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Summer Reading List for Communicators (or Wannabes)

Looking forward to some time off this summer? While you’re relaxing at the beach or enjoying an early start to the weekend with Summer Fridays, make time to sharpen your skills. Each of these books listed below will help you become a more effective communicator and leader.

Inclusion: Diversity, the New Workplace and the Will to Change, Jennifer Brown
This book could not be more timely. Every successful business must ensure that all employees experience a welcoming work environment where they can perform at their best and are challenged to grow. Jennifer shares best practices and business cases that inclusion is an opportunity to make your business better. Share the book with peers at your business and start a conversation.

Presence: Bringing Your Boldest Self to your Biggest Challenges, Amy Cuddy
You may know Amy from her viral TED Talk where she contends that adopting a power pose, like Wonder Woman, can actually make feel more confident. Her book expands on this premise with practical tips for anyone who has to pitch themselves or their ideas. If you think of a witty retort after the moment passes, this book is for you.

Slide:ology: The Art and Science of Great Presentations, Nancy Duarte
Raise your hand if you’ve sat through presentations that include 50+ slides. For years I wrapped this book up as a holiday gift to clients, hoping they would read it and realize you don’t have to put paragraphs on slides. Nancy Duarte has carved out a unique niche as a presentation expert. If that doesn’t seem very exciting, consider that within corporations, presentations are the most used channel for delivering information. This book will help you strategize the story, content, and flow to impact and influence your audience.

Sell with a Story, Paul Smith
We can all agree that storytelling is a powerful communications tool. But it takes practice to create stories that instruct, inspire and ignite action. Smith provides fascinating examples on you can take even the most technical, data-driven content and fashion a memorable story.

What are you reading this summer? Send me your picks: Maureen.Clayton@insight-communication.com.

Posted in Communications, Communications Strategy, Company Culture, Customer Service, Engagement, Human Resources, Internal Communications, Leadership, Motivation, Onboarding, Performance Management, Training, WritingTagged , , , ,

Case Study: Sustainability Communications

In early 2012, we had the opportunity to work with DeKalb County, GA. on their “DeKalb Recycles” marketing campaign.  After doing some situation analysis, DeKalb County had discovered that their recycling services were being underutilized by the community.  Recycling varied anywhere from 5% to 56% participation in certain areas.  The recycling program needed a jump start on a limited budget.

Our goals for the campaign were simple but very important.  They included informing residents of the recycling program, educating them on why they should recycle and achieving a noticeable increase in participation in DeKalb’s recycling program.  It was also vital that we put in place a sustainable foundation that could be built on over time.

In order to make the “DeKalb Recycles” campaign successful we explored some cost effective ways of promotion.  We selected key audiences such as government employees, community organizations, schools, and local media to help us spread the word.  Other tactics included social media and a DeKalb Recycles website that provided information about the program and how to sign up.  Through these avenues we introduced the tagline Sort, Set, Save.  Sort, Set, Save showed residents what could be recycled, how to sort these items, where to deliver their recyclables and how they were helping save their community.  To eliminate the monetary barrier to joining the recycling program, we were able to eliminate the bin/bag fee.  The idea was to ask non-recyclers “Why not give it a try?”

Within three months of the launch of “DeKalb Recycles,” DeKalb County had received over 4,000 new requests for recycling service.  This number well exceeded our projected participation expectations.  DeKalb Recycles was a success that continues today.

Image of Dekalb Sort. Set. Save. logo

Do you have a case study of sustainability communications? Share your story with Ben: ben.clayton@insight-communication.com

Posted in Case Study, Communications, Social Media, SustainabilityTagged , ,