Anyone NOT heard about the latest series of mass document dumps from WikiLeaks? The site is dedicated to ferreting out and distributing secret, or at the very least sensitive information. WikiLeaks is run by Julian Assange who is well, reviled by a lot of folks these days and may even be facing some legal problems of his own.
Much of what's being released contains stuff we only hear described as "Frank" and "Candid" discussions in news conferences after diplomats meet. WikiLeaks just let "Frank" out of the digital closet. Don't call me Shirley, and don't call me Frank.
This sort of thing isn't new. Think back to the Pentagon Papers.
Regardless of how you feel about WikiLeaks, Assange or the nature of the information released it should give all of us pause to remember that "If you don't want to be quoted, don't say it." Or post it.
The alleged source for much of the WikiLeaks documents is a US Army Private. A Private, with the ability to expose a lot of private information way above his proverbial pay grade.
We all send e-mails, post things and say things. In today's digital world there are two certainties:
1. Once it's "out there", it's out there.
2, What you say can and will be used against you.
The diplomatic fallout from all this will be remains to be seen. Certainly it comes as no surprise that we have less than kind things to say about certain "Allies," who are allies only because they're the lesser of two evils.
But if a low-level enlisted soldier has access to top secret military and diplomatic information, what about your business or organization?
It's bad enough that anyone, anytime can post or say anything they want about you on the Internet, usually anonymously. Don't give them extra ammunition.
Should something less than pleasant come out about you, true or not, consult with experienced communications pros immediately if not sooner.
Brian Olson
Converesation Starters LLC
"We start the conversation about you" (Or stop them)
Showing posts with label Frank Magid. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Frank Magid. Show all posts
Tuesday, November 30, 2010
Thursday, June 17, 2010
Perception is Reality-The "Oops" Factor
"I'd like my life back"-Tony Hayward, BP CEO
Oops.
"We care about the small people"-BP Chairman Carl-Henric Svanberg.
Oops Part Deux
Of all the thousands of words spoken by both men, these are the quotes that have stuck, especially along the Gulf Coast. Adding additional oil to the wound is Hayward's British Accent and Svanberg's Swedish Accent. I've lived, worked and vacationed many times on the Gulf Coast and believe me, they want information straight and in an accent like their own. It's just the way it is.
I honestly believe that neither man meant anything malicious by what they said. As the saying goes, words got "Lost in translation." Svanberg likely speaks other languages besides his native Swedish and English. Good for him. But that doesn't matter. It's the perception of what they said.
As one of the best media consultants around, Frank Magid Associates once taught me me, "Perception is reality."
This is a classic case that skilled executives can, and let me be blunt, really suck at PR. Some, like Warren Buffet and Charlie Ergen are good at it.*Hayward and Svanberg aren't and should never have been allowed in front of a microphone unless asked to do so by Congress or the Courts.
Hayward testifies in front of Congress as I'm writing this. He'll be under oath, he'll have legal counsel at his side, and at the end of the day it will be one slip of the tongue that will be the lead quote in every news, information and especially mis-information pipeline. The politicians on the panel will do everything they can to goad them into a verbal faux pas.
Don't get me wrong, I'm not taking sides in this issue, just commenting on what happens when things get lost in translation, when an innocent remark becomes the sound byte heard 'round the world.
It's unlikely your company or organization will ever find yourself in the position that BP is. This is a catastrophe of huge proportions. A disaster that keeps on giving.
But bad things happen to good people. It's important to have a crisis plan in place and identify people on your team who are best equipped to speak about it. Or the right partner to do so on your behalf. Your crisis plan should also be reviewed on a regular basis, not stuffed in a drawer.
Perception is indeed reality. The key is making that perception positive.
Brian Olson
Conversation Starters LLC
"We get the conversation started about you"
* Disclaimer: I own Berkshire-Hathaway and Echostar Stock. I'm also a DISH Network Customer.
Oops.
"We care about the small people"-BP Chairman Carl-Henric Svanberg.
Oops Part Deux
Of all the thousands of words spoken by both men, these are the quotes that have stuck, especially along the Gulf Coast. Adding additional oil to the wound is Hayward's British Accent and Svanberg's Swedish Accent. I've lived, worked and vacationed many times on the Gulf Coast and believe me, they want information straight and in an accent like their own. It's just the way it is.
I honestly believe that neither man meant anything malicious by what they said. As the saying goes, words got "Lost in translation." Svanberg likely speaks other languages besides his native Swedish and English. Good for him. But that doesn't matter. It's the perception of what they said.
As one of the best media consultants around, Frank Magid Associates once taught me me, "Perception is reality."
This is a classic case that skilled executives can, and let me be blunt, really suck at PR. Some, like Warren Buffet and Charlie Ergen are good at it.*Hayward and Svanberg aren't and should never have been allowed in front of a microphone unless asked to do so by Congress or the Courts.
Hayward testifies in front of Congress as I'm writing this. He'll be under oath, he'll have legal counsel at his side, and at the end of the day it will be one slip of the tongue that will be the lead quote in every news, information and especially mis-information pipeline. The politicians on the panel will do everything they can to goad them into a verbal faux pas.
Don't get me wrong, I'm not taking sides in this issue, just commenting on what happens when things get lost in translation, when an innocent remark becomes the sound byte heard 'round the world.
It's unlikely your company or organization will ever find yourself in the position that BP is. This is a catastrophe of huge proportions. A disaster that keeps on giving.
But bad things happen to good people. It's important to have a crisis plan in place and identify people on your team who are best equipped to speak about it. Or the right partner to do so on your behalf. Your crisis plan should also be reviewed on a regular basis, not stuffed in a drawer.
Perception is indeed reality. The key is making that perception positive.
Brian Olson
Conversation Starters LLC
"We get the conversation started about you"
* Disclaimer: I own Berkshire-Hathaway and Echostar Stock. I'm also a DISH Network Customer.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)