Where Do You Stand?

E-cards aren’t just for birthdays anymore. According to a July 10 article in The Atlanta Journal-Constitution the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has developed a variety of electronic greeting cards, so the public can send friends and family friendly health reminders and wellness tips.  The cards cover everything from health tips for traveling abroad to colorectal screening reminders and pet care advice, so you’re sure to find one for everyone!  

With the number of flight delays and cancellations I’ve experienced lately, I’ve come to expect that I’ll be stranded at an airport for an extra few hours each time I travel.

That’s why I was so happy to read my St. Louis Business Journal daily update e-mail to find out that XpresSpa will open two locations at Lambert-
St. Louis International Airport. The locations should be open in about six months.

If you’re going to be stuck at an airport, why not get a pedicure while you’re there!

Here’s a link to a great example of an audio slideshow – one of the relatively new reporting tools the St. Louis Post-Dispatch is using. As reporters look for new ways to cover the news, it also means companies have new opportunities to share their messages, so keep this new option in mind when pitching reporters.  

You can view more examples by visiting the Post’s MultiMedia section, which features both audio slideshows and video footage.  

Also, an audio slideshow is a great way to add visual interest to your board meetings, gala events or Web site for less than producing a full-length video.  

Check out this 2-minute video we developed in partnership with Coolfire Media for Parent as Teachers National Center’s Heroes at Home program. 

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has added patient satisfaction data to its Hospital Compare Web site.

A quick search of a few of the St. Louis region’s hospitals found patients gave a 54% - 86% satisfaction rating in 10 different areas, ranging from percent of patients who reported that their nurses “Always” communicated well to percent of patients who reported yes, they would definitely recommend the hospital. 

A few of the St. Louis hospitals with rankings include: Barnes Jewish, Missouri Baptist, St. Anthonys, St. John’s Mercy, St. Lukes and St. Marys The survey has some in the health care industry very nervous.  However, the survey results actually provide a great opportunity to drive home the importance of customer service and communication for health care employees who work with patients. 

A HealthLeaders article explores the future impact these surveys will have on hospital marketing and communications.  

I don’t get much out of the one-hour luncheon or breakfast seminars that PR/communications trade associations offer.  So, I’ve turned to reading business books, which provide a more in-depth look at challenging organizational issues.   Now, I’m sure many of you are thinking, “I don’t even have time to finish the novel I’m reading for my book club.  How could I possibly have spare time to read business books?!?”  You’d be surprised!  Many business books take into account readers’ busy lives and, therefore, are a far cry from the long, dry text books we were required to read in college.   In fact, the first book I’m reviewing is written like a novel, with plot twists, conflict and a bit of humor (see mentions of the green banana).   

The Five Dysfunctions of a Team by Patrick Lencioni gives you a “fly on the wall” perspective of how Kathryn Petersen ─ a fictional, but very realistic CEO of a tech company ─ helped DecisionTech move past a major obstacle in the way of its growth – getting a group of high-level managers to work together as a team. The book explores how to overcome:

1. Absence of trust (caused by invulnerability)
2. Fear of conflict (caused by artificial harmony)
3. Lack of commitment (caused by ambiguity)
4. Avoidance of accountability (caused by low standards)
5. Inattention to results (caused by status and ego)

Easier said than done, right?  Luckily, there’s a section in the back of the book that provides exercises that can build team members’ skills in each of these areas. I especially like the sharing of one’s single biggest strength and single biggest weakness in terms of contributions to the business as a way to embrace vulnerability and build trust.  Whether your leadership group needs a teamwork overhaul or just an infusion of new energy, this book is a quick read that won’t disappoint.

“Extreme Makeover: Home Edition” is looking to renovate a deserving St. Louis family’s home (well, they actually demolish and replace it with the most gorgeous home you’ll ever see!).  Submissions must be sent to extremestl@gmail.com by April 11th.

The show focuses on families who are in dire need of a new home and have:

• Faced hardships
• Spent their lives helping others
• Have special needs that require a unique home design, such as a family member with a disability

The show usually features a charitable organization in which the family is involved or one that has helped the family. So, in addition to getting to meet Ty, you could also get the chance to share your organization’s messages with millions of viewers.

For more details, check out this St. Louis Post-Dispatch article.

This month’s issue of Public Relations Tactics revisits the Tylenol cyanide tampering crisis of 1982 – an industry standard of crisis PR done right. Times have changed and social media has certainly added an even timelier element to crisis management. However, the main principles of how Johnson & Johnson handled their response are still the cornerstones of successful crisis communications:

1. Being prepared ahead of time.
2. Acting quickly and definitively.
3. Telling the truth.
4. Treating the media with respect and honesty.
5. Meeting media deadlines whenever possible.
6. Following up with answers to questions that may not be readily available.
7. Avoiding speculation on information that is not yet available.
8. Identifying a high-level spokesperson to communicate with the media, as well as other internal/external audiences.

Learn more about what happened during Tylenol’s crisis, which resulted in seven deaths.

Interesting video on one of Gov. Blunt’s recent encounters with reporters, showcasing the need to media train both the spokespeople and their “handlers.” What are your thoughts?

Pushing Reporters is Usually not Good PR