Issue 69 - April, 2008

Two-way communication

A great thing about teaching public relations every week is that it forces me to discuss public relations theory and read and review academic research. I find it empowering as it is useful to link the work I am doing and understand instinctively now, 25 years into my career, to the constructs of the theories of communication and mutual understanding.

They can be timely reminders of great ways of explaining my recommended course of action to clients too.

Here's an example.

James Grunig's 1984 model of public relations was called the 'two-way symmetric model' and is a chart-topper in PR-practitioner land.

It organises public relations around principles that attach equal importance to the views of the organisation and its publics.

Under this model the organisation does not simply advance its views and campaign for its policies to be adopted. It also commits itself to seriously canvassing and taking the views of its publics into account and to giving these views high status when making policy decisions.

There is an inarguable clarity in this thinking I believe.

Source - Public Relations Theory and Practice by Jane Johnston and Clara Zawawi, Allen and Unwin 2000
 

A quote we like

“A memorandum is written not to inform the reader but to protect the writer.”

Source - Dean Acheson, US Democrat Politician, 1893 - 1971

Does this help to explain your email inbox?

Gratuitous plug

Karen Morath’s book Palm Trees and Margaritas – Finding Your Oasis in a Busy World is now available at specialty book store, The Success Centre, 210 Whitehorse Road, Balwyn, phone 03 9830 1944 or online at www.successcentre.com.au Or if you are near the Great Ocean Road, you can call in to Great Escape Books in Airey's Inlet and pick up a copy or just click here.

M Power's tips for making a speech

When you are asked to make a speech at any sort of function, it's more important that you ask why you have been asked to speak than it is to ask what you are expected to say.

Here are some useful 'why me' questions.
 

• Who is the customer? (If it is paid, who is signing your cheque? If it is unpaid, who would you need to impress to get asked again/paid next time?) If it is a social function, who is the organiser and who are the VIP guests?
   
• What is the function for? (What is it trying to achieve? How will they decide if it was successful?)
   
• Who will be in the audience? How many people? Will they know who I am/have heard of me?
   
• Who else is speaking? Why were they selected? Who is speaking when? What are they saying and why?
   
• How long will I have? Why that long?
   
• Who will introduce me? Can I write my own introduction?
   

This month's book review

In a book just out 'Just Enough Anxiety' (Penguin, 2008), Robert H Rosen examines the role of anxiety in corporate success and personal effectiveness and as the title suggests finds 'just enough ' is the key.

Every year when I'm back from my long summer break and wondering what business will be like that year (I operate on a calendar, not financial, year), I get a bit anxious that business might not fire up again after its annual dormant period.

My long-suffering colleague tells me not to worry as every year, by March, we are back in the swing of things and business is great.

This year I asked her to consider what role my stress and the activity that flowed from that played in making that happen. Finding Rosen's 'just enough' level is the key.
 

Speaking of new releases, my friend and colleague Leah Bryan has just launched her first book. It's a fun collection of stories that makes you laugh, gasp and consider yourself lucky. It's called Horror Mothers-In-Law... and you thought yours was bad! and you can check it out at www.nuhousepress.com She is planning a follow up in the 'horror' series and is looking for stories on horror bosses. If you have one, you can pass it on to her through the same web address.

Last month M Power -

• undertook a communication audit for a not-for-profit organisation
   
• coached the owner of a new start-up  

• provided public relations advice and coaching to a variety of clients
   

• wrote and published various newsletters for a range of clients
   
• launched Leah Bryan's new book Horror Mothers-In-Law... and you thought yours was bad!, click here for details
   
• wrote copy for a website for a new business
   
• reviewed books for various newsletters and websites (if you have a book you'd like reviewed, send it to us at 326 Cotham Road, Kew Vic 3101, Australia).

Contact us to see how we could work to empower you or your organisation.

The M Powerer comes to you each month from M Power.

Its 'fast four' format makes The M Powerer a purposefully quick read with a mix of quotes, tips, reviews, news and views on areas we work in, including

• communication
• public relations
• empowerment
• individual effectiveness
• organisational productivity
• life balance
• customer service.

Karen Morath
Managing Director
M Power
karen@mpowercct.com