Ed Barks's Blog: C-suite Blueprint

There are a multitude of critical elements that need to blend seamlessly when testifying on Capitol Hill or, for that matter, before the state legislature, a municipal council, or a regulatory body.

Preparation — both substantively and mentally — plays a large role. Success (or, gulp, lack thereof) in attaining your public policy objectives hangs in the balance.

For our purposes here, let us assume that your preparation has been flawless. Then comes the moment to confront this question: What hap...

A couple of weeks ago, I penned a column about “Things I Don’t Understand” in the communications and public affairs realms. Things like individuals who, during remote exchanges, fail to retain eye contact with their cameras instead of their screens. Or companies that force workers into pretzel-like, delay-inducing approval processes for materials such as news releases.

Today, I want to flip the coin and take a walk on the sunny side (mixed metaphors, I know) to consider steps that make for a pos...

Spring is in the air, and so begins another baseball season.

As you may know, I am a huge baseball fan, and a slick and speedy centerfielder (in younger days); okay, it was for a series of rec league softball teams, but I’ll take my sporting glory wherever I can find it.

Today, I’m going to consider questions incisive reporters should ask in connection with the dawning baseball season. Things will not end there, however. Lessons relating to business leaders are also included. Let’s play ball!

Ho...

We all have those things we find puzzling or downright confounding.

In everyday life, it manifests with such mysteries as why do people walk around with their phones on speaker as if we wanted to hear their conversations? Why do drivers pass a stopped school bus with its warning lights flashing or fail to pull to the side of the road for emergency vehicles? Why do people think it is acceptable to wear pajamas in public? What is the fascination with backing into a parking space? What’s so fun abo...

Good communication is no luxury in today’s competitive global marketplace. A solid strategy using all the tools at your disposal wisely, qualifies as a business survival skill.

The fact is your C-suite executives are sometimes their own worst enemy. As the classic comic strip character Pogo lamented, “We have met the enemy and he is us.”

Part of the role of a trusted advisor involves delivering frank advice on communications strategy to company leaders. Someone must muster the courage to lay the...

It was a podcast I listen to occasionally, one with a focus on political science (my major in college) and public opinion.

The program’s description sounded intriguing, featuring a professor from a well-known and respected university.

A Letdown Ensues

What a disappointment. His conversation was replete with wasted words. What do I mean by wasted words? Those meaningless fillers and phrases that have become — for reasons that escape me — all too common in today’s society.

Some of the lowlights:

...

Given all the obsession with data these days, you would think there would be a clamor for more, not less, measurement of presidential approval. You would be wrong.

The Gallup Organization — one of the long-time gold standards when it comes to polling — has decided to eliminate its presidential performance ratings after an 88-year run.

A Reliable Benchmark Exits

I admit to not being a huge fan of polls (though I admit as a political junkie to finding the horse races somewhat interesting). Nor do ...

I’ve encountered a wide range of questions from clients and others over the years. Allow me to share some of them with you in this first of an occasional series of rapid fire responses.

How rapid? Two to three sentences, tops. Needless to say, that does not permit a thorough analysis. Rather, my hope is that some of this will wet your whistle for more information. I suggest you search on the C-suite Blueprint blog when conducting deeper research. There is more than a decade of content, so you sh...

Many are called upon to moderate panel discussions, both live and by video conference. Few, however, dedicate time and thought to refining the skills required to successfully guide both panelist performance and audience Q&A. Here is a primer to put you on the path to becoming a master moderator:

Set expectations with the event organizer by clarifying your role. Ask plenty of questions. Some examples: Who is my main contact with your group? What are your expectations of me? Who are you inviting ...

Journalism is teetering on the brink. That may be the understatement of the new year to date, with the biggest flashing warning signal being the decimation of The Washington Post.

More than ever, reporters must band together and support one another when under attack. This happens routinely in some quarters. Consider, for example, the National Press Club’s statements on a variety of anti-journalism matters (disclosure: I served for nine years on that august body’s board of governors).

Attacks Inc...