How many leaders are confident about the 3Rs of business communication?

ASCOT, U.K. - Nov. 7, 2013 - PRLog -- Ascot, Berkshire, 8^th November, 2013 -- CEOs and business leaders must take responsibility for communications in their company if they want to exploit the opportunities presented by the media – and, potentially, prevent a very public humiliation.

That’s the view from Potion PR which has launched a series of Communication Workshops designed to help CEOs sharpen their communications skills.

One stray remark by a bad CEO communicator can create a crisis, as a whole series of business leaders have found to their cost, including some who found out that millions can be wiped off the value of a company in an instant.

These include: Topman managing director, David Shephard, whose share value fell by 4.5% after he described its customers as hooligans, Mike Jeffries of Abercrombie and Fitch who prompted a boycott after saying he only wants the young, beautiful and thin to wear his clothes – and of course Gerard Ratner, who wiped £500m off his shares by describing his products as total crap.

Communications expert Sue Rizzello of Potion PR has identified five key behaviours exhibited by bad leadership communicators:

Only communicating when things do not go according to plan or a risk is imminent

Only communicating remotely with staff – such as by email or voice memo

Only communicating when they have good news to share – disassociating from bad news

Delegating the totality of their communications – they often complain about company presence, yet make no personal effort or investment

Being either a social pariah (refusing to engage in social) or an unguarded social media timebomb, sharing unplanned and off the cuff content and comment

Rizzello ascribes these behaviours to lack of confidence, lack of skill, or lack of understanding of the role that strong leadership communications plays in building business. She says leaders must take control of the 3Rs of communications: Risk, Responsibility and Reputation, if they are to avoid expensive and embarrassing mistakes.

Rizzello says: “It can be very hard for leaders to admit that they have a problem. It can be even harder for their teams to point it out, and so many companies go on for years without realising the business value that good external PR and internal communications can deliver.”

Potion PR has teamed up with media consultancy Rough House Media to create exclusive workshops to empower CEOs and SME business leaders to take control of their reputation. Group workshops are ideally suited to leaders of SME businesses and owner-entrepreneurs who need to learn how to communicate on behalf of their businesses, while one-on-one custom workshops are provided for CEOs of larger businesses.

Leadership Communications: Risk, Responsibility and Reputation will use a combination of training, coaching and expert presentation to deepen each participant’s understanding of the role that they could and should play, help them fully understand the risks that can be created through lack of communication or badly prepared messaging, understand and improve personal areas that need strengthening.

Ann Wright, of Rough House Media, said: “You only have to do a quick search of the internet these days to see how easily one thoughtless comment can undermine or even destroy a person’s reputation, and with it, that of their business. It is essential for business leaders to take their personal communications seriously and know how to responsibility for it, to minimise risk to their reputation.”

Rizzello added: “In our workshops we will provide a non-judgemental but taxing day which could transform delegates’ understanding and enjoyment of communications, as well as boost their capability and confidence.”

Further information about the custom and group workshops can be found at www.potionexpert.com/workshops, by email to business@potionpr.com or by calling 0845 8624466.

Appendix

Media contact:

Sue Rizzello,

Tel: 0203 137 8165

sue@potionpr.com

The first Leadership Communications: Risk, Responsibility and Reputation will take place in Ascot, Berkshire in January, 2014 (dates to be confirmed). Limited spaces are available for this intensive, accelerated and highly immersive group workshop experience for business leaders, so book early to avoid disappointment. Custom workshops for CEOs (one-on-one) can still be booked for 2013, please contact Sue Rizzello direct for further information on availability. Further information about the workshops can be found at www.potionexpert.com/workshops, by email to business@potionpr.com or by calling 0845 8624466.

About Rough House Media

Rough House Media provides media and presentation skill training, media consultancy and video production to a wide range of clients, including multi-nationals, entrepreneurs and not for profits. Roughhouse.co.uk. Info@roughhouse.co.uk.

About Potion PR

Potion PR is an independent UK PR agency providing both PR consultancy and international public relations services across a variety of industries. Its founder, Sue Rizzello, is a B2B marketing and PR expert with over 20 years’ experience in agency and in house. She trains executives and writes extensively about thought leadership and executive communications both internal and external. She has worked with many blue chip IT and telecom organisations including IBM, Microsoft, HP, Texas Instruments, Ericsson and others,  as well as high growth innovation companies and entrepreneurs.