Archive | February, 2010

The Miracle of Teamwork

28 Feb

Today, the United States Olympic hockey team will try to win its first gold medal since the legendary Miracle on Ice team of 1980.  A lot has changed in the last 30 years as this team is made up of NHL players and veterans that are far from the college team filled with kids who captivated the country, and many all over the world, decades ago.  However, the game today got me thinking about that team of kids and their accomplishment and in particular about the coach of that team, the legendary Herb Brooks.  The way he built that team is an example of outstanding leadership on so many levels.  One of the keys to their collective success was Brooks belief in teamwork.  It’s been well documented, most visibly in the motion picture Miracle by Disney, that Brooks took a unique approach to creating a team that he believed could achieve more than anyone thought possible. 

How did he do it?  There are a few specific areas that I believe are key.

  • The Right Players- One of the quotes that has always stayed with me since first hearing it was “I’m not looking for the best players, I’m lookin’ for the right ones.”  In creating a high performing team, no matter what the situation, an essential element is getting everyone to buy into the goal and to be willing to fit a role that will best support the team.  I’ve been part of some really great teams and some that probably didn’t really reach their full potential.  When you can get the “right” mix, it’s truly awe-inspiring to see how the efforts of many come together to produce more than the sum of their parts.

 

  • Egos Are Checked- Another common pitfall for teams, which ties back to understanding roles, is the interference of ego.  Let’s face it, we have them.  We all like to be recognized and viewed as good at what we do.  And, there’s nothing wrong with wanting recognition for good work; but if it becomes the source of jealousy or any member of the team focuses more on their own glory than team it can become a distraction or downright cancer to the success of the team. 

 

  • Heart- This is one of the elements that you can’t just preach or teach.  Feeling personally connected to a team has to come from each member and it has to be genuine.  For the highest performing teams, in sports or in a professional environment, you have to care about others on the team.  You won’t always be best friends, or even close with everyone, but you have to support them.  You must accept both the strengths and weaknesses of the team members and find ways to succeed together.  Brooks understood this and created a tremendously demanding environment for the team and intentionally kept them at a distance, which was unusual for him versus other coaching efforts, but it strengthened the team.  The team joined together, put differences aside, and became as it worked to reach a far greater goal.

As the United States and Canada meet today, I know that nothing will ever top the 1980 team in my eyes.  I also recognize that the reason that team was so special to me has a lot more to do with teamwork, pride, and courage than just hockey.  It’s about the miracle of teams.

Resources:

If you want to check out more about Herb Brooks and his work, you can visit http://www.herbbrooksfoundation.com

PRSA Progression

23 Feb

Let me get this out-of-the-way right at the beginning.  I am a huge PRSA supporter.  I’ve been a PRSSA and PRSA member for roughly 15 years now.  This could be construed as negative but I want to make sure that everyone understands it is meant only as a valid question in the hopes of continuing to consistently improve the offerings provided to the organization’s membership.

When I began as a recent graduate, I recall attending monthly meetings featuring some of the best and brightest in the Twin Cities.  I was honestly in awe of what many of these professionals had accomplished as I was starting my career.  Over the next decade, I was able to build relationships and connections that helped me along as I learned how to stand on my own.  PRSA played a valuable role in enhancing my career.

However, in today’s environment when so many senior communications professionals are only a Tweet or webinar away, I”m wondering if PRSA needs to alter its traditional approach to delivering value to its membership.  Access that was stunning to me years ago is now commonplace, and expected.  As professionals continue to shell out a few hundred dollars each year to be a member, what can the organization do that really delivers a significant benefit to those of you out there that support it?  What methods of programming are you interested in? Should there be a greater emphasis on webinars or perhaps more focus on a regional set of programming versus strictly local?  Or does the price point need to change to more frequent but targeted lower cost events?

As more and more professionals are struggling with justifying the cost of professional development to their employers (or paying it on their own during a tough economy) what’s the mix you’d like to see?

HAPPO to Introduce James Lockwood

19 Feb

There are sure a lot of talented folks here in the Twin Cities.  Another introduction on this #HAPPO (Help A PR Pro Out) Friday for you.  Meet James Lockwood, a senior communicator that has a diverse background that could be well suited to a corporate or agency environment. 

My name is James Lockwood, a communications professional with a Master’s degree in public affairs who is obsessed with cycling, loves cooking, and enjoys live music.

In between those activities, I find interest in all things social and political, from the sustainable foods movement to education reform and energy innovation to the latest episode of Mad Men. I have worked media relations for the Republican National Convention; created and executed the communications plan for the launch of a new pediatric clinic; written proposals for an architectural firm looking to build multimillion dollar facilities; and engaged residents and fans alike about city services through social media (yes, snow plowing can be fan friendly).

In a world where media is a loosely defined term, I bring my experience in print, broadcast, and speech writing to give the proper voice in each medium to reach targeted audiences. I want to bring this experience to an organization that aims to create community, build fans, and move the needle more in its direction. 

Meet Elyse Kyro

19 Feb

In this entry, as part of Help A PR Pro Out or HAPPO, I’d like you all to meet Elyse Kyro who is seeking a full-time job or paid internship here in the Minneapolis/St. Paul area.  She’s looking to expand on a great start to her career thanks to an internship at the Mall of America and is open to a variety of opportunities but has a particular interest in gaining agency experience.   

In May 2009 I graduated from Minnesota State University, Mankato, with a bachelor’s degree in mass communications and a minor in studio art. My emphasis of study in mass communications was public relations.

After graduation I was a public relations intern at Mall of America. During my internship with the Mall I frequently wrote press releases and media advisories; worked with members of the media and maintained Mall social network sites including Twitter, Facebook and YouTube; maintained coverage reports; and helped plan and execute the Big Green Conference, an environmental conference held at the Mall with more than 100 guests.

I enjoy working with people, posses a high level of energy, complete assignments with efficiency and enjoy the challenge of working under pressure. I have experience working with the Microsoft Office Suite, Adobe PhotoShop and InDesign.

I look forward to hearing from you.

Thank you,
Elyse Kyro
Elyse.kyro@gmail.com
651-470-0063
www.twitter.com/ElyseLynnae

A HAPPO Introduction to Amanda Oleson

18 Feb

As part of the Help A PR Pro Out (HAPPO) effort to assist some of our fellow PR pros connect with employers that could benefit from their skills, I’m happy to turn over my blog to Amanda Oleson to tell you why you should consider her as a part of your team. 

Dear future boss,
Hello! It’s a pleasure to finally meet you. I heard that you are looking for a few sharp folks to contribute to your team’s success, and I’d be delighted to offer you my talents and expertise.

First, let me tell you a bit about myself. I graduated Cum Laude from the University of St. Thomas with a B.A. in Public Relations and in Spanish. I’ve spent the last few years in an agency setting, doing consumer marketing as a Media Relations Specialist, mostly in the Health, Wellness, and Alternative Medicine industries. I have experience in creating strategies and implementing PR and social media tactics in the health, retail, community outreach, non-profit, events, beauty and sports categories. I have secured media placements that have sold-out past client’s products for weeks at a time, successfully launched community youth programs, assisted in event PR from planning to media coverage, and assisted in re-invigorating corporate blogs and social media channels. I’d be tickled-pink to bring my enthusiasm and passion for all of it to your team.

My natural curiosity, background in traditional public relations and marketing and borderline obsession with all things social media allow me to bring fresh and unique insights to your team’s efforts to connect with and engage your key audiences and influencers. Growing up, I was always the kid that talked to strangers- telling them about my latest adventures with my Barbie doll or serenading them with a favorite Madonna track. Since then, I’ve learned that telling stories to random strangers isn’t the best idea. However, I’ve figured out that telling a specific story to a specific set of strangers IS a great idea if you’re looking to build trust in a brand, increase awareness and influence a certain outcome. I would be thrilled to help your team find the set of “strangers” that need to hear your stories the most- through the channels they want to hear them in. (Which is not likely to be a little girl tugging at your sleeve with a Barbie and an off-key Madonna song in most cases, for the record.)

I’m eager to tell you more of my adventures, how I can make them work for you, and maybe even serenade you with a Lady Gaga jam (for old times’ sake of course). Feel free to peruse facts about me on
LinkedIn, listen (and chime in!) to me babble on Twitter, or beg me for a story via e-mail (amanda.oleson@gmail.com). It’d be my pleasure to entertain you for a while. I look forward to hearing from you!

All the best,
Amanda

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