Iceland's disruptive volcano - The Big Picture - Boston.com

Iceland's disruptive volcano - The Big Picture - Boston.com

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Politicians as communicators

Over the years I have found that politicians are excellent examples of good communicators. They orchestrate information, emotions, human relationships, interactions, money so smoothly and with such panache that each one who is in orbit around them is in a dizzy spell of words, power and dreams.
Look at the IPL scenario. The press is dancing to the tune of sensationalism of news. Modi and Tharoor are trying to outlive each other and the public is swinging like a pendulum to keep abreast facts.
Who really gains in the bargain? The politicians. Their fine tuned manipulation of situations, behind the scenes adjustments and then the grasp on the language while dealing with the press and the public alike is really an example of effective communication.
The spade should be called a spade only when required, core group should be kept motivated and the press should be at the beck and call of the communicator.
Look at the Indian political scenario closely and you will find effective communication is flowing with the ease of a hot knife in butter. 

Communication is important in business

In any business scenario, ineffective communication is a major obstacle to productivity. It is immensely avoidable and must be constantly worked upon.
Management must face squarely the challenge of formulating strategies to encourage personnel to communicate effectively. 
It is important for seniors to set examples. They need to realize that successful communication is a two-way process.They need to realise that reciprocity is the essence of communication. This is irrespective of whether the process is conducted verbally or through the medium of the written word.
In any given situation, human beings are involved with other human beings. It is far greater than just giving or taking of information or instructions. Communication is as much a matter of human relationships as it as about transmitting facts.
To communicate successfully, each person has to understand his or her peers or the subordinates, and has to work hard to get the other person to understand him or her.
Words have to be chosen with care and actions must be in line with what has been said. 

e-mail manners

Interesting reading...
http://www.microsoft.com/smallbusiness/resources/technology/communications/got-email-manners-see-these-dos-and-donts.aspx#GotemailmannersSeethesedosanddonts

Branding in brick and mortar sector

Eversince its inception, Ideas Inc. has been working closely with the brick and mortar sector, viz., industrial and engineering.

In fact, it is one of its kind, since it understands these sectors and the needs. Ideas is well equipped to develop the communication strategy and the communication tools that are required for these sectors.

Except for the major players, there are very few organisations in these sectors that really look at planned and sustained advertising. In fact, few of them have budgets allocated for promotion. This is mainly because the companies conecentrate on driving sales and whatever communication tools they require are mainly to augment the sales pitch.

There is no branding activity and the now familiar inconsistencies in the promotional activities, at times, makes me wonder if we are really in the right sectors! 

I really have to educate the clients, when I work with them, on the importance of a concerted promotional effort and what it gives back to the organisation. But if they were to choose between saving money and promotion, they would rather choose the former!

The result is a weak brand and no effective market position. Therefore, the emphasis on networking, service and driving sales gets even more critical. And when there is a new entrant, for example an MNC with an established brand, the insecurities are huge.

Then the company realises that it needs to focus on its image and gradually the change sets in on a much lesser scale than desirable.

With globalisation, branding has come to stay in the Indian brick and mortar sector. Sooner the players realise it the better it is for their business.