Ragan’s Communications Week 2022, held Nov. 1-7, was overflowing with takeaways to tell the communicator’s 2023 playbook. Peer-to-peer conversations have been ample throughout this vital business week, which included the Way forward for Communications Convention in NYC.
CommsWeek Co-Chairs Diane Schwartz, CEO of Ragan, and Tiffany Guarnaccia, CEO of Kite Hill PR and founding father of CommsWeek, share their high gleanings from the week:
Diane Schwartz, CEO, Ragan Communications
Guarnaccia: Congratulations to Ragan on a incredible Communications Week. One of many large takeaways from me was the facility of storytelling. Now greater than ever, the most effective communicators are storytellers. Among the classes touched on how to verify your story is price telling internally and externally. The world’s greatest communicators know that staff are our number-one model advocates. We have to interact them.
Schwartz: So true. And it ought to go with out saying, however I’m saying it: transparency with staff is essential. We heard from so many audio system that staff can deal with dangerous information higher than uncertainty. Talk early and sometimes, and in the case of storytelling – don’t be boring! A well-liked tweet throughout Communications Week was that storytelling is knowledge with a soul. I like that. Tiffany, what else struck you through the Way forward for Comms Convention?
Guarnaccia: Measurement is an evergreen matter that emerged once more at Communications Week 2022. We’re continually evaluating new methods and rising communications channels and the brand new measurement methods. When fascinated by the worth of PR, many communicators are rethinking what meaning. Some company leaders, just like the president of MikeWorldWide, Bret Werner, identified that we have to rethink high tier. Historically, while you consider high tier, you consider retailers just like the WSJ, CNN or NY Occasions. Right this moment, a placement on a key weblog or a point out on TikTok may entice the fitting audiences and drive outcomes, particularly for client manufacturers.
Schwartz: Again to inner communications for a second, I discover this stat from one among our sponsors Staffbase moderately illuminating: 75% of inner communicators spend nearly all of their time “getting stuff out” – this underscores how communicators should transfer from order taker to strategist. They should Meet the Second – the theme of this yr’s CommsWeek – and ensure they’re spending extra time on technique past their very own division.
Guarnaccia: So true, Diane. They must be extra fluent within the enterprise. That is an space Ragan promotes closely to its viewers.
Schwartz: Sure, enterprise fluency is without doubt one of the most vital competencies of comms leaders – understanding how your organization operates, what drives the highest and backside traces. You possibly can take small steps like spending time along with your CFO and asking questions which may take you out of your consolation zone however will put you on the fitting footing as a enterprise companion.
Tiffany Guarnaccia, CEO, Kite Hill PR
Guarnaccia:: CommsTech was one other sizzling matter and it’ll develop in significance. I touched on this in my session. We addressed the brand new comms tech stack and the significance of embracing agility. We must be agile in principle and in observe. Profitable comms applications require a excessive diploma of agility and skill to pivot rapidly primarily based on the information cycle or in response to a disaster. At Kite Hill PR we leverage a workflow that fashions agile growth. It was fascinating to see that some attendees are taking an identical strategy and including venture administration software program platforms to their very own comms tech stack.
Schwartz: I loved moderating a session with Chief Communications Officers from Dow Jones (Jennifer Thurman), US Chamber of Commerce (Michelle Russo) and Columbia Enterprise Faculty (Amy Jaick). Amy identified one thing I believe all communicators ought to bear in mind, which is that among the greatest comms methods are invisible. The absence of disaster and chaos, the story that didn’t run, the CEO that didn’t need to take the new seat — these are to the credit score of savvy communicators.
Guarnaccia: I utterly agree with that assertion. Investing in a continuing human-powered effort to construct belief and preserve and improve a company popularity is essential to a enterprise’s long-term success.
Schwartz: Throughout Communications Week, there have been a variety of concepts shared and curiosity across the position of Comms in ESG (Environmental, Social & Governance) efforts. I believed Catherine Blades Hernandez of SAIC mentioned it greatest through the hearth chat when she mentioned ‘ESG is a option to present your belief is earned.’”
Guarnaccia: No higher position in a corporation than Communications to cleared the path.
Schwartz: That’s an effective way to cap off this dialog, Tiffany!
Mark your calendars for Communications Week 2023 the week of Nov. 6-10. Go to www.commsweek.com for early updates.
