m-news > Issue 37, August 2005
This is m-news, M Power's monthly e-newsletter. We hope you enjoy reading it. Feel free to forward it to friends or colleagues who may find it useful.
M Power is a communication and events company. m-news includes information about related themes - six quick snippets about business, organisational and individual effectiveness, communication and public relations.
Communication empowers.
Karen Morath, managing director, M Power
The ‘quick six’ for August are
1. The importance of words
2. A quote we like
3. Gratuitous plug
4. Clear communication
5. The power of reputation
6. This month's book review
1. The importance of words
Words say something about the person choosing and using them.
Watching the first rounds of Australian Idol reveals very little about the contestants as they all use the same words - everything is 'awesome' and 'a great opportunity' and many things 'rock'. There is a sameness about them all that prevents individual personalities from shining through. Imagine if one said it was a 'hoot' to be there and someone else said he or she had been 'dreaming of this day their whole life' and another said he 'just wants to be famous and meet chicks'. That would be real and we would understand so much more who they are as people, and therefore performers.
Choosing words that evoke something real is important too. I bought a fruit juice the other day and, because I enjoyed it so much, I read the label to see what was in it.
It said it was the medley of fruit (lovely phrase!) that made the juice a "social, vibrant and funky treat." I had just drunk it in my car by myself, so felt robbed of its social value, and it was dark, so it being vibrant was a bit lost on me too and I can't even imagine how I could have noticed or appreciated that it was funky. I doubt I want to know.
The drink was healthy and delicious and a convenient and easy way to consume something nourishing. These facts didn't need any embellishment.
2. A quote we like
"Like water, communication should be clear and flowing."
Source - the slogan for the Public Relations Institute of Australia National Conference in Brisbane in October
3. Gratuitous plug
The second issue of 'North', a free community magazine celebrating life in Melbourne's north (and published by us at M Power), will be out soon.
The magazine is chock full of stories about people living great lives, facts and stats, tips and pix. You can win a night at the Hilton Melbourne Airport if you enter the competition.
Look for it in September in and around the northern suburbs - this issue has Eddie on the cover - or send us an email at north@mpowercct.com and we'll mail you a copy if you would like one.
One of the top 10 gripes of journalists about businesses and their spokespeople is
"Plain English, please... ditch the marketing pitch - nobody takes it seriously anyway. I don't care if you're 'an emerging leader' or 'leveraging competitive advantage.' And please find another word for 'solution'."
Source - survey of 341 Canadian journalists conducted by Porter Novelli Canada and Canada NewsWire, May 2004
5. The power of reputation
Move over triple or quadruple bottom line measurement.
Putting a value on reputation, rather than using controls like codes of conduct, is the best way to encourage good corporate behaviour according to Emeritus Professor at New York University's Stern School of Business, Charles Fombrun.
He believes companies will behave better when they understand the link between a company's reputation and its economic wellbeing.
His measurement method favours using public polls on six areas of company performance - quality and innovation; financial results and future prospects; leadership and governance; ethics and citizenship; workplace relations; and emotional appeal.
Source - 'Good behaviour', Amita Tandukar, BRW, July 14-20, 2005
If only I had the time to savour every last syllable of Crikey's daily news email. Natural cynics are made to feel right at home and those used to believing everything they read and see on television will be better off for looking at the world through the Crikey lens. Crikey presents a comprehensive review and analysis of politics, the news of the day and my favourite - the media coverage of the news of the day. A subscription costs $100 a year - and you can have a two week free trial: What are you waiting for?
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© M Power CCT Pty Ltd 2005
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