Ragan Consulting Group

Understanding the effectiveness of your communication strategies is vital for continuous improvement. At RCG, our comprehensive assessments provide valuable insights into your current communication landscape, helping you make informed decisions. Our assessments help communicators: Establish a Baseline: Understand where you currently stand in terms of communication effectiveness. Track Progress: Monitor improvements over time to ensure continuous development. Develop a Strategy: Create a targeted plan to address identified gaps and enhance communication efforts. By leveraging our assessments, you gain a clear understanding of your communication strengths and areas for improvement, enabling you to develop strategies that drive success. Source: Assess – Corporate Communications Consultants (https://lnkd.in/gqp_NYZu) Interested in conducting a communication assessment? Contact us today to schedule a consultation. #CommunicationAudit #StrategicPlanning #ContinuousImprovement

When Walmart reported earnings on Feb. 20, CEO Doug McMillon recorded a?short video?for workers. Other execs might copy the practice, writes Bill Murphy Jr., who analyzes the video in Inc. Magazine. Walmart's stock price fell 9%, its worst week since 2022, which probably stung despite the video. #internalcommunictions https://lnkd.in/g-pxPzfH

At RCG, we assist brands in strengthening their narratives, building stronger relationships with audiences, and improving engagement across all communication channels.? We've partnered with clients across various sectors, from higher education to public and private organizations Every organization’s needs are unique, and we pride ourselves on delivering custom solutions to achieve measurable success. Discover more about our client work: https://lnkd.in/gKDRty5y

Is Writing Frightening? Stephen King Has Help The horror storyteller’s memoir has writing tips for corporate communications teams ? By Tom Corfman Stephen King’s “On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft” offers key insights for corporate communications teams. An early lesson from his editor, John Gould, was: “When you write a story, you’re telling yourself the story. When you rewrite, your main job is taking out all the things that are not the story.” King also identifies fear and affectation as barriers to good writing: “Good writing is often about letting go of fear and affectation.” King recommends writing quickly in the first draft. “With the door shut, downloading what’s in my head directly to the page, I write as fast as I can and still remain comfortable,” he writes. He also stresses the value of reading, saying, “Constant reading will pull you into a place (a mind-set, if you like the phrase) where you can write eagerly and without self-consciousness.” Reading is a key to finding the details that make writing interesting. King writes, “Good description is a learned skill, one of the prime reasons why you cannot succeed unless you read a lot and write a lot.” Finally, King encourages finding joy in writing. “Sometimes the words come easily...but every now and then you suddenly find yourself lifted to another plane of existence,” he writes Is your comms team looking for another plane of existence? https://lnkd.in/d84kVrRy?

Want To Be a Better Writer? Learn from Reporters By Tom Corfman Public relations people love reading books about press releases but seemingly show little interest in the writing practices of reporters. Thousands of books on PR include chapters on press releases. A better way to learn is to study how journalists write. After all, the object of a press release is a news story. Roy Peter Clark’s book “Tell It Like It Is,” published in 2023, is a great resource for improving writing, especially for corporate communicators. Clark, a senior scholar at the Poynter Institute, shares strategies that improve storytelling and clarity. Corporate communicators will be particularly interested in the book’s second section on storytelling. Clark defines storytelling as capturing experience, not just conveying information, with strategies like character details, action sequences, dialogue, and varied points of view. “The purpose of a story is not to convey information but to capture experience,” he writes. “You are not creating a story unless you are helping the reader or viewer or listener feel what it is like to be there. That effect can only be produced from tested strategies: details that define character; action delivered in a sequence of scenes; dialogue, rather than simple quotes or sound bites; a purposeful variety of points of view.” Want to improve your writing and craft clear, impactful messages? Subscribe to our newsletter for tips, resources, and expert insights. https://lnkd.in/gCcsdg7z

Southwest Airlines likes to say it is the carrier with heart, but CEO Bob Jordan wasn't smiling on Feb. 17 when he announced layoffs. Consultant Thomas Corfman takes a close look at his memo, which wasn't bad but could have been better. #internalcommunications https://lnkd.in/geQPN_VJ

How to Talk About Climate Change Amid the Partisan Divide 3 points to keep in mind when framing a new communications strategy By Thomas Corfman In this politically polarized era, corporate communication teams face a dilemma: How to reach one audience without alienating the other. Public support for climate-change initiatives is often underestimated. Sixty-one percent of Americans are concerned about global warming, according to Gallup survey results updated in December 2024. Nearly half of nearly 19,000 consumers in 10 countries said they would pay a sustainability premium of 5% or more, according to a survey by Bain & Co. released in September 2024. Point No. 1: Survey information is noteworthy, but it’s more important to know what your company’s CEO, senior leaders, customers and employees all think about climate change. Point No. 2: Don’t preach to the converted. Don’t assume that your audience agrees that your climate-change efforts are a good idea. Aim for those who can be persuaded. Point No. 3: Remember what makes ESG different from other socially responsible investment strategies: finances. ROI is “a critical factor in gaining stakeholder trust and ensuring long-term success.” There’s plenty of work ahead, starting in the C-Suite. They’ll welcome the help.

Writing bullet points for Elon Musk.

In today’s fast-paced media landscape, delivering your message with confidence is more crucial than ever. At RCG, our media training is designed to equip you with the skills needed to engage with the press and communicate effectively.? Our two-part training program, led by seasoned reporters and editors, includes:? - A hands-on workshop where we analyze your on-camera presence, messaging, and response strategies to tailor the session to your needs.?? - Explore the challenges of speaking to the press in today’s crowded media environment, from handling tough questions to staying on message.? By participating in our media training, you gain the tools to present your story clearly, confidently, and with impact.? Source: PR and Media Relations – Corporate Communications Consultants https://lnkd.in/gbd8c-5R Ready to master the art of media relations? Contact us today to learn more about our training programs. #PRTraining #MediaRelations #BrandStorytelling

When CEOs were asked how prepared they are for 15 threats to their companies, the most popular answers were "Somewhat" and "Not Very," Weber Shandwick Weber finds. How about crisis plans??Who said, "Better to have and not need, than to need and not have"? Photo: Kafka Museum/Wikimedia Commons https://lnkd.in/gEz-bKSc