Archive for June, 2009
Michael Jackson and Communicating Through the Language of Music
Posted by: | CommentsMuch has been written about the shocking and untimely death of Michael Jackson. He was truly one of the greatest communicators of all times. There is unlikely to be anyone like him again. As David Segal wrote in The New York Times, “On the most basic level, this is matter of business and math. Michael Jackson has sold an estimated 100 million copies worldwide of the 1982 album ‘Thriller,’ which spent more than 31 weeks at the top of the Billboard charts. It’s one of those high-water marks that nobody will touch because record stores are vanishing, and along with them, megahit albums are vanishing, too.” Today’s performers also are contending with the distractions of the Internet, hundreds of cable channels and social networks, which drain away potential fans.
While his passing is sad, Michael Jackson’s great legacy will be his uncanny ability to communicate through the language of music — in words, pictures and actions. The lyrics from his most famous albums resonate with passion – “The way you make me feel,” and “I just can’t stop loving you” are just two examples. In reality, these were odes to his fans. They understood that he was really talking about them. And the love was mutual.
His dancing and mesmerizing moonwalk took his music to a new level. He captured the hearts and imaginations of fans around the world. From the tips of his toes to his sweet high-pitched voice, he was communicating with everything he had. He held nothing back and his fans loved him for it.
There is a lesson here for company CEOs. As I said in an earlier post, a CEO’s honest passion and belief in the vision he has for his company will inspire people to follow. You get more people to change by showing them something that affects their feelings than with a detailed factual analysis. Michael Jackson was a shrewd businessman when it came to striking deals, but his ability to communicate his passion through the language of music will be his most enduring legacy.
Don’t Go Through Life With a Catcher’s Mitt in Both Hands
Posted by: | CommentsI’ve never failed to be touched by the many wise sayings sprinkled through the writings of the poet and writer Maya Angelou. The beauty of her words and lyrics always inspire. I’ll begin with my favorite quote because it is a constant reminder of how important in life and business it is to extend a helping hand – to a friend, someone in need, a young person just beginning the journey of a career.
From Maya Angelou:
“I’ve learned that you shouldn’t go through life with a catcher’s mitt on both hands; you need to be able to throw something back.”
“Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away.”
“I’ve learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.”
“There is no greater agony than bearing an untold story inside you.”
“If you don’t like something, change it. If you can’t change it, change your attitude. Don’t complain.”
“I can be changed by what happens to me. But I refuse to be reduced by it.”
“I’ve learned that you can tell a lot about a person by the way s/he handles these three things: a rainy day, lost luggage, and tangled Christmas tree lights.”
“Ask for what you want and be prepared to get it!”
“You can only become truly accomplished at something you love. Don’t make money your goal. Instead pursue the things you love doing and then do them so well that people can’t take their eyes off of you.”
Words to live by.
Please Let Me Change My Email Address!
Posted by: | CommentsI subscribe to many (maybe too many) online newsletters, magazines, newspapers and blogs. I enjoy receiving them all and I would like to continue receiving them. But why won’t they let me change my email address? My new company name is Write Speak Sell and my new email is jpaladino@writespeaksell.com. Not surprising, of course.
But when I scroll to the bottom of most of the emails there is an unsubscribe link, but rarely a link to simply change my email settings and other contact information. Maybe it shows a lack of self-confidence in the writer that subscribers would only want the unsubscribe information.
So, please, everyone, let me change my email address! And while you’re at it, how about increasing the size of the typeface in your communiqués.
Thank you.
Companies Need to Trust Their Employees as Brand Advocates
Posted by: | CommentsSmart companies are waking up to the idea of their employees being their most important brand advocates. As I’ve written before, employees are still largely underutilized in this role. When there isn’t a positive culture of communication within a company, management doesn’t trust employees with carrying their message to the outside world through new social media tools like blogging and Twittering.
Trust is the operative word.
In a video on social networking at IBM Jon Iwata, SVP, Marketing & Communications, points out the company can’t control what employees say. This scares the heck out of CEOs who don’t trust their employees to do the right thing. But as Iwata points out, the same policies that apply to an employee who might give away company secrets in a bar apply to the employee who is posting a tweet. IBM isn’t afraid of social media because, as Iwata says at the conclusion of the video, “employees can be trusted.”
Probably the most notable example of a wide-open culture with employees talking directly to their customers is Zappos. As those devoted to Twitter know, Zappos CEO Tony Hsieh is a committed Twitterer. Type in twitter.zappos.com and you can also read the tweets of all 431 Zappos’ employees on Twitter. Just think of the good will being sown among the many customers and potential customers who are following Tony Hsieh (735,000+) and all those employee tweets.
Yet, surveys show that most companies are still in the old command and control mode. Management hasn’t begun to tap into the power of employees as advocates of the company on social media networks. When will they wise up?
