Roberto Munoz’s Post

Comms Pros know - more than most - words matter. But sometimes, we use language that undermines our value. In-house stakeholders aren’t “clients.”  → We’re shoulder-to-shoulder partners. P&L centers shouldn't be called “The Business.”  → We're part of the business, not a subordinate function. Reinforcing an "us'" and "them" mindset is a disservice: It positions us as a less strategic function and makes us less effective. Ultimately, our job is to protect & promote brands and reputations. - Our roles are critical. - Our opinions are essential  - Our voices / expertise truly matter. We're Strategic Partners, not Service Providers.

A lot of #communications functions are sub-optimal. There are many reasons for this. Often it’s because a business doesn’t understand the purpose of comms - namely to drive growth, build and protect reputation. Sometimes it’s because the team has become a dumping-ground for ‘problem’ people from elsewhere in the organisation. I’ve seen too much of this - not long ago a member of staff in a comms team told me they ‘don’t give a f@!k’ about communications, which was an interesting conversation for both of us. 😳 The best communications functions are those that focus on outcomes, rather than outputs. They understand needs of the business and deliver them. Furthermore, comms should act as a business’s ‘radar’ identifying opportunities and threats in the internal and external landscape and acting accordingly. If the comms team is sitting around generating ‘content’ it’s not doing the job. If the communications function is sub-optimal, this will impact the whole business. Drop me a line if you want to have a chat about building a communications team which works for the benefit of your business. Or if you need to sort out a team which isn’t performing as it should!

Ever wondered why having a strong corporate reputation is imperative to your success? Let's delve deeper into this. Corporate reputation is more than just a buzzword, it's an intangible asset that drives your organisation's value and differentiates it in the market. It's like the face of your company to the world and it's absolutely crucial to get it right! In today’s business climate, with its speed, complexity and uncertainty - managing corporate reputation risks has become more than just critical. It’s strategic. It shapes perceptions and influences decisions, be they of consumers, investors, employees or regulators. How you manage your corporate communications strategically can make all the difference. By building trust and credibility over time, companies can not only safeguard their reputation but also leverage it as a competitive advantage. The bottom line? Reputation matters! So make sure you're nurturing yours with due care and attention. Remember - it takes 20 years to build a reputation and five minutes to ruin it! Let's discuss your thoughts on this in the comments. ---- keywords: corporate communications, strategic communications, reputation risk

“We’ve never had any issues before.” This is something we hear a lot, when we ask someone if they have a crisis communications strategy. A poorly managed issue or a moment of miscommunication can see trust, and therefore value, evaporate overnight. This can have impact on a number of levels– investors can lose confidence in your brand, new recruits may look elsewhere, staff morale and productivity can drop and even the most loyal of customers can become hesitant. Learn more about why and how to prepare a plan: https://zurl.co/544G #CrisisComms #Branding #Marketing #PublicRelations #CrisisCommunications #BusinessTips

Everyone has that friend who only calls when they are in crisis (and if you don't, you might be that friend 😂). Comms professionals are the friends that everyone calls when in crisis. The more crisis = the more job security. The problem? What happens when there are no fires to put out? A recent study by PRWeek indicates that the dust of recent years' chaos and crisis has settled, and comms professionals, although still appreciated, are fighting to prove their value. This is the unique position comms professionals are facing in 2024. Now, more than ever, it's crucial to demonstrate the value of communications, not just in times of crisis but also as a constant, strategic advantage for businesses. So, how? - Knowing precisely what is valuable to stakeholders. - What matters to them, and how does that impact the business? The bridge between companies and their audience remains - crisis or not.

Being a “Bad Liar” can have “Thunder-ous” consequences. When comms are shrouded in mystery it can lead to all sorts of conflict like a “Radioactive" reputation for your business and unhappy employees “Walking the Wire” towards the exit… Let Imagine Dragons fight mistrust, and highlight the power of openness and transparency, showing how it can put your employees “On Top of the World”! 🎶 Be “Warriors” of trust: Lead from the top with integrity, embodying an open and honest narrative to instill faith among team members. 🎶 Disclose your “Demons”: Confront challenges openly, addressing issues head-on to dispel doubts and encourage a culture of honesty. 🎶 “I Bet My Life" on accountability: Take responsibility for actions and decisions, and encourage others to own their mistakes. 🎶 Be a “Believer": Create a culture where employees become true believers in your organisation’s purpose and values, supported by transparent and trustworthy comms. 🎶 Cultivate "Natural” connections: Develop a communication style that feels authentic and genuine. Don’t make an “Enemy” of your employees through a lack of trust and honesty. “It’s Time” to do “Whatever It Takes" to demonstrate your unwavering commitment to transparency, in order to keep all stakeholders informed, engaged and on board. #Communication #InternalCommunication #Culture #Creativity #Trust #Authenticity #Imagination #Inspiration #ImagineDragons💥 🎸 ………………………… Alive With Ideas is a full service communications agency fuelled by creative ideas. We’re on your side and in your corner. Want to hear more from us? Sign up to our monthly newsletter for all sorts of creative stuff https://buff.ly/2X4Cvei.

There's this thing that happens in businesses all the time. I've experienced it on a loop throughout my career. It goes something like this: Comms director: There's a problem brewing and I'm not sure where it's coming from. Exec member: Oh yes. The exec decided the business is going to do x from now on rather than y. Comms director: Okaaay. That's likely to cause real issues with stakeholders - it's a fundamental change in approach. Had I known, we could have been transparent about it, got buy-in. Exec member: Oh, it'll be fine and we're saving some money! Fast forward and the story's hit the news, customers are looking elsewhere, stakeholders are furious and staff morale is through the floor. Email from exec member: We've got a communications problem. The most successful businesses are those that recognise the importance of #communications counsel as fundamental to their decision making and #strategy development. Businesses don't take critical decisions without their CFO in the room, the chief legal officer would expect to be there too. And yet it's common practice for the communications director to be left out in the cold. As if they aren't qualified to be involved in decision-making processes which they'll be required to promote, justify and defend. Communication is the bedrock of each and every business. It's time to bring it in from the cold.

We're the first to acknowledge that audits serve as fantastic catalysts for change. They play a pivotal role in assessing your current landscape, whether that involves delving into digital ecosystems or evaluating functional aspects. Nevertheless, we always tell our clients that audits alone won’t alone propel them forward - nor fix all their problems. The true magic is revealed when these audits are coupled with solid plans following their results. Check out this article by Ragan Communications and PR Daily that delves into precisely this subject. And let us know your thoughts in the comments below! #audits #changemanagement #transformation #strategy

Building sustainable relationships is crucial in the business world. But how do you ensure that your organisation's corporate communications align with its core values, strategy and reputation? The key lies in understanding that strategic communications are not just about broadcasting messages to your target audience. It’s also about fostering meaningful conversations, listening to feedback, and taking decisive actions based on that feedback. To identify reputation risk, we must always remember to look at issues from an outside-in perspective, as much as we do from an inside-out viewpoint. In a world of instant digital communications, protecting your organisation's reputation becomes even more vital. Negative news travels fast in this age of social media and can quickly damage a well-established reputation. Therefore, always be prepared for any potential risks by having a crisis communication plan in place. Your reputation is your most valuable asset. Guard it with great care.

In a world dominated by instantaneous communication, reputational damage can happen in the blink of an eye. One misguided comment on social media can lead to a viral firestorm. Reputational fortunes can plunge after just one high profile incident or a series of smaller issues which are not well handled.   Facing a tough issue head on with transparency and honesty, while uncomfortable in the short term, can deliver long term benefits. However, the timing and tone of public disclosure is critical and that takes experience and strategic execution.   BBS' Reputation Managment White Paper sets out the crucial steps to creating and controlling your narrative in times of high risk and reputational crisis.   To download visit https://lnkd.in/ghvpVUeZ #ReputationManagement #MediaRelations #MediaRelationsBrisbane #PublicRelations #PublicRelationsBrisbane #BBSWhitePaper