Trade Tips: The Mentor

Money. Resources. Skills. Time. Why and what we choose to invest is often based upon our perceived value of benefit that investment will produce. We also desire a good outcome from our investment. Investments require our commitment to the process in order to reap a fruitful harvest—which may not occur immediately.  The process may require some tweaking, some risk, patience and perseverance. When the reward comes, it will benefit you and others. The same applies when company leaders choose to invest in their staff members. 

Next week begins our two-part series on mentoring, and the value leaders can bring to their team when they recognize how to best invest in them.  Employees may excel in various expertise, but have other areas that require development. An employee may perform well on tasks previously outlined, but struggle to lead a project yet formed. The employee desires to develop such skills but is unsure how to proceed.  Based on our series topic, what qualities do you believe a good leader needs to mentor their staff/team?

We hope to receive your mentor insights. Next week we’ll depict: The Leader Within.

By Nicole Hayes

A Missisippi Mess

Mississippi Gov. Haley Barbour pardoned four convicted murderers before leaving office

Good Ole boy Haley Barbour really stepped in it during his last days in office as governor. Barbour issued 215 pardons and the uproar was deafening. Barbour, a former RNC Chair and lobbyist, long popular with right-wing Republicans came under immediate attack for releasing murderers and other violent criminals. The state attorney general filed a complaint alleging that 156 of the pardons were unconstitutional because state law requires a 30 day public notice in the communities where the crimes occurred. A judge refused to send those pardoned back to prison, but ordered those convicted of murder to check in with parole officers. A hearing has been scheduled for February 3. More about the legal challenges here.
 

The uproar got so bad, Barbour wrote a commentary in the elitist liberal Washington Post, pointing out that the Parole Board had recommended 90 % of those pardoned receive some sort of clemency and that previous governors had a long history of pardoning trustees who work in the governor’s mansion. Here’s Barbour’s attempt to set the record straight.

 

Missing from most of the heated verbal and online confrontations—is that just like most things in Mississippi, the pardons have an ugly racial tinge. Fully two out of three prisoners pardoned by Barbour were white--- even though the state’s prison population is two-thirds African-American. Barbour’s staff insist that race played no role in the decisions, as did the Parole Board. Statisticians who have looked at Mississippi’s pardon process overall say white prisoners are four times likelier to be paroled than African-Americans. Reuters initially broke the story about the racial discrepancy and it was picked up by the Huffington Post.

 

The fallout continues as Barbour’s successor, Republican Phil Bryant, has not only vowed to refrain from pardoning convicted prisoners—he has vowed to bar them from working in the governor’s mansion or grounds. While the rhetorical fallout continues—one place Barbour won’t be hurting is his wallet. He’s already given the first speech in a lucrative speaking contract with Leading Authorities in the $30,000-$50,000 range. This is only one of the former governor’s new jobs. Barbour has also rejoined his old law firm Butler Snow and the lobbying powerhouse BRG according to today's New York Times.

 

In case you’re wondering about the two  Scott sisters who Barbour granted an early release after a decade of appeals from state human rights groups—they’re still under court supervision. Jamie and Gladys Scott were paroled after serving 16 years of a life sentence, on the condition that Gladys donate a kidney to Jamie. The two African-American sisters still have to report to a parole officer and with a felony conviction have found it impossible to find work. Maybe Barbour can turn some of his speaking gigs over to them.

By: Llenda Jackson-Leslie

Video: A Farewell to Etta James

A Farewell to Etta James

By: Ryan Duncan

Via: The New York Times:

Etta James, whose powerful, versatile and emotionally direct voice could enliven the raunchiest blues as well as the subtlest love songs, most indelibly in her signature hit, “At Last,” died Friday morning in Riverside, Calif. She was 73. 

Her manager, Lupe De Leon, said that the cause was complications of leukemia. Ms. James, who died at Riverside Community Hospital, had been undergoing treatment for some time for a number of conditions, including leukemia and dementia. She also lived in Riverside.

As with any great artist, Etta James leaves behind a lasting musical legacy and impact that will definetly live, so long as there are those who appreciate great music. We hope Etta James is now in peace. R.I.P.

Trade Tips: Twitter in Small Steps

Trade Tips: Twitter in Small Steps

By Nicole Hayes

A personal goal for some this year (like myself) is finding more time to practice and/or develop social media outreach skills. Even if you hire/task someone else to conduct your social media outreach, it's imperative you understand the use and impact of such tools. I’ll start with Twitter, which in some respects is outpacing Facebook in advancing conversations. What is Twitter? Per Wikipedia, Twitter is an online social networking service and microblogging service that enables its users to send and read text-based posts of up to 140 characters, known as "tweets". It was created in March 2006 by Jack Dorsey and launched that July. The service rapidly gained worldwide popularity, with over 300 million users as of 2011, generating over 300 million tweets and handling over 1.6 billion search queries per day. It has been described as "the SMS of the Internet." Users can group posts together by topic or type by use of hashtags – words or phrases prefixed with a "#" sign. Similarly, the "@" sign followed by a username is used for mentioning or replying to other users. To repost a message from another Twitter user, and share it with one's own followers, the retweet function is symbolized by "RT" in the message.

Given this basic overview, here are a few Twitter tips for maximizing your outreach:

*Use Hoot Suite application for your phone to manage your tweets on the go

*Use Tweet Deck onto your computer; it's great for managing multiple Twitter accounts and allows you to edit retweets unlike the regular Twitter

*Participate in "Tweet Ups" which are "meet ups" with people/professionals you've met on Twitter you want to know more about/share similar interests (discretion advised)

*Join Twitter chats to engage in regular discussion topics of importance to you, as this will help your dialogues and build your followings

*Socialoomph a tool to help schedule your tweets;

*If you're busy (that's a silly statement) you can also ask friends, your team to push out tweets you've crafted in advance for promoting a campaign, issue

*Tweetreach.com is a tool to measure impact and reach of your tweets via your hash tags used

*Good etiquette and use of social media platforms is like building a relationship: Interact with people, take interest in what others are saying, retweet what they're saying if you like it, thank them for retweeting your tweet, when deciding who to follow it's all about quality of that person not their quantity of followers

*Remember to share information that is helpful to people—don't only tweet the buttered toast you ate for breakfast

Now you’re ready to “tweet tweet!”

Video: A Quick Minute with Gwen Remembering Ofield Dukes

A Quick Minute with Gwen Remembering Ofield Dukes

By: Ryan Duncan

In this installment of A Quick Minute with Gwen, Gwen McKinney, President of McKinney & Associates Public Relations, remembers the Dean of public relations, Ofield Dukes, who passed away on December 7th, 2011. His life, and his legacy, will always live on and always be remembered.

Be sure to read more about Ofield Dukes and his indelible impact on the public relations profession in our previous blog posts: Tribute to a PR Icon & Real PR Power.

Criminal Justice: A Sin and A Shame

A Sin and A Shame

By: Llenda Jackson-Leslie

Someone or some people ought to be losing their jobs over the wrongful deportation and incarceration of Houston teenager, Jakadrien Turner. Turner ran away from home to Atlanta, GA last year at the age of 14 and was picked up for shoplifting. After she gave the name of a Colombian native to police—they turned her over to ICE even though her fingerprints weren’t a match—and she spoke no Spanish—not one word. ICE then deported her to Colombia. Her grandmother who had been searching for Jakadrien—finally tracked her whereabouts through Facebook.

If you think the incompetence and callous treatment of the African American teen is pretty shocking up to this point—it gets worse. ICE officials told the grandmother that if she wanted her granddaughter returned to the US—she would have to buy a plane ticket for her. Finally as news accounts of the story spread, the government was shamed into returning her. And fortunately she was reunited with her family two days ago.

No one charged with enforcing the law or immigration policy looks good in this story—not ICE, the Colombian government or Atlanta police. Even sadder, immigration advocates and lawyers say Jakadrien’s story isn’t that unusual or even that tragic. The case against ICE is replete with stories of people dying in custody, being denied medical treatment or medication and nursing infants being separated from their mothers.

Yet so far there have been no reports of ICE officials being fired or investigated—no calls from Congress for eliminating the agency. Is it because this error and a host of others—humiliating, outrageous and even fatal—disproportionately impact Black, Brown and poor people?

You can read a pretty full account of Jakadrien’s ordeal at Madame Noire and Juliane Hing offers more details at Colorlines.

Trade Tips: Are Your 2012 Goals S.M.A.R.T.?

Are Your 2012 Goals S.M.A.R.T.?

By Nicole Hayes

Hi Good People! McKinney & Associates hopes you enjoyed the holidays and your New Year has started well. We appreciate your reading of our "Comm in the Storm" blog and we'll work to continually provide you with helpful and insightful information throughout 2012.

Our December 20, 2011 blog post "To Be New, You Have to Do New" offered tactics for successful goal-setting. The New Year is here. We feel refreshed with new energy, goals and ideas; ready to conquer the world. However, you soon realize there's more involved to planning and your superhero belt and bracelet is defunct. Before you're off and running without a plan, let's make sure your goals and plans are S.M.A.R.T. !

Specific: Does the goal or idea clearly meet a specific need or solve a problem? Have you defined the "who, what, when, where, why and how" details? Does your goal or idea have substance?

Measurable: Can the goal or idea be measured against previous benchmarks or with an idea of what success will look like? ("Success will look like this if "x" number of people sign up or "x" happens by this date")

Actionable: Have the "who" in your goal or idea been assigned a role with a full understanding of their deliverable? Do they understand how, where, when and why to complete assigned deliverable? (Example: Send out newsletters, email supporters, secure venue, host fundraiser, etc.)

Results-Driven/Realistic: Does your goal or idea amplify how you want yourself or your audience to react, think or feel? Does the goal or idea support the business you're in? Is your goal or idea realistically attainable with the people and elements you have in place? Honestly assess this.

Timeframed: Is there an attainable, thought-out timeline and deadline attached to your goal or idea for successful completion? Is every action accompanied by a "due date"?

You may have already been familiar with S.M.A.R.T. yet a refresher is good for aligning our thinking. We hope this helps and wish you the best success.

2011 Buh-Bye!

2011 Buh-Bye!

Wow, hard to believe another year is over and a new one is about to begin again! There was a lot that happened in the world this year, and it always feels refreshing to begin a new year with a clean slate. We at McKinney & Associates would like to thank you for following our Comm in the Storm blog with us all year, and hope you will continue to do so in 2012. We have a lot of exciting things coming up, a new website, a new look for the blog, and lots of PR Tips, and important stories to share. We'll be taking a brief hiatus from blogging until after the New Year, when we'll be returning on January 3rd. We leave you with this very funny 2011 year-in-review video from JibJab. We think they pretty much hit it all the major headlines in this video. What do you think? Is there anything they missed? Happy New Year everyone!

Helping Doesn't Have a Season

Helping Doesn't Have a Season

By: Shannon Mouton

From Thanksgiving to Christmas, the downtrodden, the less fortunate and the those generally in need find themselves the beneficiaries of kindness, care and generosity. They receive traditional Thanksgiving and Christmas meals; they receive gifts and their children receive toys. Many people give during the holiday season. This is when they make their annual donation, when they give or do extra and for some, it spurs them to giving for the first time.

This is wonderful! America is giving country and her citizens a giving people, with a spirit for helping those in need. America is blessed beyond measure and it is only right that those with more help those with less. Americans should be proud of themselves...for 31 out of 365 days, you take time to see what you daily ignore. Bravo! Yes, you are reading sarcasm.

What about the rest of the year, the other 334 days?

What will they eat?

Where will they sleep?

What will their children play with?

This is not an indictment of what Americans don't do, rather it is a clarion call to keep it up throughout the year. Let this season be the beginning of a life of giving, sharing and caring for your neighbors, not just a one time event.



Trade Tip: To Be New, You Have to Do New

Trade Tip: To Be New, You Have to Do New

By Nicole Hayes

Albert Einstein said, "If you want different results, do not do the same thing." He makes good sense but why is this easier said than done? Humans are creatures of habit and often times "new" or "change" can mean "scary."

The fear may be real but shouldn't paralyze you from taking the first step. As we enter another new year, we may have hopes to lose weight, repair relationships, arrive to work on time, improve public speaking skills or begin a new business. All of this is possible with some tips to bring you closer to reaching your goals. Last December, friend and colleague Kareen Riviere, PhD, desired to begin a nonprofit to help protect girls and women in Haiti from violence but knew nothing about beginning an organization. She read books, learned the processes step-by-step, overcame her fears and launched The Empower Foundation this April. She shares these tips for setting and reaching your goals and identifying 'success:'

1- Write it down. Write your goal(s) in measurable, practical steps you can actually achieve. Trying to lose 20 lbs in two weeks is unrealistic. Be specific, not ambiguous. If you want to get up earlier for work, say "I will get up 30 minutes earlier" rather than "I'll get up earlier."

2- Tell others. Share your goals with friends, family or partners to keep you accountable.

3- Lighten up. Let go of emotions that make you feel bad about why you need to make the change (overweight, not so great speaker). Improve from where you are now. Right now is the perfect place to start. Refrain from saying, "I can't workout at the gym because I'm too overweight to exercise in front of people." Or, "I am a poor public speaker so I can't join Toastmasters because others may speak better than me".

4- Today counts. Speak about your goals in present tense. "I'm losing weight right now instead of "Someday I will be slender." You are working toward your goal everyday, achieving your goals in the moment. It's happening right now.

5- It's all good! Don't throw away your plan if you make an error, mistake. Get back on the bike and ride! Every day is new.

6- Every day is full of possibilities. What's your possibility for that day? What are you creating for today? Think about today and not the past.

7- Silence the hype. Don't let your mind talk you out of your goal. Your mind operates in survivor mode, working to keep you comfortable and pain-free as possible. It doesn't really like change. Your mind will perceive change as being "dangerous." Feel the fear, push through and do it anyway!

8- You are success. You create what is successful for yourself. You make your own ruler.

9- Tick, tock but don't stop. Realize the final outcome/product takes time. Rome wasn't built in a day.

10- Get ready for new in 2012!

Criminal Justice: Finally- A New Sheriff in Town

Associated Press

Finally- A New Sheriff in Town

By: Llenda Jackson-Leslie

Civil rights supporters heard welcome news on a couple of fronts last week. First Attorney General Eric Holder made it clear in a speech at the LBJ Center at the University of Texas that the Department of Justice was prepared, able and ready to enforce the Voting Rights Act, and to seek legal sanctions against states refusing to comply. Welcome news for voting rights supporters busy tallying up the new restrictive voting measures passed in 25 states.

Then in an even more satisfying move, DOJ civil rights chief Tom Perez released a devastating report detailing how Maricopa Sheriff Joe Arpaio, also known as America’s meanest sheriff, had engaged in racial profiling and other civil rights abuses against Latinos. Rinku Sen wrote a brilliant piece in Colorlines titled “Because the Arc is Bending Toward Justice.” You can check out her analysis here.

Poor Joe really had a bad week, after the report was released, the Department of Homeland Security run by none other than former Arizona governor Janet Napolitano announced that it was ending an agreement with the Maricopa department that allowed deputies to enforce immigration laws and use the Secure Communities programs which uses fingerprints collected in local jails.  DHS sanctions Arpaio.

The Supreme Court will review Arizona’s restrictive immigration law, SB 1070 in 2012. Arizona voters spoke last month when they recalled the bill’s author, Senate President Russell Pearce. He is the first state senate president to ever be recalled. More about Arizona law here. Meanwhile Pearce’s followers in Alabama are scrambling to undo the damage their state’s copycat anti-immigrant law has caused the state’s bottom line and reputation. Apparently several traffic cops have been enforcing the strict laws against the wrong immigrants. When executives with Honda and Mercedes were stopped for not having proof of citizenship—Chamber of Commerce types thought they had gone just too far. Despite the fact that the Chamber backed most of the miscreants behind the bill. The Republican attorney general is suggesting several fixes as is the Republican governor who signed the bill. The arrests of the two auto execs prompted Missouri to run an ad encouraging foreign investment saying, “We’re the show me state—not the show me your papers state.”

Mayor Sheldon Day in Thomasville Alabama is worried about recruiting industries. According to Day, "Up until a few months ago, nobody raised the immigration issue," he said. But in the last few months, it's been brought up regularly. Day suspects competing states are portraying Alabama as hostile to foreigners even though he says that is not the truth. Based on the questions he gets from industrial prospects, he also believes competing states are recounting stories from Alabama's civil rights past. "It's bringing back old images from 40 or 50 year ago," he said.

The governor says he's declined many national TV interviews about the law because he doesn't want to fuel comparisons with what he sees as Alabama's long gone past. "It's going to take us a long time to outlive those stereotypes that are out there among people that Alabama is living in the '50s and '60s," Bentley said.  You can read more here.

VIDEO: Black Barbies Get 'Natural' Makeovers For Holidays

Black Barbies Get 'Natural' Makeovers For Holidays

By: Ryan Duncan

It's the holiday season and that spells s-t-r-e-s-s for so many Americans trying to complete their holiday shopping lists. The true meaning of the season, "Peace, love, and good will towards all men" is usually passed over as an after thought, while over-consumption and the race to buy this year's hottest toys take precident. So it is truly refreshing to hear this wonderful story via CNN.com about a Black Barbie Drive. People bring in their barbies and transform them into natural hair barbies, free of alterations and chemicals. Their message:

"I just want them to know it's ok to be who you are. And if you don't accept who you are, no one else will." Helping little girls realize their worth. Now that's a gift that keeps on giving!

Is the Iraqi War Really Over?

President Barack Obama praises troops and announces end of Iraq War (Davis Turner/Getty Images)

Is the Iraqi War Really Over?

By: Pam Taylor

 

I truly understand Pyrrhic victory, and I get that war is complicated—even, and perhaps especially, for the ‘victors.’  Fascinated by mythical conquests such as the Trojan War, for example, it is the very real and modern wars including Viet Nam, Afghanistan and Iraq that leave me with the sense that “war is not the answer.”

I certainly join President Obama and all those who salute the brave men and women who go to war for their countries, their beliefs, and for sure—freedom and justice.  But in the case of Iraq and to quote the President are we really leaving behind a “sovereign, stable and self-reliant Iraq.” 

In fact, if this war was about ensuring that Iraqis are fed, clothed, healthy, and secure, hundreds of thousands are still in serious jeopardy. If this war was about bringing democracy to the Iraqi people, we haven't even begun that project. If it was about removing Iraq's weapons of mass destruction, we never found any. If it was about reducing the threat of terrorism, we arguably have made things worse. If it was about stabilizing the region, well—you get my drift. 

Clearly there were strategic interests in toppling Hussein, but I'm not convinced that those interests outweighed the costs to this nation. Nearly 4,500 Americans died in the Iraq war; countless more are injured and maimed. And the cost in dollars—estimates range from hundreds of billions to at least a trillion dollars. 

Yes, I do understand the meaning of Pyrrhic victory.

Trade Tip: Stay Relevant

Trade Tip: Stay Relevant

By Nicole Hayes

A shoe is a shoe, and a car is a car, right? Why so many brands of shoes and cars? Doesn’t each product fulfill a fundamental purpose at the end of the day? Yes, but if Adidas, Nicole Miller, Nike and Reebok thought this way, we may only have one choice for shoes. Same with Ford for automobiles…but BMW, Chevrolet, Honda, Toyota and others added their flavor to the mix. So what makes you relevant in a sea of fish? What makes you stand out among the crowd and keeps people coming back to you?

There is only one you, and fortunately, this is your advantage and greatest asset. Here are a few tips for staying relevant with your public:

1)   Be true to your brand.  It’s important to remember why people were/are drawn to you in the first place.  You, your organization has specific beliefs, offerings, qualities, talents and voice that have separated you from the pack. Stay true to your company voice and personality. Don’t change this in an attempt to join the pack. Honor your differences. Your brand is also your story, which is bigger than the product you sell.

2)   Relationships: Stay regular with your people.  The people who know and like you, your organization don’t need further convincing of your great work. However, in our attempts to grow and reach new people, we may neglect those loyal to us. Similar to not calling grandma but twice a year, it’s important to thank your fans/customers for their support and express interest in their needs. If you have a blog, maintain it with fresh content. Same with your Facebook, Twitter and other networks. Remaining relevant greatly hinges upon relationships.

3)   Keep your ears to the ground.  Listen to what is being said about you (positive or negative) via social media channels, or other to better gauge your organization’s current standing. Also know what is happening with similar organizations/people in your industry.

4)   Ask questions. If there are areas needing improvement within your organization, find out what your public (internal and external) would suggest. New ideas can breathe life and give access into spaces you desire to enter. Though your brand is in part what brought you to this point, it’s good to analyze areas for growth. However, don’t stray from your core competencies.

5)   Value down time.  After you’ve received feedback from your team on areas for possible improvement, take time to plan how those changes will emerge. Preferably, think about these ideas when you have real time to unplug and aren’t juggling replies to 50,000 emails, voice mails and meetings.

6)   Avoid “surprises.” Most everyone likes a good surprise. We don’t like those surprises that reverse our progress, and possibly take time away from remaining relevant. Such “surprises” could be communication/company crises, unharmonious clients and employees who operate incongruent to your brand.  The fable of the scorpion and the frog is often true to how some of us approach people (clients, employees, corporate partners), not seeing them truly as they are (even after they’ve shown us). Recognize people in full earnestness to determine if they complement your brand. If you do this, there really are no surprises and you assume responsibility for the partnership, aware of their potential tendencies.

7)   Extend a hand. Being #1 and staying relevant doesn’t mean trampling others in your industry. Show collaboration on efforts where possible while remaining true to your brand. Don’t shy away from helping or lifting up others by thinking “if I help them, there won’t be enough (resources, supporters, etc.) for me.” Don’t think in scarcity, think in abundance and that more than enough people will continue to follow you.

We’ve given you our recommendations for remaining relevant in a world where being #1 is often dog-eat-dog. How do you stay relevant?

Criminal Justice: A Tale of Two Prosecutors

A Tale of Two Prosecutors

By: Llenda Jackson-Leslie

Two recent events showcase the difference a prosecutor can make. The first is the decision to reduce the death sentence against Mumia Abu-Jamal to life imprisonment, and the second is the exoneration of Thomas Haynesworth after serving twenty-seven years for rapes he did not commit.

In both cases, Abu- Jamal and Haynesworth had family, friends and advocates who fought to prove their innocence, and legal teams who donated their services. Mumia has become an international cause célèbre, known for his radio broadcasts from prison, stinging political commentary and media interviews. Both men struggled for years to be heard and in both cases, a prosecutor played a critical role in the final outcome. In Mumia’s case the prosecutor chose not to seek the death penalty again. For those of us who believe in Mumia’s innocence—this is a bittersweet ending but a victory nonetheless.

In Haynesworth’s case, Virginia Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli known for his tough-on-crime stance, decided that Haynesworth’s case deserved a second look, two state prosecutors agreed and supported exoneration. Cuccinelli became so convinced of Haynesworth’s innocence that he gave him a job after his March parole. Read about Haynesworth’s exoneration here.

Troy Davis was not so fortunate.  In that case Larry Chisholm the current district attorney refused to even consider withdrawing the death warrant, despite the flimsy evidence and flawed prosecution meticulously documented by Troy’s legal team. The former prosecutor Spencer Lawton refuses to acknowledge even now that the case was flawed and Troy was put to death on September 21, 2011. Apparently for some prosecutors, preserving the façade of infallibility matters more than a man’s life.

VIDEO: Watch Hillary Clinton's Speech Declaring 'Gay Rights Are Human Rights'

Watch Hillary Clinton's Speech Declaring

'Gay Rights Are Human Rights'

As you know, McKinney & Associates had dedicated their blogging last week to focussing on the upcoming United Nations' (UN) Human Rights Day. This event was officially observed on December 10, to mark the anniversary of the presentation of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. While the United States hasn't always had a spotless record on the subject of Human Rights, it was quite encouraging to listen to Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton's speech in front of the United Nations in which she declard that it is a "violation of human rights" to commit violence or discrimination against people because of their sexual orientation. This was a bold step for U.S. foreign policy as the speech was delivered in front of ambassadors from many countries in which discrimination and/or violence against homosexuals is allowed or even encouraged. Here is a very discouraging map of Africa which highlights penalties targeting gays and lesbians for each country. In her speech, Clinton tackled many of the common stereotypes leveled at gay people and called on other nations to eliminate laws that criminalize or marginalize homosexuals.