What To Expect From Us

Written by Thomas Becher Thursday, 16 February 2012 15:19

What to expect from us 

By Thomas Becher, APR  

At tba, we pride ourselves in being a partner with our clients. We immerse ourselves in your business and engage in a back-and-forth to ensure your communications reflect your objectives.

If this sounds like a good fit for you – read on. Here are 10 things you can expect from us:

1. We seek to understand you business. A great firm should create a customized strategy that makes sense to your business objectives and reflects your company’s culture. We can only help after we know all about you – warts and all.

2. We are willing to disagree. You have limited time and resources. The last thing you want is a group of “yes” men or women. You hired us for our expertise.

3. We push. PR and advertising requires hard work on both sides. You have the right to push back but expect us to push you beyond your comfort zone as well. Success needs a proactive commitment on both sides. 

4. We respect your limits. Although we may push you, we also respect your budget and any other limits you have set.

5. Our targets make sense. Whether it’s a local, regional or national campaign, our strategies identify the most appropriate media – print, broadcast, outdoor, web and/or social media. Our goal is to successfully reach your target audiences with the most compelling message.

6. We don’t just promise, we deliver. We will give you a realistic view of what your campaign can accomplish – and then find the best way to achieve results that meet your needs. 

7. We provide updates. You’ll hear from us regularly about successes, new ideas and even setbacks. The only way to stay on track is constant communication.

8. We can write – really well. An agency should provide you with solid writing skills and mistake-free communications materials. This does not mean that first drafts will be perfect, of course. 

9. We are a strategic partner. That’s how we roll. We want to be your secret weapon.

10. We are available. Email, phone, cell phone, social media – we’re always around for you.

It’s That Time of Year Again: Lend Your Accountant a Helping Hand

Written by Sonja Ambrose Wednesday, 18 January 2012 14:29

(Somehow, unbeknownst to the tba staff, our accountant, Sonja Ambrose, managed to post to the blog. Do you think she was trying to send us a message?)

It’s that time of year again: Lend your accountant a helping hand

By Sonja Ambrose

Sure, after many years of running year-end reports, financial statements and the like, I have gotten used to the routine – but that doesn’t mean it’s any less stressful! It’s that time of year when your own office accountant might be going just a little bit crazy.

Here’s why: January arrives with a bang – and not only because of New Year’s Eve fireworks. Your accountant needs to close out the year in payroll. She needs to finalize W-2 forms and prepare fourth-quarter reports, year-end reports, and 1099 forms. And this time, it’s not just the boss who wants the reports.

So does the IRS.

By January 31.

No excuses.

(Oh, and by the way, she still has to perform her other duties.)

So, take a moment this January and lend your accountant a helping hand by following these three guidelines:

1. Feed You Accountant: Make sure s/he gets plenty of healthy food during the month. Oh, and feed her the paperwork she asks for, when she asks for it.

2. Let your accountant out of her cage: Like all mammals your accountant needs regular exercise. If you want to be a real friend, treat her to a meal while she enjoys her temporary time away from the bonds of year-end number crunching.

3. Give your accountant space: During this time of year, your accountant may lash out if you get too close. Give her plenty of space and let her do her thing.

Have a happy January everyone and don’t forget to hug your accountant!

Four things Virginia Tech taught us about crisis management

Written by Chris Turnbull Friday, 09 December 2011 14:29

It is possible to underestimate how difficult it is to manage a crisis.  Armchair quarterbacking often occurs because the “quarterback” has the advantage of time and calm emotions – both luxuries in a real emergency.  So I tip my hat to the team at Virginia Tech, who showed real leadership yesterday. 

Here are four things that Tech can teach you about crisis leadership and management.

1. Have a plan:  Multiple crisis leaders over the years have used a variation of this phrase:  Plans are useless, but planning is essential.  Tech had a plan and they used it.  I would bet that for the leaders and players involved, they rarely had to look at the document; rather they had internalized the most important parts and simply knew what to do.
2. Be present:  It impressed me a great deal to see President Charles Steger and University Spokesman Larry Hincker in front of the cameras by late in the afternoon.  They knew the importance of being present at their institution’s time of need and they got there.  Having said that, Tech’s plan provided for the absence of senior leaders at time of crisis. 
3. Train your people:  When I saw the 15 or so law enforcement vehicles barreling down I-81 yesterday, I knew immediately that the training implemented by Tech and the law enforcement community was worth the time and effort.  Response was swift and coordinated.  Of the people I trained in emergency response and crisis leadership over the years, those who were trained improved their response 10 fold. 
4. Communicate fast and often:  In my previous life I was responsible (at times) for pressing the button that alerted an entire community to a threat.  My goal was to have a message out within ten minutes of an initial report.  Various sources don’t agree on yesterday’s timing of the first message, but all of them said that Tech communicated in under 10 minutes.  Six messages were released by the University during the following four hours.

You may not be responsible for an organization the size of Virginia Tech, but crisis is not limited to large organizations.  The first crisis I ever handled in my career was an active shooter in a small corporate office, but the crises I have personally faced include cyber threats, power outages that severely disrupt business, and a host of physical security threats. 

Given yesterday’s shootings and the various threats we all face, here’s my tip:  gather your leadership team together for an informal luncheon and ask them: what if.  It will be the start of an invaluable conversation.