Why Leaders Should Write “We/Us” Instead of “I/Me”

Category: Blog

Why Leaders Should Write “We/Us” Instead of “I/Me”

Here’s a PR lesson for internal communication.

Leadership doesn’t mean take all the credit.

If employees read and hear leaders drop a lot of, “I did this” and “I did that” and, in essence, “look at me go!”, the word choice can create unnecessary distance and fracture the relationship between management and staff.

If you, as a team leader, did accomplish a task, then it may be appropriate to lead with “I.”

For example, in an email to multiple staff members: “I went ahead and called our client, Morgan, to reschedule the meeting for Friday at 2:30 p.m.”

But if the particular action involved several hands, then don’t act like you did all the heavy lifting — or omit the people who played a key role.

Again, in an email to multiple staff members, several who could have played a role in the “heavy lifting”: “Thanks to everyone who put in the extra hours over the weekend to finish out the RFP for the Jackson account. That’s an account we’d love to have to build up our robotics division.”

Now, observe how much differently that quote reads with a focus on “I.”

“Good news. The RFP for the Jackson account is done and submitted. I hope we land the account because I’d love to add that project to the company’s robotics division.”

Feel a different vibe here? All about me, me, me — the great and esteemed company leader.

Keep an eye on “I”.

Your employees sure will.

  • + Danny Rubin
  • P 02/10/2020
  • t Blog

The New Rules for Interoffice Communication Tools

Want to strengthen your interoffice communication skills? Check out the checklist below.

  • Start sentences with capital letters and capitalize proper nouns until the co-worker on the other end proves he/she prefers lowercase words at all times. For example: “Do you have the report for the Nicholson account yet?”
    • Once the other person shows a preference for lowercase words, you may choose to go with, “do you have the report for the nicholson account yet?”
    • If you type with the case the other person prefers, you are always in the right.
  • ​In the same vein, stay away from emojis until the other person drops one first.
  • Even though the chatter through instant messages can be rapid fire, watch every word you type. Many communication tools act as archives so anyone with access can find past conversations in the program.
    • Plus, a two or three-person dialogue can, the next day, include several more people. Maybe one of the new people wasn’t supposed to read a message that appeared a day before? Uh oh.
  • ​When the message thread includes clients, my opinion is to maintain proper rules of capitalization at all times — even if the other person is into lowercase writing and abbreviations.
    • The client pays you for a service, and you should maintain a high level of professionalism.
  • + Danny Rubin
  • P 01/10/2020
  • t Blog

RCG Captures Variety of Media Coverage for Theater Grand Opening

In fall 2018, Zeiders American Dream Theater (known to locals as “The Z”), recruited RCG to publicize its grand opening and inaugural Proteus Festival, a three-day celebration of music, arts and film in early October 2018.

We did just that, creating a media blitz that included everything from print, like this cover of “pulse” (the entertainment section of The Virginian-Pilot), to TV, radio and social media exposure.

 

 

We garnered media coverage from the following outlets. In total, the three local stations CBS, NBC and ABC mentioned the Zeiders grand opening 32 times between September 18 and October 9, 2018.

The exposure led to a packed house for the grand opening, which provided momentum to launch the creative and theatrical hub in the city’s Town Center district.

Parade of Porsches to Welcome Mulrain Family into New Habitat for Humanity Home in Chesapeake

NORFOLK, VA (March 18, 2019) – A homecoming parade is coming to Chesapeake on Saturday, March 30 but not the kind you might expect.

That’s because members of the Porsche Club of America – First Settlers Region will drive 20 Porsche sport cars up and down Marcus Street in the Crestwood area of Chesapeake to celebrate the Mulrain family as new homeowners through Habitat for Humanity of South Hampton Roads.

The local Porsche club is an integral part of this particular Habitat home as the organization raised over $70,000 in monetary and material donations from its members to support the cause. The club members also spent hundreds of collective hours volunteering on the construction site.

All the fundraising and home building will conclude with a home dedication ceremony at 2 p.m. on Saturday, March 30 at the house (527 Marcus Street).

“We are so grateful to the Porsche Club of America – First Settlers Region,” says Frank Hruska, Executive Director of Habitat for Humanity of South Hampton Roads. “They have been a perfect partner and a great example of how community groups and Habitat SHR can work together.”

Media is encouraged to arrive no later than 1:30 p.m. on Saturday, March 30 to capture the “Porsche parade” and then the dedication ceremony.

PR Writing Template: How to Write a Progress/Status Report

The blog post is a preview of content in Rubin Communication Group Vice President Danny Rubin’s forthcoming book, Wait, How Do I Lead My Team?, a collection of writing guides for leaders and people who aspire to hold the title.

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If you need to provide a formal status of your work to a client, readability is key.

For one, you may send the report on behalf of your team. That means the client and your employees will judge the document and how well you organized the information.

You also want the progress report to reflect well on your team and the effort everyone has put in to date.

Here’s an example of a status report from Acme Corporation, an event planning company. The report goes to the Acme Association, a national membership organization.

Status Report — Acme Corporation Event Planning
November 2019

Team members involved: person 1, person 2, person 3, etc…

Tasks completed

  • Reserved banquet hall and two breakout rooms at Acme Inn and Suites on March 2 and 3 for 2019
  • Regional Conclave
  • Determined menu for breakfast and lunch on both days with the hotel catering staff
  • Developed layout for the exhibit hall. See layout here.
  • Completed item 4
  • Completed item 5, etc…

Tasks for December 2019

  • Decide on the dinner menu for the night of March 2. See the options here.
  • Order banner to be displayed in the main lobby and signage to direct people to the conference area of the hotel
  • Prepare series of emails to encourage early-bird registration by January 15
  • Remaining task 4
  • Remaining task 5, etc…

Action Items for Acme Association

  • Review the dinner options at the link above. What is your top choice?
  • What is the early-bird price discount?
  • Do you want three or four speakers during each breakout session?
  • Action item 4
  • Action item 5, etc…

Deeper Insight

The report lays out three key areas:

  • What we (the service provider) did
  • What we still need to do
  • What we need you (the client) to do

Sure, you will likely have a conversation about the report and talk through any next steps. The report above helps to frame the discussion and allow the client to see where you need input.

An organized status report is one more way to imply, “We’re on the ball and good at what we do.”

And the client thinks, “I’m sure glad I hired them.”

Virginia Maritime Association

Check out the latest video we produced for our client, the Virginia Maritime Association (VMA).

The VMA will celebrate its 100th anniversary in 2020. To commemorate the milestone, our team is working on a variety of events and public relations efforts.

One of those efforts is the video below, in which past and current VMA leadership reflect on the organization’s history and where it’s headed in the next 100 years.

Skydive Suffolk Acquires Skydiving Facilities in Spotsylvania, Petersburg

Thanks to the Fredericksburg Freelance Star for coverage of our client, Skydive Suffolk.

In July 2018, our client acquired a skydiving facility in the Fredericksburg area and the Freelance Star business reporter jumped on the news.

See the story here.

Fairlead Groundbreaking Captures Front-Page Coverage

We helped Fairlead Integrated, a Portsmouth-based ship repair company, stage a groundbreaking on a new facility in Newport News.

We worked closely with a reporter from The Daily Press and the story landed on the front page. See below and view the story online.

 

 

 

 

Email Template: How a Manager Should Critique an Employee’s Work

Constructive criticism is essential for team dynamics. If your employees don’t improve a little each day, then the company as a whole will languish.

Still, there’s a proper way to dispense critiques while you manage the relationship and remain in control as a leader.

(more…)

9 Words That Make Any Professional Look Weak

Hey, I’m not sure if you have the time right now, but it would be great if you can read my latest column. Is that OK?

…said the weakest communicator ever.

Confidence is a powerful tool to gain respect and get stuff done.

As you compose emails/documents (and in conversation too), remove these words/phrases from your vocabulary. They make you look weak.

(more…)

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