Reputations

As any business owner will tell you, making difficult decisions is part of the job. At Ghidotti, we recently made the hard decision to step down as producer of The Arkansas 100.

One thing our company is laser-focused on right now is streamlining processes. In the agency world, establishing a workflow process is critical, because it not only keeps everyone on the same page internally but it also ensures our team is working as efficiently as possible for our clients.

We’ve all heard the famous saying, “it’s not what you know, it’s who you know.” While the accuracy of that statement can certainly be argued, the value of networking holds true. If you’re looking to connect with fellow professionals in your industry, consider these simple networking tips:

Serving the community is a fulfilling task, but it can be difficult to fit into a busy work schedule. That is why our agency offers volunteer time off to all employees. Through this program, employees can donate up to three days per year toward a charitable organization, which will be considered paid time off.

Thought leaders are the go-to people in their respective industries. Their opinions are trusted and valued.

Strategic thinking is often easier said than done. With so much to do in the present, it can be hard to find time to think about what might be on the horizon. Try these practices to improve your strategic thinking:

When done effectively, thought leadership can transform your brand. It doesn’t happen overnight, but here are three things to guide you as you work toward becoming a thought leader in your industry:

People come and go in every industry, and our agency is no stranger to change. However, the risk of employee turnover will never change what we look for in a potential team member.

As the owner of a women-led public relations and content marketing firm, this is one of my favorite issues of The Arkansas 100. It’s March, and we are celebrating Women’s History Month. In this special issue, we reflect on women from across the state who are leading the charge in communities, businesses, nonprofits and sports.

Our agency just returned from an annual retreat where we discussed goals, the future and each other. This year, we took time to articulate our core values as a public relations and content strategy firm. Our values define our culture and set the tone for not only our team but also our clients.

It’s a word many of us use when we describe our days: busy. But how much work is actually accomplished on those super busy days? One of the things we’ve been discussing as a company is the importance of carving out time during the day to focus.

No matter what industry you’re in, there are always company leaders to drive the entire business. Investing in these leaders should be a priority to maintain the successes you have achieved.

Continuing education is beneficial for companies and employees. It’s something our agency encourages throughout the year, whether it’s through conferences, webinars or trade association memberships.

Successful client relationships are built on many factors, but one often overlooked token of appreciation is to send a holiday gift. Gift giving shows those who chose to do business with you that your brand stands for relationships, thoughtfulness and going the extra mile.

More and more, we hear about cybersecurity breaches where data is accessed by hackers. The most recent in the news include Facebook and Equifax. Sometimes these companies handle their crisis communications well. Sometimes they don’t … at all.

A great brainstorming session can fire up any team. But a lot of them can be real duds. Here are some tips to make yours more successful:

Feeling unmotivated and burned out? It happens to the best of us. With fall here and the days growing shorter, it’s important to do what we can to keep ourselves enthusiastic and engaged while doing what we love.

We’ve been talking about employee engagement and how to improve it. But, how do you know if your efforts are actually working?

In our last issue, I focused on how employee recognition can help improve employee engagement. Today, I want to talk about the importance of feedback.

In the last issue, I wrote about employee engagement and what we can do to improve it. Now, let’s focus on how employee recognition helps. Everyone wants to feel appreciated for a job well done, but recognition isn’t a one-size-fits-all solution. You need to figure out what resonates with your people.

I’m a member of a really great group called Vistage, the world’s leading organization that helps CEOs drive better business decisions and results.

Unemployment is at historically low rates, so it’s becoming tougher for businesses to find top talent. Even worse, according to Gallup’s 2018 State of the American Workplace, only 33% of employees are engaged in their jobs. How do we fix this? I think it’s critical for business owners and managers to ensure that the right people are in the right seats.

Only 6 percent of MBA programs require any communications courses. In a world where communication skills are vital, this is a shame.

Gallup’s “State of the American Workplace” indicates paid vacation is a sought-after benefit; however, Project: Time Off says that in 2016, 662 million vacation days were left on the table, four million more than 2015.

A supportive culture is important in any industry. An office with all work and no play leads to unhappy and burned out employees. But showing appreciation and infusing fun in unexpected ways boosts morale.

During a company retreat, I shared business financials with my entire team in the spirit of building a culture of trust. Some were suprised to see how much our agency dedicates to professional development.

Everywhere. Public relations has the power to impact all levels of the sales funnel from brand awareness and content marketing to closing the deal. One of the many ways PR has the power to influence the conversion funnel is through strategic thought leadership content.

Ah, the elusive work-life balance. Now that technology has made us accessible 24/7, business leaders are often asking themselves, “Can we really have it all?”

In Sam Parker’s book, “Lead Simply,” he talks about a three-step leadership framework that helps leaders connect with the people they lead and create a stronger team.

It’s easy to get caught up in day-to-day inefficiencies as you run to various meetings and constantly check email awaiting the next rabbit hole adventure. Seize control of your day and deploy these tactics to become highly productive.