CMBell Company

DISCOVER THE SECRET POWER OF MENTALLY REHEARSING. We often don't fully appreciate the impact of mentally rehearsing a work situation, but there's a compelling study of basketball players conducted by Dr. Blaslotto at the University of Chicago that suggests we ought to. He found that after 30 days, the team that only visualized hitting every free-throw had almost the same level of improvement as the group that physically practiced. Who knew? Mental rehearsal isn't just for athletes. It applies in the business world, too. For example, let's say you struggle with anxiety and find yourself putting off or ignoring hard but important conversations. Instead of worrying and avoiding it, practice successfully conducting a hard conversation and imagine it going well. Think about the positive things that could come from the conversation. If you're not sure of the best approach, contemplate the way a colleague who conducts this kind of conversation well might handle it. Rehearsing in your head really does work!

WHAT ONE THING AM I UNIQUELY SUITED TO DO THAT MY ORGANIZATION DESPERATELY NEEDS RIGHT NOW? In my coaching, I notice that people sometimes overlook their own gifts because they come naturally, and perhaps easily, for them. They assume that everyone finds it easy to do what they do. But this often isn't the case. That's why it's important to become keenly aware of one's own gifts. They truly are assets that, when activated, can take one's impact to a new level. Maybe you have the ability to bring disparate viewpoints together—or find it easy to shape culture. Maybe it's easy for you to connect the dots and see trends before others do—or you're a master at articulating an inspiring vision. Take some time to identify where your genius intersects with your organization's most pressing needs and spend more time in that space—and see what happens! Find out more about coaching options at: https://lnkd.in/gdhYs2gX

HOW TO GET MORE THAN YOU PAID FOR FROM YOUR WEB VENDOR Every web project starts with a budget and a scope of work. The goal is to use as much of your web vendor’s budgeted time as possible on solid, creative solutions instead of avoidable waste. When projects veer off their specified scope, there are two options: increase the budget or eliminate something on your scope of work to keep it on budget. Efficient processes are vital to achieving this—and while both the agency and client play a role, carefully managing the project to eliminate waste allows you to focus on value-added work. Here are some steps you can take to get more than you’re paying for and eliminate avoidable waste when you are developing your new website: https://lnkd.in/gKEMCWf6

7 MUST-HAVES TO ASK YOUR WEB PARTNER BEFORE YOU SIGN AN AGREEMENT This isn't an exhaustive list, of course, but it addresses some of the common challenges we see clients face. Ask: • If the platform allows you to make changes to your site in-house—or whether it requires the vendor to make them. • If you have instant and easy access to analytics that show user activity. • If the agreement includes the full financial commitment upfront—including upgrades, retainers, and monthly maintenance fees that come after the website is launched. • Whether your site will be built on a platform that can grow with you as your business needs change. What features might you want to add in the future—and does the platform support those? • About uptime, performance, and security expertise. • Who will be on the team that will be working on it? Will you want access to experts in communication, design, video, and the web? These are all different areas with different skill sets. • To talk to their clients. See if they met their budget and schedules, and what the process was like. And of course, look at their work samples. A good web partner will take the fear out of the process, remove the obstacles, help you avoid costly mistakes, and sweat the small stuff—making your journey to a new website as painless as possible. Getting expectations out on the table up front will help your web partner deliver a site that will serve you well into the future. Need a new website? Let's talk at www.cmbell.com/web.

It's one thing to post your mission and vision on a website or wall. It's another thing to have your CEO talk about what it means personally to them.   If you're a communications professional, then you know that the best thing you can do to help your CEO deliver this authentically is to first have an exploratory conversation with them off-camera. Ask questions. Free them to get past the expected PR-speak and dig deep below the surface to the headwaters of their heart, where you can draw out those originating passions. Find the story. Then be quiet and let them talk.   When they are ready to go on camera, circle back to those things you learned and gently coax them out. Having your CEO talk about their “why” by using talking points or a teleprompter is a last resort because it simply cannot convey the deep emotions of a leader who is passionate about their work. Instead, help them return to the emotion and purpose you discovered in your prep conversation—and allow the conversation to unfold naturally. And as you coach your CEO, remember that your demeanor will shape the delivery. Stay focused on the need to be real rather than perfectly polished. Be calm and patient. Often, the best things surface from attentive silence.   I'm curious to hear what you think. What percentage of your company's communication should be about your why? Who do you see that's doing that well? Roy Wu Thank you for sharing your "why".

THE TOO-OFTEN OVERLOOKED RECRUITING TOOL THAT'S ALWAYS A WIN: SHOWCASING YOUR "WHY" Finding and persuading the best talent requires more than advertising the position, providing a job description, or detailing benefits and compensation. Since many candidates are looking for a sense of purpose and connection in their work, showcasing your "why" should be a central part of any recruitment campaign. Also true: No one can deliver your “why” better than your employees. So if you want that competitive edge in finding, and persuading, your next great hire, have your employees deliver that message in their own words. Give the viewer a glimpse into the team, what they value, how they work together, and why they do what they do—like this fire department did. Check out more ways to leverage your existing team’s “why” in your recruitment process: https://lnkd.in/gBEQqCfb #recruitment #recruiting #knowyourwhy

One of the reasons we love what we do is that we get to work with so many creative and hard-working entrepreneurs in the Walla Walla Valley.   Witnessing their relentless passion, tireless attention to details, ability to assemble great talent, and desire to constantly improve is an incredible inspiration.   Chris Figgins and his team at Figgins Family Wine Estates are among that group. We love seeing local businesses succeed—and want to congratulate the FIGGINS team on the opening of their new tasting room and the launch of their new website!

A website experience can make or break a sale. That's why anticipating and removing obstacles that lead to viewer abandonment must be at the heart of exceptional website development. Here's a little glimpse into a website makeover that shows what that can look like in real life—and offers five tips for making your viewer experience effortless: https://lnkd.in/gGZAKc4f

There’s more to a successful social media post than a pretty picture. If you’re not getting the results you want, here’s what you may be forgetting. Find out more at: https://lnkd.in/ganEVmTg

We enjoyed presenting "The Secret Behind Campaigns That Work" to the Adventist HealthCare PR and marketing team. Such a talented and dedicated group of industry professionals—working hard to serve their organizations and communities. We are always inspired to see how much heart they bring to their work! Thank you for the invitation Tina Bergeron Sheesley, APR, and Costin Jordache, MA, MBA, APR! #healthcaremarketing #healthcarecampaigns #healthcarecommunications