This isn’t a post about how to manage your time effectively in a super corporate warrior kind of way.
It isn’t about being the über project manager and delivering that last-minute project on time despite the ridiculous deadline.
Here is what this post is about, I was told this morning that someone I know has 48 hours to live. Continue Reading…
Just when I thought things couldn’t get any worse for Qantas. Their brand took a further nose dive today (excuse the pun). They had a go at relaunching their battered reputation though starting a competition on Twitter on the day after their negotiations broke down with their airline pilots.
Really bad timing. Continue Reading…
Qantas is one of Australia’s most prestigious brands. It is the national airline. It has had an extremely high-profile and enjoys the reputation of being one of the safest airlines in the world (It also trades off this fact). Aussies have had a national love affair with Qantas over the years. Its logo is also one of Australia’s national symbols and many consider part of their national identity.
Today Alan Joyce and the executive management of Qantas just ended that love affair and mauled the airline’s brand equity and it’s reputation in one day. Continue Reading…
Yesterday a Google+ engineer mistakenly hit the wrong buttons on his keyboard in a message that was meant for Google staff ended up being posted to his Google+ page (Check out the full post here). I don’t know about you but there have been times when I have typed a response on email to something I didn’t like but after the initial vent I have deleted the email and approached the person directly. Phew! (By the way come and say hello on my google+ page).
Here are 5 PR lessons I think we can all learn out of this: Continue Reading…
The last two weeks have been very focused on time intensive media issues that our church has been taking a lead in. Public relations (PR) isn’t my strongest point, but I love engaging with the press.
My role has been setting up the various media and preparing our message to ensure we stay on message.
Here are some of the media outlets Crossway has had coverage on: Continue Reading…
In case you’ve been under a rock for the last week and missed it, Bob Parsons who the boss of GoDaddy has blogged about how he shot an elephant and put a video up on his blog.
Talk about a PR disaster. It has really hurt GoDaddy’s reputation, Bob managed to do that in one shot (if you forgive the pun) You Church, your leadership needs to know that:
1. It takes a lifetime to build your reputation but only one moment to loose it
2. Your perception of how you think others see you could be a deception
Ask yourself the following questions:
What other PR disasters have you seen lately that the church can learn from?
Related posts – How To Avoid A PR Disaster At Your Church: Part 1 Part 2 Part 3
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We’ve lived in a world that has gone from a 24 hour news cycle to an hourly news cycle that has been ravenous for content to fill specialised news channels.
I don’t know if you’ve noticed that the hourly news cycle and has been replaced with the hourly opinion cycle.
Many news outlets have subtly (and not so subtly) shifted beyond reporting the news, to broadcasting opinion pieces in the news.
This is potentially a big deal for your church. How the ‘media’ perceives your church or key spokesperson no longer will rely just on news reporting, but on opinion pieces.
The recent Rob Bell interview with Martin Bashir is a great example. Martin is clearly letting his opinions lead his questioning – which makes for a much more aggressive and combative style of interview.
While you may not have an issue yet that is 'opinion-worthy' (not news worthy). It will come.
What are you doing to train yourself to manage the media when it comes knocking? Comment below
Over the last week I've been blogging about how churches can avoid PR disasters. I wrote about what churches can learn from Volvo's famous 'Safety improvement' car crash (brilliant video). Nestlé's disasterous social media episode, and last but by no means least – Tiger Woods exploits. (My blogging buddy Phil Cooke has also written an excellent post on how not to respond to a disaster, yes BP thats you.) While these situations aren't church PR disasters, there are profound lessons for churches.
Just when I thought I'd run out of PR disasters to blog about, another one comes along.
Sarah Ferguson is the Duchess Of York. One could say that the last few days have not been her best. She has been caught in a sting operation by a British tabloid on video accepting money for access to her ex-husband, Prince Andrew – The Duke of York. In the video she alleged that her husband knew about it but remained squeaky clean from it. Other sources say that the Prince knew nothing about it. She has since been reported to have said that she regrets her actions.
In the media frenzy who do you believe?
Here is the killer point. Prince Andrew hasn't publically commented on it. He could of responded and denied the acusations and linking of his name to this bribe. But he hasn't. (It's not that uncommon for the Palace not to comment on news reports)
How steps should churches take if someone takes illegal financial advantage in their name or steals money from the church? We need to be aware that:
1. Reputation takes a lifetime to build and a moment to destroy.
Sarah Ferguson is was squeaky clean. Prince Andrew is still has his reputation, but there is now a cloud of uncertainity hanging over his name. No matter how much "good" a church does, the brand & reputation of the church that took decades to build can be destroyed in a moment – even if someone else has stolen money from you or used your church's name for illegal financial advantage. You may not of have been responsible for any illegal activity, but when an employee who works for you rips you off there will always be a question about your organisational reputation. You have to respond.
2. If a story breaks - Explain your side of the story fast & first.
Prince Andrew or the Royal family hasn't talked at all. The media will now fill the void that he left.
Explain your side of the story out fast and first. Stick to the facts and what you know.
Just like Prince Andrew and the Royal Family, if you don't talk to the media it will talk to every one else around you who has a good or bad opinion about your church or organisation (the media news cycle refreshes almost every hour and is hungry for new content).
3. Be honest & tell the whole story
Don't try and spin your way out of a situation. Don't be vague or play with semantics. If something has happened and your church or organisation is somehow implicated don't only listen to lawyers and hold back. Explain:
You can never say sorry enough.What do you think we can learn? What would you add?
Related posts
How To Avoid A PR Disaster At Your Church: Part 1
How To Avoid A PR Disaster At Your Church: Part 2
How To Avoid A PR Disaster At Your Church: Part 3
I've been blogging about church PR disasters and the mayhem that can follow. (Part 1, Part 2, Part 3).
Hillsong is Australia's largest church and usually gets a hard time from the mainstream media in Australia. Last night Hillsong was featured on national TV on Channel Seven's Sunday Night program. Hillsong's Senior Pastor, Brian Houston was the main focus of the interview.
Was the interview a PR disaster or a success? Make your own mind up. Watch the short video here.
What can we learn from the interview?
1) Be prepared for leading and probing questions - Think through carefully ahead of time how you would answer them.
2) Talk about what Jesus thinks - Don't offer your own opinion on moral issues. It is what Jesus thinks about the moral issues that counts.
3) Give full disclosure if asked - If you are asked a probing question about a issue normally considered private such as money or your family's past, don't avoid it. Privacy isn't the issue, a willingness for honesty, openess and transparency is. Show the reporter you have nothing to hide.
4) Don't be afraid to take people behind the scenes - Brian took the reporter behind the scenes which showed the church off in a really positive light. You could see the sincerity and heartbeat for Jesus in the church and in his family.
5) Be yourself - Sounds obvious but Brian was no different in this interview to any other time I've seen him on TV. People can see through any kind of act or perfomance. He just came across as an Aussie guy passionate about Jesus and the church, conflicted and upset about his dad and totally head over heals in love with his family.
What do you think?
Was the interview positive? How did you think Brian Houston came across?
Related posts
How To Avoid A PR Disaster At Your Church: Part 1
How To Avoid A PR Disaster At Your Church: Part 2
How To Avoid A PR Disaster At Your Church: Part 3
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I kicked off this series in part one of 'How To Avoid A PR Disaster At Your Church' with what happens when something or someone fails to do what they are supposed to do. Part two focused on what happens when social media goes wrong. Today we'll be covering another (PR) disaster that happens at churches.
One of the biggest PR disasters that can happen to a church is when the most senior leader in the church is fired for inappropiate behaviour, it could be sexual, financial or ethical. Fill in the blank. Someone somewhere has probably done it. I said before that church marketing is everything. This is just one more sad example.
If it is a senior leader, they are removed often leaving the church in a mess, the congregation confused about what really went on, and the media is usually breathing down the neck of leaders left standing wanting answers on the spot.
There are numerous examples of how the media portray what happened, here, here and here. You don't even need to be fired or actually break any law, check out what happened to Ed Young . Even the perception of doing the wrong thing can get you into hot water with the media. The way you see a situation may not be the way the media sees it.
I've blogged about about what Tiger Woods can teach churches about communications last year. If you are a leader who could be facing something like this and want to know how to respond, check it out. I would also appeal to you to step aside for the reputation of your church and Jesus.
If you are a church leader where your senior leader has failed or you want to do contingency planning, this post will help you take the initiative.
1. Implement a crisis management plan - Do you know how you will respond in a crisis like this? Do you know who your spokesperson will be? Do you know who to contact to get your message out? No? Then you need a plan. Talk to someone who knows more about it than you, don't try and figure it out by yourself. Lead with your strengths, let others lead you with theirs. There are plenty of communications specialists out there who can help.
2. Get media training for your next level leadership or Board spokesperson - If it ever happens you need to be prepared. You will definately be in the hot seat. How you handle it is vital. You can come across in the media in the worst way, or you can seen to have an appropiate response.
3. Rehearse out senarios. Review how you handled it. What came up that you didn't expect? What worked, what didn't work?
4. Go back to step one.
This is a taboo subject. I don't think I've ever seen any church communications peep blog on it before. No one wants to be the guy or girl that has to bring this subject up with their senior leadership. There needs to be a great deal of sensitivity in approaching this with others. But your church needs to be prepared. It may never happen, but if it does happen it will happen so quickly and your church will feel so out of control that you'll be wishing you did it.
Related posts
How To Avoid A PR Disaster At Your Church: Part 1
How To Avoid A PR Disaster At Your Church: Part 2
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