June 2004 - Atkinson Public Relations
 

#1

Top Of Mind: No more "Reply to All"

 

#2

The Idea Of That Thing: The rise of individual media

 

#3

Next Time Try This: Solve the problem by asking a question

 

#4

For The CEO: The $$ of fitness

 

#5

Hits & Bytes: Romenesko blog

 

#6

What We're Reading: The Zen of Listening

 

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Dear Microsoft,

We ask that you remove the "Reply to All" button from Microsoft Outlook and your other e-mail programs. If e-mail is the killer app, then "Reply to All" may be the app killer. We'll explain.

We love e-mail for its ubiquity, speed, and flexibility. It has revolutionized the way we share news with many people at one time.

The dreaded "Reply to All" button makes it far too easy for people to bombard us with responses punctuated by exclamation points: Thanks for the update!!! Way to go team!!!! GREAT idea!!!!! It's often a race to see who can reply to all the fastest and with the most emotion. ;-)

Equally bad, you find yourself caught in a boring e-mail conversation between people trying to one-up each other with witty banter. (No…you're boring times infinity.)

Eliminating the "Reply to All" will increase our effort. In the end, it will force us as users to be more responsible with our e-mail.

Thank you for your consideration.

 

 

 

Forget mass media. Think individualized media.

The world's media has changed more in the last ten years than it had in the previous century before. More than ever, media is customized to us as individuals.

The first phase of individual media was the delivery of custom content that mattered to us: e-mail alerts, searchable news services, custom e-mail newsletters.

The latest stage allows individuals to be reporters thanks to blogs (see Hits & Bytes below). The rise of blogs is an interesting phenomenon. Part rant and part diary, blogs give individuals the ability to publish life as they perceive it. Many experts and even reporters enjoy sharing through blogging.

But, how do we know what is factual versus opinion? Real versus fiction? What happens when traditional media reports about what people are saying in the blogs? In major media outlets, there is a check-and-balance system that eventually (see New York Times and USA Today) works. Blogging has no such standards.

Going forward, smart companies will adapt to the on-demand 24/7 world of individual media. They will eschew the single message birthed in the C-suite in favor of the same information offered from multiple perspectives to different individuals. They will embrace, respond quickly to, and even challenge stories/blogs like never before. The real winners will strive not to have the best message but to be the standard of the truth.

 

 

 

 

 
 

We are a world of problem-solvers. See a problem; solve that problem. The problem with problem-solving is that expertise only leads to more problems to solve.

Next time somebody brings you a problem, try asking a question instead of solving the problem.

  • "What would [insert name] do in this situation?"
  • "Have you thought about this angle?"
  • "What are some of the obstacles in your way?"

Questions force the other person to take ownership in the problem rather than pawning the solution off on you. They also help the other person understand how to solve the problem if it occurs again in the future.

 

 

 
 

It pays to be fit.

Ball State University's recent study of 336 entrepreneurs showed more exercise netted bigger business returns.

Researchers focused on two particular disciplines: running and weight lifting. The study examined the influence that running and weight training have on sales volume as well as external and internal goals. External rewards include personal wealth and family security, while internal rewards include recognition, challenge, excitement, growth, accomplishment, and independence and autonomy.

According to the survey, daily exercisers are 14 percent more likely to hit income goals and are 10 percent more likely to feel personal satisfaction at work.

The results indicate that running is positively related to all three outcome variables while weight training is positively related to external and internal rewards but not sales.

 

 

 

 

 
  www.poynter.org/romenesko

Romenesko is the blog of The Poynter Institute, a school for journalists, future journalists, and teachers of journalists. The website showcases articles about the media and its impact on society. The war in Iraq and the continuing issues at the New York Times seem to be the issues of the moment. Romenesko comprises the many desirable elements of a blog, including recent content, summaries for quick scanning, links to similar blogs, and the ability to easily e-mail information to others.

 

 
 
 

The Zen of Listening by Rebecca Z. Shafir

Most people hear well. Most people do not listen well.

Throughout The Zen of Listening, Shafir challenges readers to understand and overcome barriers preventing them from optimal listening.

Much of the book focuses on listening without self-interest or self-consciousness. Listening with self-interest means that listeners are mentally preparing their responses even as the other person is still speaking. Listening with self-conscious means not being able to separate emotions and the message, especially during tense or stressful conversations.

Shafir outlines seven primary causes of misunderstanding in communication:

  • Background noise
  • Status
  • Gender, race, and age prejudice
  • Physical appearance
  • Past experiences
  • Personal agendas
  • Negative self-talk

Each chapter contains tips and exercises to help develop listening skills in the future and overcome personal barriers to mindful listening.

 

 

 

© Copyright 2004 Atkinson Public Relations