Corporate crises, which pose a major risk to corporate reputation, seem to be occurring at an ever-increasing rate. With the growth in crisis communications, it would seem that handling a crisis would be routine for most large companies. But this is often not the case. This article looks at some of the biggest mistakes in crisis communications. 25 Oct 2006 19:38
Culture can reveal a lot about a company. Here's how to tell if your culture is weak or strong. In the 1980s, when I was editing a supermarket magazine, insiders in the retail industry told a favourite story about the three main supermarket chains in South Africa at the time - an anecdote that spoke true about the culture of those companies. 5 Apr 2006 12:09
Many employees are relying on the grapevine for important company information despite millions of rands being spent on internal communications. 29 Jan 2006 12:35
As the lines blur between editorial and advertising, public relations people need to make smarter contributions towards writing that readers will enjoy. 11 Dec 2005 12:08
Shotgun marriages between marketing and communications often leave the bridal couple less than blissful. Living together rather than being pressured into wedlock is perhaps more fitting for complex and dynamic business environments. 27 Oct 2005 12:17
Public relations practitioners need to understand the new force of citizen's scrutiny of business and how their case will be judged by the ultimate arbiter, the court of public opinion. 22 Sep 2005 12:13
It's a well-worn cliché, but actions do speak louder than words, especially when it comes to communicating in today's sometimes over-informed society. 14 Aug 2005 09:16
Communications and public relations usually help to improve the image of an organisation or even a person. It's not often that you hear about an attempt to give a town a makeover. 8 Mar 2005 15:44
Professional communications work seems to get harder each year. Looking back over 2004, the challenge of communicating inside organisations in South Africa seemed insurmountable at times. The essence of the challenge is perhaps best described by two examples, at the opposite end of the polls, which highlight lack of commitment. 10 Jan 2005 14:24
CEOs are bombarded with so many proposals for improvement or opportunity from professionals both outside and inside the company, that one wonders where they get the time to run their organisations. Against this flurry of attention, how can corporate communications, reputation and public relations programmes be effectively sold at the chief executive or C-level, as it is more informally known?
14 Oct 2004 15:38
Changes in the profile of employees at shop floor level have been rapid over the past 10 years, while at management and board levels the pace has been painstakingly slow. With a push and a shove from employment equity, the demographics at these levels is beginning to change at a more rapid clip - at least in companies that are in the public eye or supply goods and services to government enterprises. 22 Jun 2004 08:50
A top international negotiator, Herb Cohen, once said that all communication exchanges between people are cultural, when you consider that interpersonal communication is between two individuals with completely different perspectives. The analogy is an excellent way of highlighting the challenges of communicating between different individuals or groups.
27 May 2004 09:06
Communicating to the mass market is becoming increasingly complex with greater fragmentation of the mass media. 20 Apr 2004 15:05
Corporate reputation models are important for understanding a company's reputation position in the market, how to strengthen and build reputational capital, and for ensuring that a strong reputation becomes a lasting source of competitive advantage. 29 Mar 2004 14:14
Since the beginning of time, stories have been a chief method of conveying messages. As human beings we rely on story telling, narratives, to convey complex meanings and emotions and direct our behaviour, at times even over genes and instinct. 25 Feb 2004 13:51
Dragging your tired body and severely bruised ego to a scenic Cape Peninsula beach this summer after a year-long of trudging the communications and public relations treadmill provided rather little in the way of getting away from it all. 25 Jan 2004 14:55
At this time of year when most business activities wind down, retail and tourism being notable exceptions, of course, it is perhaps appropriate to reflect on where communications in South Africa has come from, where the profession is now, and where it is heading. 17 Dec 2003 11:03
An area that communications managers and consultants perhaps don't like talking about is their mistakes, and putting a value to them is probably unspeakable. This column looks at some of the more costly mistakes in communications and public relations and their root causes. 10 Oct 2003 08:07
Cast your mind over the communications profession for a moment and think of any truly great leaders in the field. Do any spring to mind? Have you worked with someone in communications who is able to build great teams? 31 Aug 2003 16:14
Mutate, migrate, adapt or die. Charles Darwin's theory of evolution and his dictum on the survival of the fittest are perhaps particularly relevant to today's competitive corporate jungle. 22 Jul 2003 21:47
John Bradfield takes a look at the origins of issues management, touching on issues mapping and showing you how to identify and act on issues so that the business and communications becomes aligned to corporate strategy. 24 Jun 2003 16:26
John Bradfield explores some of the trends in internal communications and a few influences that may impact internal communications in the future. 21 May 2003 14:40
Money talks. When it gets into the hands of communicators in the form of budget or expenditure, it usually talks the loudest. Communications, including public relations and below-the-line promotional activities, is increasingly being preferred to get the message across in tougher economic times than advertising. 24 Apr 2003 14:34
Water boils at 100 degrees Celsius (that's at sea level - it's lower in Gauteng). What does it take for a communicator's blood to reach boiling temperature? There are a number of obvious infuriating excuses, problems and even veiled threats that clients, companies and their management use to raise the communicator's blood temperature. 27 Mar 2003 12:59
In 2002 many corporate reputations were severely bruised, questioned, damaged and some ruined entirely as the global technology bubble burst, recession tightened its grip, and company scandals dominated the business news. 24 Feb 2003 08:44
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