In January 2022, Carrie Fox set out on a blog series called Finding the Words because she had something to say. By the end of the year, you were doing more than listening. You were deeply in this work with her. And because of you, we’re keeping this series going, every week through 2023 and beyond. Our promise: Carrie will keep delivering these essays each Wednesday morning to further support your work as a communicator for change. Your promise: keep telling us how these insights are impacting and influencing your work.
Here are some of the most regularly shared columns. If you like what you see, then subscribe here.
Values at Work.
We will all have bad days and losses that can feel hard to swallow. Those moments may discourage you, but don’t let them distract you from your values. Because when your values are clear, the impact is undeniable.
Civility at Work.
Incivility at work is an intensifying reality. It can get the better of us and bring out the worst in us. This week, practice “ventilating your soul with tenderness,” and work to create spaces that foster civil conversation and muscle building. I think you’ll find the whole team gets stronger as a result.
Polarization at Work?
Political polarization is real and will likely grow in the coming months. Get ahead of it in your workplace by helping your team build the skills to navigate divisive conversations while actively supporting civic engagement.
What Would It Hurt To Ask?
It’s not how quick you can deliver an answer in the moment. It’s how much you’re willing to sit with the tough questions that come your way. I guarantee that the process of deep thinking will lead to much greater clarity and conviction in the process.
The ABCs of Bridging
You can’t control what the media asks, but you can control what you say. Let your character shine through by listening carefully to the audience, acknowledging questions, and bridging to your message. And by keeping your audience at the center of the story, you’ll be ready for prime time in no time.
Where Will This Year Take You?
If you’re interested in long-term impact and viability, pay attention to the actions and practices you keep today. Because they'll guide where your organization goes from here.
Lessons From the Field.
It’s easy to believe that our team can clinch the win, just as we can imagine landing our own big wins at work. But those magic moments don’t come without conditioning, reflection, authenticity, and follow-through. Stay true to who you are, and keep your end goal in sight.
Tackling Tough Feedback.
If you want the process of delivering feedback to serve as an opportunity to deepen trust rather than to damage a relationship, then take time to understand the situation AND the person before rushing to assumptions or judgment. Being clear, candid, and consistent can help move your fear of feedback to a practice of love.
What If?
Whether you manage a big brand or a small startup, a team of thousands, or a team of two, there is power in every single one of your decisions: power to shift and shape society for good. So, I dare you to ask, and then explore more deeply, your individual power to make an impact. Consider the effect of your big decisions and your small ones, too. Then, ask again and again, What If?
Brace Yourself for This.
No organization is immune from a crisis erupting at any moment. It’s how you prepare, plan, coordinate, and communicate in the moments of calm that will determine how you weather the storm when it rolls in.
Reconnect With Your Story.
Stories are critical to business success. And stories exist in all of us. Make time to reconnect with your stories and find out what's possible as a result.
The Hard Truth about Soft Skills
When leaders communicate with care, courage, and clarity, they can also better lead through tumultuous times. It comes down to how we use the power we have.
Did You Hear That?
Find ways to get closer to the users of your content, and when you get there, listen carefully. That closer listen will always be worth it.
Can I Trust You?
How we show up is more than the words we use or the snappy descriptions we print in our brand books. What we say and what we do need to match up. Over and over again. That's what it takes to build a trusted brand. So, can I trust you?
Not The Response I Expected.
If you’re looking for an actual answer from Twitter about layoffs, declines in ad revenue, mounting lawsuits, or any other issue, you’ll need to keep waiting. As for your own press strategy, if you’re looking to build trust and credibility, set aside the emojis and autoresponders. Instead, focus on what you can say—and say it authentically.
Banking on Trust.
Losing a previously invested donor, partner, or team member is always challenging. But a loss without any related learning is the worst kind of loss. In losing, find ways to uncover essential insights and small wins that make the most of difficult situations.
The Letter in Question.
Making the choice between “White” and “white” is well beyond a matter of capitalization. And as with life, there is no simple answer to the “W/w” question. But examining and understanding our language choices matter, as we convey different messages based on our choices.
Our Choice of Words.
Just because a phrase is commonly used, does not mean it is inclusive to all members of our community. Let’s think, speak, and write with intention, knowing that the more inclusive our practices, the better we all become.
What’s Hiding in Your Writing?
It often takes an outside perspective to help discover an unconscious bias. Make time at the start of your writing process for community input, and you’ll have a much better, more informed, and accurate article in the end.
Land the Plane.
The takeoff and the landing. It matters in the sky, and it matters in our communications.Whether we like it or not, much of what we say in the middle of our presentations or pitches may be lost on our audience’s ears. Nonetheless, we can avoid confusing our audiences mid-air by orienting our communications around the opening and the closing.
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