Circle of Fellows

Four distinguished IABC Fellows discussed the myriad benefits of earning the Communication Management Professional (CMP) or Strategic Communication Management Professional (SCMP) certification offered through the Global Communication Certification Council (GCCC). The panel shed light on how becoming a CMP or SCMP not only elevates your credibility but also significantly enhances your strategic communication skills. Whether you’re looking to advance in your career, expand your network, or stay ahead in the ever-evolving field of corporate communication, this conversation is tailor-made for you. Our panelists shared insights into the certification journey— from preparation to examination and beyond. They will also share personal anecdotes and professional advice on leveraging this certification to its fullest potential for individual career growth and organizational success. Continue Reading → The post Circle of Fellows #103: IS IT WORTH THE TIME AND EFFORT TO GET A PROFESSIONAL COMMUNICATION CERTIFICATION? appeared first on FIR Podcast Network.

Maintain a flexible approach to professional growth by joining IABC Fellows as they explore key topics essential for communication professionals at any career stage. Delve into important areas like the IABC Global Standard, Career Self-Assessment, and the IABC Proficiency Matrix. Learn from experts about negotiating salary, bonuses, and job titles when considering a new role, collaborating with recruiters, and effectively showcasing your skills in interviews and resumes. Discover strategies to enhance your expertise through library resources, partnerships, lectures, and university engagement opportunities. Focus on aligning personal values with career decisions, setting clear goals, utilizing support systems for knowledge expansion, embracing change, prioritizing certification, and committing to continuous learning. Continue Reading → The post Circle of Fellows #102: Research, Plan, and Manage Your Communication Career appeared first on FIR Podcast Network.

In the 100th episode of “Circle of Fellows,” Brad Whitworth and Shel Holtz presented short video and narrative contributions from many Fellows of the International Association of Business Communicators, each of whom will present their best advice, most meaningful insight, useful observation, significant memory, or whatever they felt like sharing. The program of short Fellows contributions wraps up in episode 101 with more ideas, suggestions, recommendations, and guidance for communicators from this group of skilled and experienced professionals. Continue Reading → The post Circle of Fellows #101: More IABC Fellows Share Their Best Insights and Advice appeared first on FIR Podcast Network.

It's hard to believe, but this is the 100th "Circle of Fellows." To celebrate, we opted to try something new. (Don't worry, we'll return to our panel discussion format in March.) We asked our Fellows to contribute their best insights and/or advice in a short video or as text. We got more than we could fit in a single episode! The first batch are in this 100th episode, with the rest set for debut in episode 101, scheduled for February 15 at noon ET. Sharing their thoughts in this episode are Priya Bates, Lee Hornick, Jennifer Wah, Martha Muzychka, Dave Orman, Mary Ann McCauley, Rajeev Kumar, Brenda Siler, Barbara Gibson, Stephanie Griffiths, Alice Brink, Ned Lundquist, Neil Griffiths, Suzanne Salvo, Ian Hawkins, Jim Lukaszewski, John Finney, Cindy Schmieg, Amanda Hamilton-Attwell, Zora Artis, Mark Schumann, Robin McCasland, Les Potter, and Barbara Puffer. It's a remarkable collection of learning from some of the best organizational communicators in the world. Continue Reading → The post Circle of Fellows #100: Insights and Advice from IABC Fellows appeared first on FIR Podcast Network.

The past year has been — to put it mildly — consequential. If nothing else, the rise of Generative Artificial Intelligence has dramatically altered the communication landscape. But AI isn’t the only issue that faced communicators in 2023. From remote and hybrid work communication and the evolution of social media (as Twitter flails and younger demographic groups move away from the big dominant networks) to attacks on corporate DEI initiatives and rising levels of misinformation and disinformation, it has been a busy year! Moderator Shel Holtz, SCMP, joined four IABC Fellows for a look back on these issues and trends and how they will shape communication practices in the years ahead. Continue Reading → The post Circle of Fellows #99: A Look Back at 2023 in Communications appeared first on FIR Podcast Network.

With the holiday season upon us, it is appropriate to talk about a gift communicators can give: the gift of communication. For several years, the day before the IABC World Conference begins, communicators spend a day with local nonprofits from the host city, providing their advice and recommendations to organizations that don’t have the resources to employ or contract strategic communication counsel. The practice has spread to regions and chapters and beyond. In this live stream, four Fellows of the International Association of Business Communicators (IABC) discussed this practice and other ways it can be applied. Continue Reading → The post Circle of Fellows #98: The Gift of Communication appeared first on FIR Podcast Network.

In an increasingly interconnected world, the role of effective communication has never been more critical to organizational success. This month’s panel of IABC Fellows will delve into the nuances of Global Diversity Awareness. For organizational communicators, understanding and embracing the diverse tapestry of cultures, backgrounds, and perspectives is pivotal. The discussion will shed light on the challenges and opportunities presented by global diversity, offering insights on how to craft messages and engage in dialogues that resonate universally, build inclusive communication strategies, and foster a culture of understanding and respect in a dynamic global environment. Continue Reading → The post Circle of Fellows #97: Global Diversity Awareness as a Communication Imperative appeared first on FIR Podcast Network.

This month's panel of IABC Fellows explored the intersection of leadership and communication and how those at the top can leverage their communication skills to drive business success. The panelists shared their insights on communicating vision, values, and purpose; creating alignment around the business plan; motivating teams; and more. Continue Reading → The post Circle of Fellows #96: Leadership in Communication appeared first on FIR Podcast Network.

The goal of communication in any organization is for the recipient to think, feel, or do something. Most often, the outcome we seek is a behavior: We want the recipient to do more of what they’re already doing, do something differently, or do something new. Conveying information alone will rarely inspire someone to action. That requires communicators to add creativity to the mix. In this Circle of Fellows episode, four IABC Fellows explore the application of creativity to business outcomes, including the various approaches one might take, the differences between influencing employees and other stakeholders, and convincing leadership that creativity is an appropriate business communication technique. Continue Reading → The post Circle of Fellows #95: From Meh to Marvelous appeared first on FIR Podcast Network.

In this modern era where AI is changing the dynamics of every industry, questions inevitably arise about its efficacy and implications. Will AI replace communicators? Is it ethical to use AI with or without disclosure? Besides writing, how can communicators best use AI? What risks should we be aware of? What role can we play in helping introduce AI throughout our organizations to ensure it is used to its best advantage? An international panel of IABC Fellows got together on June 20 to discuss AI, exploring the risks and benefits, offering guidance to communications professionals seeking to navigate this new landscape. The panel explored the exciting and rapidly evolving intersection of AI and communication, examining how artificial intelligence can shoulder much of the mundane load, freeing up communicators to focus on creative, strategic, and value-added work. The panel also delved into optimal ways for professionals to harness the power of AI in their communication strategies while helping the rest of the organization adopt AI to its greatest potential. Continue Reading → The post Circle of Fellows #94: Staying Ahead of the AI Curve appeared first on FIR Podcast Network.

Wellness has risen from an afterthought in companies to a prominent issue. Businesses increasingly recognize the impact of physical and mental health in the workplace. An opportunity loss of $20 million for every 10,000 workers can be attributed to low well-being and its negative impact on performance. This amounts to a staggering global cost of up to $322 billion in employee turnover and diminished productivity as a result of burnout caused by low well-being. On the other hand, effective wellness programs leave employees seven times as likely to strongly agree that they have meaningful connections or a best friend at work, a key indicator of engagement. Mental wellness is also getting more attention as companies see the consequences of depression, stress, anxiety, and other symptoms in the workplace. Only 57 percent of employees who report moderate depression and 40 percent of those who report severe depression receive treatment to control depression symptoms. Even when programs are available, employees don’t avail themselves of them. Only about 3.5 percent of employees across the U.S. have taken advantage of an Employee Assistance Program (EAP) to which they have access. Clearly, there is plenty in the wellness space for internal communicators to address, both in terms of raising awareness and moving the culture among employees as well as counseling leaders on the actions they should take through their own messages and the degree of support they offer for wellness programs. On Thursday, May 18, four IABC Fellows gathered to discuss workplace wellness. Continue Reading → The post Circle of Fellows #92: Communicating Wellness in the Workplace appeared first on FIR Podcast Network.

There has been no shortage of crises in the business world in recent months. From the failure of FTX and Silicon Valley Bank to the Norfolk Southern train derailment and fans revolting against Ticketmaster, there is more than enough fodder for a robust discussion about how companies can prepare for crises while establishing their reputations and communicate effectively when a crisis strikes. The recording of the April 20, 2023, live stream features a great hour-long conversation on various dimensions of crisis communication, from issues identification and the role of CEOs during a crisis to social media and disinformation challenges. Continue Reading → The post Circle of Fellows #91: Crisis Communication appeared first on FIR Podcast Network.

Everybody hates change, right? You hear that all the time; it’s why organizational change is so hard. The fact is, people love change. They willingly and enthusiastically make changes all the time. They change their fashions, their hair styles, their cars, their homes, their vacation spots, their furniture, their spouses… If change is hard in organizations, it’s not because people just don’t like change. If there is resistance to change, you have to know why. Even if resistance is not a major issue, managing change is still a complex challenge for communicators, who play multiple roles during a change initiative, creating alignment so employees and leaders are on the same page about where we are, where we’re going, why we’re going there, how we’ll get there, and so on. And that doesn’t even account for dealing with the ongoing, day-to-day change that is a fact of life in any business. (As they say, change is the only constant in life.) On Thursday, March 16, 2023, four Fellows of the International Association of Business Communicators (IABC) discussed a wide variety of communication-related change issues. Continue Reading → The post Circle of Fellows #90: Communicating Change appeared first on FIR Podcast Network.

As communication professionals grow in their careers, they’re expected to provide strategic counsel to company executives about communication and its impact on business. This week’s hot topic might be new legal regulations; next week, it could be stakeholder relations. No matter the issue, IABC’s Code of Ethics serves as a roadmap for communication professionals, guiding them to make consistent, responsible, ethical, and legal choices. Join this international panel of IABC Fellows as they share their insights and advice from decades of experience as strategic communication leaders and counselors. A panel of IABC Fellows addressed these issues in a frank conversation on February 16. The video replay is available below; the podcast is available here. Continue Reading → The post Circle of Fellows #89: At the Crossroads of Counsel and Ethics appeared first on FIR Podcast Network.

According to the Global Communication Certification Council, “Professional certifications through GCCC® give you the opportunity to demonstrate your knowledge and expertise and provide evidence of your outstanding abilities. Becoming certified engages you in the process of life-long learning that elevates your career and provides a structure for keeping your skills fresh and applicable.” On January 19, four IABC Fellows joined moderator Shel Holtz, SCMP, and four IABC Fellows for a conversation about certification. The discussion ranged from why certification matters and what the CMP and SCMP certifications represent to how to prepare and how to maintain certification after earning it. Continue Reading → The post Circle of Fellows #88: The Global Communication Certification appeared first on FIR Podcast Network.

Four IABC Fellows looked back on 2022, which was a consequential year for communicators, in this final Circle of Fellows of the year. The evolution of COVID-19 from pandemic to endemic led companies to bring employees back to the office, creating a need to communicate the new hybrid work reality (or, in some cases, why employers were insisting everyone come back full-time while others retained a remote work arrangement). “Quiet Quitting” became a topic of discussion as dissatisfied employees dialed back the effort they gave to the organizations. Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion remained an important topic. And there was no shortage of crises to occupy communicators’ time. The episode was live-streamed on December 15. Continue Reading → The post Circle of Fellows #87: Year-End Reflections appeared first on FIR Podcast Network.

Is your trademark your company’s brand? Your logo? Or is your brand what your customers say about you when you’re not in the room? What’s a brand promise and how do you develop one that everyone can buy into? How do you build the brand internally so every employee projects it externally? What’s the communicator’s role in protecting the brand? And what do you do when your company fails to live up to it? Continue Reading → The post Circle of Fellows #86: Brands and Branding appeared first on FIR Podcast Network.

You have gained experience as a communicator in an organization. Now, you want to establish a consulting practice. You have questions. Do you focus on a niche or will you be a generalist? Will you remain independent or hire staff? How do you build your business? What should you charge? Four IABC Fellows with decades of experience as communication consultants shared their insights and experience in episode 85 of “Circle of Fellows,” IABC’s monthly broadcast/panel discussion. Continue Reading → The post Circle of Fellows #85: So You Want To Be A Consultant appeared first on FIR Podcast Network.

In July, four IABC Fellows gathered to discuss what communication is…and isn’t. That conversation will continue at noon EDT on Thursday, August 18. Too often, communicators are called upon to engage in activities some might consider communication. It may even qualify as communication under some definitions. But in the business world, simply distributing a routine notice is far from communication. It may be messaging, but even that is questionable if nobody reads it. Conversely, modifying a company process that is sending the wrong message to employees may not strike an executive as a means of communication — but it is. The August episode of "Circle of Fellows" features three additional Fellows -- and one returning from the July show -- continuing the discussion. Continue Reading → The post Circle of Fellows #84: What Communication Is…And Isn’t (Part 2) appeared first on FIR Podcast Network.

Ask leaders what “communication” is and you are likely to hear a wide range of answers, especially when it comes to the role of a company communication function. Some of those answers may be accurate, others not so much. Too often, leaders see communication as a one-way messaging function, for example. In the first of this two-part discussion, four IABC Fellows explored exactly what communication is…and isn’t. The conversation took place on Thursday, July 21. (The second installment, with another quartet of IABC Fellows, is set for August 18.) Continue Reading → The post Circle of Fellows #83: What Communication Is…And Isn’t (Part One) appeared first on FIR Podcast Network.