by admin | Aug 14, 2014 | Communication strategy
Young people experience a vast number of changes as they move towards independence. Their beliefs and values may conflict with the parents’, they may develop interests that you don’t understand or quit hobbies that you encouraged in their younger years. Try to see this in a positive light as they are becoming their own person. Right now your teen might be facing into stressful exams or requesting to go on a summer holiday or to a music festival with friends. As a parent, it can be a struggle deciding how much independence to allow. Bear in mind that there is no ‘one size fits all’ rule. You will always feel responsible for your child’s wellbeing and safety, no matter their age. Rules are important to create boundaries and respect but some are more important than others, e.g. not getting into a car with someone who has been drinking alcohol is always worth arguing over but cleaning up an untidy bedroom may be best to ignore. Read more about it...
by admin | Aug 14, 2014 | Communication development/evaluation
Look at any job description for leaders at any level and there it is under essential qualifications: excellent communication skills. Recent leadership literature suggests there’s more to it than being a good listener and an articulate speaker. I scan or read a fair number of leadership publications and blogs. Hardly a week passes in which I will not encounter a title like this or some variation on it: “The Most Important Skill Every Leader Needs.” Invariably the author will focus on some essential leadership quality that is fairly well known as a skill leaders need to have. Sometimes it’s trust, transparency, or integrity. It might be the importance of having a clear vision or establishing a particular culture. But the one leadership skill that comes up time and time again, perhaps more than the others combined, is communication. Read more about it...
by admin | Aug 13, 2014 | Communication development/evaluation
College graduates today are the most tech-savvy generation to ever enter the workforce. While knowledge of the latest and greatest devices can be a tremendous asset to landing a job, it’s also proving to be a hindrance. Graduates today too often use technology as a replacement for essential communication skills that are still coveted by employers. The Center for Professional Excellence at York College of Pennsylvania conducts an annual survey to evaluate the status of professionalism in America. Most recent data from college and university career development offices noted a troubling trend. Respondents believe professionalism has decreased in the past five years. They attributed that drop to a loss of communication and interpersonal skills due to technology. Read more about it...
by admin | Aug 13, 2014 | Brand targeting & positioning
Companies seek different segments of the family niche with various targeted brands. Steve Lutz, vice president of marketing for Columbia Marketing International, Wenatchee, Wash., said the company’s Hero brand is targeted to grade-school children. “We’ve found in consumer testing and though our work with schools that kids that age are really receptive to the message, and their parents are supportive as well because the message is targeted, but healthy,” he said. Mac Riggan, marketing director for Chelan Fresh Marketing, Chelan, Wash., agreed kids age 4-12 are a good age to target. Read more about this...
by admin | Aug 12, 2014 | Brand strategy
I always say that I got my first MBA while working at P&G during the liquefying hey-day of launching Liquid Tide and Liquid Cascade. (My second was at Kellogg). During that time, P&G taught me that brand management can be defined through P&L responsibility and accountability for growth, not just the stereotypical focus on communications and strategy execution. P&G has always blazed the trail in the management of brands; look no further than Unilever, Kraft and others to see the power P&G has had on reshaping categories for decades. Read more about it...
