Wainger Wisdom2024-04-29T14:14:40-04:00

WAINGER

WISDOM

In this blog, we explore what it takes to engage, inspire and connect whether you are building a personal or organizational brand.

Join us in this ongoing conversation about creating effective leadership communications with strategies and tactics that foster understanding and motivate people to act.

Join us in this ongoing conversation about creating effective leadership communications with strategies and tactics that foster understanding and motivate people to act.

Leadership Communications, Mr. President?

President Obama’s decision to appear on Funny or Die’s “Between Two Ferns” with Zach Galifianakis was a gutsy and weird decision. Gutsy, because he pushed the envelope, going few presidents have dared go before: an edgy comedy show—in this case, a place where the millennials that are so essential to the success of the Affordable Care Act are spending their time.

By |March 13th, 2014|Categories: Influence and Thought Leadership|Tags: , , |Comments Off on Leadership Communications, Mr. President?

Communications Transparency: Big Brother is Watching

The Internet of Things is changing our lives in ways that most of us don't fully understand.  With the pervasive use of location monitoring, social media and now sensors on our bodies, in our cars and our appliances, we are under surveillance constantly,  for which we have volunteered.

By |March 7th, 2014|Categories: Strategic and Corporate Communications|Comments Off on Communications Transparency: Big Brother is Watching

Leadership Communications: Grace in Defeat

A great Olympic moment occurred not on the medal podium but on the sidelines as dejected snowboarder Shaun White failed to achieve his dream of capturing a third gold and earning a unique place in the history books.

By |February 12th, 2014|Categories: Influence and Thought Leadership, Organizational Alignment and Internal Communication|Tags: , , , , , |Comments Off on Leadership Communications: Grace in Defeat

Customer Service & Social Security

A trip to try to correct a mistake in my Social Security files revealed customer service at its worst and all that is wrong with the government these days—a government that seems to be inefficient, mean, and certainly not “for the people.” In fact, everything about my experience screamed in defiance of at least four of Wainger Group’s Cardinal Rules of Customer Service.

By |February 4th, 2014|Categories: Audience Engagement|Comments Off on Customer Service & Social Security

Puppies, Clydesdales Lead to Great Storytelling

The stars of this year’s Super Bowl weren’t the Broncos and Seahawks but the adorable Labrador puppy and muscular Clydesdale featured in a 60-second Budweiser beer commercial.  At last count, the ad had more than 40 million views on YouTube.  Pollster Frank Luntz noted on CBS This Morning that women and men in a focus group he arranged to watch the big game ads were deeply moved by it, some to tears.  So why is this commercial so powerful?

By |February 4th, 2014|Categories: Branding and Positioning|Tags: , , , , , , , |Comments Off on Puppies, Clydesdales Lead to Great Storytelling

Leadership Communications: The Art of the Follow-Up

Filmmaker Woody Allen once noted that, in Hollywood at least, “80 percent of success is showing up.”  In public relations and leadership communications, 80 percent of success comes from following up and following through.  It’s not enough to stake the claim; you also have to deliver on it.

By |January 22nd, 2014|Categories: Influence and Thought Leadership|Comments Off on Leadership Communications: The Art of the Follow-Up

Leadership Communications: Beating Stage Fright (and Other Spokesperson Woes)

Buzz around the beginning of the business new year was dominated by director Michael Bay’s flub at the Consumer Electronics Show.  While joining Samsung executive Joe Stinziano as a spokesperson to unveil the company’s new curved TV, he got out of sync with the teleprompter, couldn’t recover, and walked off the stage.  But was it a failure of leadership communications or just a really bad day gone viral?

By |January 7th, 2014|Categories: Influence and Thought Leadership|Comments Off on Leadership Communications: Beating Stage Fright (and Other Spokesperson Woes)

Leadership Communications Resolutions for 2014

For most of us, the ever-changing communications landscape – indeed, the shifting make-up of the world itself – makes it tough to keep up. So every year we resolve a little more firmly to deliver the leadership communications solutions that bring us a little closer and a little more connected to those who are most important – our customers, our supporters, our funders, and our family, friends, and professional associates.

By |January 6th, 2014|Categories: Influence and Thought Leadership|Tags: , , |Comments Off on Leadership Communications Resolutions for 2014

Holiday Public Relations Done Right

They call it the WestJet Christmas Miracle -- but it's not really so miraculous.  What it is is a celebration of great public relations, tied up in a bow with style, imagination, regard for your audience, and more than a dash of fun.

By |December 25th, 2013|Categories: Media and Public Relations|Comments Off on Holiday Public Relations Done Right

5 Leadership Communications Lessons from Nelson Mandela

Nelson Mandela will be remembered for many things: his courage, his humanity, his intellect, his embrace of his enemies, and an inspired leadership that helped  heal his country and pave the way to a new future.  Through his words and actions, he personified leadership communications.

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