Comments for Arthur W. Page Society

Comment on From the Inside Out – Building an Enlightened and Authentic Social Company by Roger Bolton

Roger Bolton — Tue, 14 Feb 2012 20:49:38 +0000

Nice post, Barbara. I’ve been on the “empower them” bandwagon for some time. The important learning for me from the Page Society West Coast Social Media Summit sponsored by eBay was the extent to which advanced social media companies are training and arming their employees to participate more effectively in social media conversations about the company. Jeremiah Owyang and Chris Berger both have done a lot of work on that.

Comment on New Leadership Style – Command and Collaborate – an “AND” Model by Bruce Harrison

Bruce Harrison — Tue, 14 Feb 2012 01:52:58 +0000

Bjorn,
This is another relevant report from the yearly Davos gathering. I’m sure you saw fellow PR leaders there (I spoke with Bill Margaritis, Fed Ex communications chief this week about this turnout) and appreciate your posts. Leadership IS communication, isn’t it? Also glad to have access again to your (and Mr. Dormann’s) leadership points. They will again be in the Georgetown U grad studies next semester when Judith Muhlberg and I explore with students the evolving challenges of corporate leadership, and transformation required to lead flattened organizations, drawing on basics such as those in your guide.

Comment on Do We Need to Do a Better Job of Shutting Up? by Bruce Harrison

Bruce Harrison — Sun, 29 Jan 2012 00:59:06 +0000

The halo of financial performance, which you (Roger) correctly cite as putting a positive light on Apple’s general acceptance, is reinforced by a blast of fresh air from the top. CEO Tim Cook’s response to the Chinese iPad news underscores for us that corporate transparency is what the leader allows. What a difference from Steve Jobs’ style of close to the vest (the opposite of open kimono), communication largely confined to allowable theatrics. Cook seems strategically cool, even when he displays heat. More important is the internal memo found by 9to5Mac in which Cook informs, reassures and empowers employees. One small step for transparent communication. One giant leap for Apple.

Comment on Do We Need to Do a Better Job of Shutting Up? by Roger Bolton

Roger Bolton — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 19:57:49 +0000

Here’s another thought about what contributes to the Apple most admired status in addition to great products: On Tuesday, Apple reported record revenue and earnings. Most admired status typically tracks with strong financial performance.
http://www.apple.com/pr/library/2012/01/24Apple-Reports-First-Quarter-Results.html

Comment on Do We Need to Do a Better Job of Shutting Up? by Dick Martin

Dick Martin — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 19:02:21 +0000

Timely post, Roger. I suspect that stories like the New York Times' article on conditions in the Chinese factories making Apple products could shake some people's faith in the company. Much will depend on how Apple handles itself under such scrutiny. Its supplier responsibility reports, for example, are quite forthcoming. And it recently released a list of its suppliers. I'm sure Apple has learned a lot from the experience of others, like Nike, in this area. But this also suggests an answer to your larger question -- how does Apple earn such a great reputation when some experts are so critical of certain aspects of its business? Could it be because its corporate reputation is largely a function of its economic performance, and its brand reputation depends on the excellence of its products? Until recently, neither its suppliers' practices nor its governance practices have had much salience for most people. That may change of course, and a good PR counselor will anticipate -- and respond to -- the public's changing interests and needs. I suspect that's exactly what's happening in Cupertino right now. Dick

Comment on My Happy New Year Silent Spring Story by bjorn edlund

bjorn edlund — Wed, 11 Jan 2012 13:21:55 +0000

Bruce,

Thanks for sharing. An inspriring story. I remember the excitement when I had left journalism and first began working in corporations in the early 90s. It was after the Rio summit, when companies (like ‘my’ Sandoz, ABB and Shell) woke up to their environmental and sustainability challenges. Your perspective on the milestones in the past 50 years is illuminating. Sad, though, how little has been achieved apart from basic house cleaning and energy saving measures.

Comment on Who’s Talking Truth to the Boss? How is it Working? by Elliot Schreiber

Elliot Schreiber — Thu, 22 Dec 2011 04:46:04 +0000

Bruce, I think that CCO do a great job in crisis communication, but consider that a crisis is after-the-fact. The place is burning and someone needs to help the company from “bleeding out” value, to use a medical term. The key question you ask, which is the one I am most interested in, is how to prevent the crisi or minimize risk. In this situation, CCOs are less effective, as a general rule. First, many of the risks that materialize into crisis occur without the CCOs knowledge. This is not a condemnation but rather a reality of life in the big city. In a dispersed organization where power is no longer concentrated at the top, it is difficult to get a good read on all the potential risks. Finally, I find it insufficient that CCOs counsel based upon their gut feel for how stakeholders will react. Stakeholders may or may not like something, but will it damage value in some way–that’s the key question, and we need more than our guts.

I’ve been doing a lot of work in reputation risk management and installing systems and processes to monitor, identify, assess and manage risk. It is not a functional job. That is, it is not the CCOs job. It is everyone’s job, but they have to know what to look for, how to identify it and how to assess it without rationalizing it away as being manageable or insignificant, which is easy to do.

Comment on Data Even a Dean Can’t Ignore by Data Even a Dean Can't Ignore

Data Even a Dean Can't Ignore — Tue, 13 Dec 2011 20:05:54 +0000

[...] The Following Post Was Originally Written For and Published By The Arthur Page Society’s Page Turner Blog [...]

Comment on It is Time to Lead by Roger Bolton

Roger Bolton — Tue, 13 Dec 2011 18:02:00 +0000

Bruce, not only do I not object, but I firmly agree that for enterprises to thrive, they must know how to compromise effectively. Somehow that has come to be a negative word in politics, but it is in fact the essence of successful politics — or business, for that matter. Compromise is not equal to surrender, but rather is an essential element to building meaningful, deep and lasting relationships which contribute to long-term success.

Comment on Why Occupy Wall Street is More Significant Than You Think by Dorothy Crenshaw

Dorothy Crenshaw — Tue, 13 Dec 2011 02:57:38 +0000

Thank you for this post, which beautifully articulates what is successful, and what is lacking, in the Occupy movement, as well as its potential impact on our business. I feel that, despite its lack of cohesion and its failure to play by the PR rulebook, OWS has been singularly successful, if for no other reason than this: it has changed the conversation. The themes of the erosion of the middle class and income inequality are far more prominent in the public debate. Where the movement goes from here is a question, but it has had a very profound impact. More here. http://t.co/zb0quMc1