Archive for October 2012
with Mark de Roo
Thanks John Hancock, Lilly Tomlin, and a nurse at Boston General Bees have their honey, magnets have their North, and I have this thing about bookstores. It’s an irresistible draw, an involuntary attraction. And, if that bookstore has a coffee shop, the attraction level has mushroomed by a factor of 10—no, make that 20. My…
Read Morewith Professor Pocock
Remember what your mother taught you One of my assignments at Hope College is to serve as co-advisor to our chapter of Mortar Board. Mortar Board is the premier national honor society recognizing college seniors for superior achievement in scholarship, leadership and service. I get such a charge working with these students. They are highly…
Read MoreThe SCN Encourager – Thursday, Nov. 8, 2012
I forget the basics way too often. You too? Do you have a handle on the whole vision and change thing? As a school communicator, I’ll admit that I forget the fundamentals of communications, team-building, and leadership way too often. Some say it’s my old-age. I’m convinced it’s because my superintendent doesn’t allow me to…
Read MoreOne way to out-hype the scandelous
On the day the 2012 National Teacher of the Year was announced in Washington D.C., a local TV station led off its broadcast describing how a teacher had been fired for shooting off a cap gun in the classroom. [pullquote]“When I saw that, I knew it couldn’t get more obvious that educators can’t rely on…
Read MoreSuper Bowl promo insights revealed
When competition is fierce, how do you stand out from the crowd? Eighth-graders! That was the novel strategy the Indiana Sports Corporation used in 2008 to bring the National Football League’s Super Bowl XLVI to Indianapolis. Dianna Boyce, communications director of the 2012 Super Bowl Host Committee, had me riveted as she told me the story…
Read MoreSoap Operas, Guinea Worms and Influencers – Oh My!
I am re-reading a fascinating book titled Influencer: The Power to Change Anything. There are so many wonderful stories in this book I hardly know where to start (and yes, a story is a powerful strategy to influence change). Did you know that a soap opera can be very deliberately used to create a vicarious experience to influence listeners? What could…
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