culture with your own eyes.

2. Be hungry. Culture is everywhere - online, in print, face to face and anywhere you go. Look for it.

3. Be open-minded. Look for things that don’t fit or make immediate sense. These aren’t coincidences, they’re clues.

4. Be confident. There is no innovation without courage. Are you willing to contradict your MBA, your mentors and your experience?

5. Be authentic. It’s a changing world and consumers are in control. Talk with them. Don’t shout at them.

Source - adapted from Faith Popcorn of BrainReserve.

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