Welcome to our February 2022 Newsletter
Letter from the president
My heart sank when I read a recent opinion piece in Stuff titled 'When did our public service get so arrogant?'. For a start, after all my years working across a variety of public sector agencies, I’d never considered them any more or less arrogant than any other organisation; it’s all just people doing their jobs. So I had an inkling where this might be heading... and yes, the communications teams were in the firing line.
I don’t know how often I’ve heard the argument – comms teams are there to deflect, to obfuscate, to spin, and to make sure people don’t have access to the truth. We’re an army designed to deter, and we grow like weeds. The topic raises its head every year and any increase in numbers is a sign of an organisation that has its priorities wrong.
Well, a very big thank you to Tracey Bridges for calmly and logically responding, and pointing out that the issue requires a much deeper analysis rather than assuming that the fault lies with communicators.
One of the points Tracey very clearly makes is that communications teams aren’t there to serve just one audience – the media. That’s a bit like saying an IT team is only made up of the Help Desk or that the HR Department is just recruiters. In my more than 20 years working in communications, I’ve probably spent a total of five years in roles that had any media relations element to them. The overwhelming majority of my experience has been in internal communications, connecting people to their workplaces and their colleagues, and helping them understand and navigate major change programmes. I’ve looked at my colleagues in media teams and they’re not some vast battalion of spin doctors – they’re usually a small stretched team juggling multiple different media requests on a vast array of topics, trying to make sense out of some impenetrable answer from a subject matter expert, when they’ve even managed to pin down that expert in the first place (because yes, they’re usually really busy doing their jobs and don’t have time to take calls from anyone, including the poor comms person).
If the media feel they can’t get answers and we feel they’re not appreciating this problem may not lie with us, then we need to sit down and really talk to each other about solving this issue. I know the media is woefully under-resourced but I’ve yet to see a communications team that’s much different, and our sole intent is to stop the truth being told is a little naive.
Arrogance happens when someone decides their view of the situation is superior to yours. A kōrero goes a long way to dispelling that but only if we’re also willing to listen.
Jacqui
Jacqui - IABC Aotearoa New Zealand President
My heart sank when I read a recent opinion piece in Stuff titled 'When did our public service get so arrogant?'. For a start, after all my years working across a variety of public sector agencies, I’d never considered them any more or less arrogant than any other organisation; it’s all just people doing their jobs. So I had an inkling where this might be heading... and yes, the communications teams were in the firing line.
I don’t know how often I’ve heard the argument – comms teams are there to deflect, to obfuscate, to spin, and to make sure people don’t have access to the truth. We’re an army designed to deter, and we grow like weeds. The topic raises its head every year and any increase in numbers is a sign of an organisation that has its priorities wrong.
Well, a very big thank you to Tracey Bridges for calmly and logically responding, and pointing out that the issue requires a much deeper analysis rather than assuming that the fault lies with communicators.
One of the points Tracey very clearly makes is that communications teams aren’t there to serve just one audience – the media. That’s a bit like saying an IT team is only made up of the Help Desk or that the HR Department is just recruiters. In my more than 20 years working in communications, I’ve probably spent a total of five years in roles that had any media relations element to them. The overwhelming majority of my experience has been in internal communications, connecting people to their workplaces and their colleagues, and helping them understand and navigate major change programmes. I’ve looked at my colleagues in media teams and they’re not some vast battalion of spin doctors – they’re usually a small stretched team juggling multiple different media requests on a vast array of topics, trying to make sense out of some impenetrable answer from a subject matter expert, when they’ve even managed to pin down that expert in the first place (because yes, they’re usually really busy doing their jobs and don’t have time to take calls from anyone, including the poor comms person).
If the media feel they can’t get answers and we feel they’re not appreciating this problem may not lie with us, then we need to sit down and really talk to each other about solving this issue. I know the media is woefully under-resourced but I’ve yet to see a communications team that’s much different, and our sole intent is to stop the truth being told is a little naive.
Arrogance happens when someone decides their view of the situation is superior to yours. A kōrero goes a long way to dispelling that but only if we’re also willing to listen.
Jacqui
Jacqui - IABC Aotearoa New Zealand President
Meet
This month we're saying a big kia ora to DK (just a D and a K), Creative Producer & Speaker Coach, who has created some of the finest events Wellington has seen - including 9 years of TEDxWellington/TEDxWellingtonWomen, and the Creative Leadership conference.
These days you can catch him hosting the always awesome 'Creative Welly' video podcast or hosting monthly Teulo Talks.
Let's hear more from DK...
What's the biggest comms challenge facing the comms industry in NZ today?
In my work as a speaker coach I often quote George Bernard Shaw: "The greatest problem in communication is the illusion that it has been accomplished." My time with clients is helping craft a narrative which carries emotion and relevance for the audience in question. Now throw in the online mediums which have become the normative channels of communication these past 18 months, coupled with how badly folks use them, then it's definitely a rich area for skilled communication development.If you could have a long lunch with someone, who would it be and why? What would you grill them on?
Owain Glyndŵr - a man from Wales who used to burn down the houses of the Marcher Barons, which were installed to rule over the Welsh by the English. Would love to hear his story (the myth is that he was never captured and fell asleep in a cave and turned into a Dragon, ready to be called upon again when the English start encroaching into our fatherland).
When was the last time that you did something for the first time?
Just now - answering the IABC newsletter questions ;-)What's the golden nugget of comms advice you've never let go of?
Make people think and / or smile. Shared by a mentor of mine over 15 years ago and still ringing true today. Hold that up against the majority of what comms is about today (selling stuff and writing clickbait) then you have a spirit-led challenge.If someone was coming into the industry now, what could they learn from us, and what can we soak up from them?
The new workforce is wonderfully aligned with value-based motivations which is already permeating - we should thank them more for that!
Those who are leading the industry are folks who have stayed fluid in their interests and open in their skill acquisition. If you're a kick-ass writer that would've set you up for life back in the day, however, in a world where everyone can have a global voice instantly with online tools which can help shape / augment your message, you need so much more than talent.
And even though the 'metaverse' is apparently here and / or coming soon (btw, I remember playing around in Second Life and doing series of podcasts on the topic over 15 years ago - there is nothing new here), real life still has more bandwidth. To be an effective communicator is to be an effective human - listening twice as much as you talk, having strong views which are loosely held, being transparent in your values which amplify your character, and remain madly curious about everything! Oh and be f*cking kind and stop selling, instead, tell stories with heart...
These days you can catch him hosting the always awesome 'Creative Welly' video podcast or hosting monthly Teulo Talks.
Let's hear more from DK...
What's the biggest comms challenge facing the comms industry in NZ today?
In my work as a speaker coach I often quote George Bernard Shaw: "The greatest problem in communication is the illusion that it has been accomplished." My time with clients is helping craft a narrative which carries emotion and relevance for the audience in question. Now throw in the online mediums which have become the normative channels of communication these past 18 months, coupled with how badly folks use them, then it's definitely a rich area for skilled communication development.If you could have a long lunch with someone, who would it be and why? What would you grill them on?
Owain Glyndŵr - a man from Wales who used to burn down the houses of the Marcher Barons, which were installed to rule over the Welsh by the English. Would love to hear his story (the myth is that he was never captured and fell asleep in a cave and turned into a Dragon, ready to be called upon again when the English start encroaching into our fatherland).
When was the last time that you did something for the first time?
Just now - answering the IABC newsletter questions ;-)What's the golden nugget of comms advice you've never let go of?
Make people think and / or smile. Shared by a mentor of mine over 15 years ago and still ringing true today. Hold that up against the majority of what comms is about today (selling stuff and writing clickbait) then you have a spirit-led challenge.If someone was coming into the industry now, what could they learn from us, and what can we soak up from them?
The new workforce is wonderfully aligned with value-based motivations which is already permeating - we should thank them more for that!
Those who are leading the industry are folks who have stayed fluid in their interests and open in their skill acquisition. If you're a kick-ass writer that would've set you up for life back in the day, however, in a world where everyone can have a global voice instantly with online tools which can help shape / augment your message, you need so much more than talent.
And even though the 'metaverse' is apparently here and / or coming soon (btw, I remember playing around in Second Life and doing series of podcasts on the topic over 15 years ago - there is nothing new here), real life still has more bandwidth. To be an effective communicator is to be an effective human - listening twice as much as you talk, having strong views which are loosely held, being transparent in your values which amplify your character, and remain madly curious about everything! Oh and be f*cking kind and stop selling, instead, tell stories with heart...
Old news - from the IABC Aotearoa New Zealand
October 2020
September 2020
August 2020
January 2020
September 2019
August 2019
April 2019