Issue 59 - June 2007

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

The ‘fast four’ for June are

1. The growth of the blog
2. A quote we like
3. Legal advice vs public relations advice
4. This month's book review

1. The growth of the blog

Blogs are now a near second to newspapers as the most trusted information source in Europe. 24 per cent of Europeans consider blogs a trusted source of information, just behind newspaper articles (30 per cent) but ahead of television advertising (17 per cent) and email marketing (14 percent). More than half (52 per cent) said they were more likely to purchase a product if they read positive comments from private individuals on the internet.

Source - Bulldog Reporter’s The Daily Dog, May 21, 2007

2. A quote we like

"The grapes are always sweetest on the slopes of a live volcano."

Source - anonymous

3. Legal advice vs public relations advice

Legal advice and public relationsadvice very often differ when an organisation - or an individual infact - has done something wrong or is thought to have.

Legal advice usually includes a ‘no comment’ approach to media enquiries and a strategy to minimise exposure and liability.

Public relations advice - the good stuff, not that of the so-called spin doctors - would include a commitment to providing all of the facts to the media as soon as possible and providing the most senior executive to answer questions. Public relations advice would include considering the impact of everyone involved or affected and responding morally, ethically and appropriately to each of these groups. The role of apologising would not be allowed to be tempered by legal or insurance considerations or concerns of the damage to the share price by ‘saying too much’.

This level of public relations advice is very often given. It is not however always taken by maverick CEOs or those not brave or moral enough to ignore legal advice.

4. This month's book review

The success principles - how to get from where you are to where you want to be by Jack Canfield, Harper Collins 2005

This book documents 64 principles of success that seem inarguable. They are logical and sustainable ideas that can, with time and focus, be incorporated into all of our lives and could not fail to make us more successful. This is a big book at well over 400 pages, but is a surprisingly quick read. I felt more successful just reading it.

Last month M Power -

spoke to various groups on public relations and 'doing good things and telling people about them'

consulted on communication strategy and public relations to a range of clients representing a diverse range of industries

managed various print production (publishing) projects

produced, as usual, a number of newsletters for M Power and clients

fulfilled a variety of writing commitments, including,.... drumroll... finalised the text for our own book 'Palm trees and margaritas' that will be published later in the year.

How could we work to empower you or your organisation?