Vitiello Communications Group

VTLO Celebrates Change

noreply@blogger.com (Jill Vitiello) — Thu, 03 Apr 2014 17:51:00 +0000

When you love what you do, you’ll never work a day in your life. I’ve always found that adage to be true of my experience. What began as a solo practice out of my home has grown to a powerhouse team of communications professionals serving a client base of leading global companies. Today we celebrate that change by introducing a new logo and a completely redesigned website.

In 1990, I decided to pursue my passion to become a freelance writer. Building on my career in corporate communications on Wall Street, I began by writing articles for company publications, speeches for executives, and columns for Computerworld. As my experience expanded and clients increased, so did my interest in entrepreneurship.

In 2006, I formed a limited liability company named Vitiello Communications Group and created the abbreviated name – VTLO – a phonetic form of Vitiello. In 2009, VTLO became certified as a woman-owned business by the Women's Business Enterprise National Council (WBENC) and by the State of New Jersey.

Since then, we’ve grown to an incredibly talented team of 20, filling our North Brunswick office to capacity and fanning out in major markets across the country. To keep the dispersed team connected, VTLO implemented Chatter, an enterprise social network. This year, we adopted an agency model to serve our clients even more creatively.

Now in our third decade of growth and change, VTLO is uniquely equipped to partner with leaders to engage, inspire and achieve. VTLO is the go-to expert for employee engagement, leadership and change communications. How can we help you celebrate change? Trust me – it’ll be fun.

Follow VTLO's new blog, Dialog, here, and visit our redesigned website.

GM Manages Crisis, Puts Employee Communications First

noreply@blogger.com (Jill Vitiello) — Fri, 28 Mar 2014 18:37:00 +0000

Mary Barra, who made headlines when she was named CEO of General Motors in December, is back in the news. This time, however, it's for the wrong reason. General Motors issued a recall of 1.4 million vehicles due to a faulty ignition switch that could cause the engine and electrical system to shut off, and disable the air bag. The recalled part is implicated in the deaths of more than 300 people and is likely to cost GM more than $300 million in repairs this year.

Pundits are wondering just how much Barra knew of the situation and have criticized her for not initially being transparent with stakeholders. Despite the fact that Barra did not speak to the media when the story first broke, she did follow a golden rule of crisis management. She communicated with employees.

In times of trouble, business leaders need to make sure that they don't underestimate the importance of communicating honestly with employees. It's imperative that employees hear bad news from you first. Hearing the news from a third party, such as the media, serves to alienate them, may give them false information, and can even hinder your organization's response. By taking an upfront approach and engaging employees in an open dialogue, you will build support among this influential audience. You might even take it a step further. Empowering employees to become ambassadors during a crisis can play a vital role in your organization's comeback.

In her letter to employees on March 4, Barra wrote, "Our company's reputation won't be determined by the recall itself, but how we address the problem going forward." Employee communication needs to be a part of that. Just look at Carnival Cruise Line's mishandling of the engine fire on the Carnival Triumph for proof. In the three days immediately following the incident, CEO Gerry Cahill remained silent, leaving stranded crew members, plus 4,200 passengers, literally in the dark. The lack of communication with employees and passengers gave the media an opportunity to paint a negative narrative that the company is still working to change.

While business leaders want to plan for the best, they must be prepared to talk about the worst -- especially with their employees. Like Barra, you can write a straightforward letter. Or, you can appoint a senior-level executive to take to social media for quick updates while you manage the crisis. Keeping your crisis communications team at your left hand and your internal communications team at your right can help ensure that you deliver a unified message directly to your most important audiences.

Do you have a plan to communicate with employees when the news is not so good? Leave a comment to let us know.

Business Needs Poets

noreply@blogger.com (Jill Vitiello) — Fri, 21 Mar 2014 18:14:00 +0000

Orange and pink twilight washed the spring sky as my dad and I drove north up the New Jersey Turnpike. With the sun setting behind them, the oil tanks and steel towers of the vast refinery stood like Stonehenge monoliths along the highway. We were both thinking the same thing; I said it first: “Graduation is two months away, and I don’t have a job.”

“I don’t see any jobs for poets advertised in the Bergen Record,” Dad said.

I remembered that car conversation earlier this year when iPad’s brilliant TV ad debuted during the NFL playoffs and continued through the Olympics. The voiceover is Robin Williams as Professor John Keating in The Dead Poets’ Society. He says:

“We don't read and write poetry because it's cute. We read and write poetry because we are members of the human race. And the human race is filled with passion. Medicine, law, business, engineering, these are noble pursuits and necessary to sustain life. But poetry, beauty, romance, love, these are what we stay alive for. To quote from Whitman, "O me! O life!... of the questions of these recurring; of the endless trains of the faithless... of cities filled with the foolish; what good amid these, O me, O life?" Answer: that you are here; that life exists, and identity; that the powerful play goes on and you may contribute a verse; that the powerful play goes on and you may contribute a verse. What will your verse be?”

My dad was right. There never was and there never will be an ad that reads, “Wanted: Poet.” So why study poetry?

Because business needs poets. To write speeches, produce videos that captivate customers, draft the annual report for investors. To imagine a workplace where people are engaged, and then to set that dream in motion through text, images, stories. To assemble thoughts and words in such a way that they inspire people to noble action. To make phrases so memorable, so sticky, that they reverberate in your brain like the lyrics of your favorite song.

From jingles that sell soda to sound bites that galvanize public opinion, the work of people who trained as poets shapes our culture and influences our conversation.

Today is World Poetry Day. What will your verse be?

Bridging the Leadership Gap

noreply@blogger.com (Jill Vitiello) — Thu, 13 Mar 2014 14:06:00 +0000

Sheryl Sandberg, author and chief operating officer of Facebook, strategically used the 106th annual International Women's Day as a springboard to launch her Ban Bossy campaign. Through her nonprofit organization, LeanIn.org, Sandberg is partnering with the Girl Scouts of USA to encourage girls to lead by raising their hands at work -- or at school -- and demanding recognition for their accomplishments. She says that when women act decisively or assertively (two traits needed to be a good leader), they are often called bossy. This word carries a stigma and keeps women from taking the next step in their careers.

Like anything Sandberg does, the #banbossy campaign quickly went viral on Twitter, and the site received more than one million hits in just its first day. It has also stirred up a controversy, with some saying that the word "bossy" is not the problem.

One thing is certain. There is definitely a deficit when it comes to women in leadership positions. Women account for 50 percent of the population; yet, a recent Grant Thornton International Business report finds that they comprise only 24 percent of senior management in corporations around the world. Add to that the fact that women make up 19 percent of Congress and just 5 percent of Fortune 500 CEOs, and it's clear that there is a need to encourage women to seek out opportunities.

So, what can business leaders can do to support the growth of women in leadership roles within their organization? Here are a few tips:

Training. Education is the foundation of any successful career. Invest in the future of your company by providing professional development opportunities to all of your employees. And, if it is relevant to your industry, go out into your community to promote the study of science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) among young girls.
Mentoring. Build a mentoring relationship with the women in your organization to help them transform leadership traits into opportunities for advancement. Your role as mentor can be an informal exchange or part of a formalized corporate effort like the CitiWomen program. CitiWomen offers two core programs aimed at advancing women across the company's businesses, building a global network and encouraging clients to engage in the effort.
Social Media. Engage and celebrate the women in your organization by using social media such as Facebook, Twitter and Instagram to recognize their outstanding achievements.

What are you doing to bridge the leadership gap in your organization? Leave a comment to let us know.

And the Winner Is...

noreply@blogger.com (Jill Vitiello) — Mon, 03 Mar 2014 21:29:00 +0000

From Pharrell’s dance with front-row celebrities to Jared Leto’s touching time at the mike after his best supporting actor win, the 86th Academy Awards were packed with lighthearted fun and some of the most endearing speeches in recent Oscar history. The show was also brimming with lessons that could help make business leaders winners when dealing with their organizations and employees. Here is a sampling of stars who taught us something last night:

Ellen DeGeneres - After hosting the Academy Awards in 2007, DeGeneres returned to the stage to demonstrate that less really is more. She set the tone for the show with her breezy demeanor and edgy, yet appropriate jokes. To many, her simple approach was a refreshing change from previous Oscar shows that overdid it by trying to wow audiences. She also shared the secret to social media engagement: star-studded selfies. DeGeneres’ tweet, which temporarily crashed Twitter and went on to break the record for most retweets with more than 2 million by the end of the show, was a brilliant and low-cost cross-promotion for Samsung.

Cate Blanchett - Blanchett underscored the importance of the popular saying “Keep calm and carry on.” After her Oscar victory for the leading role in Woody Allen’s Blue Jasmine, she said that being pegged the favorite to win was “an intense, unbearable pressure, which I'm so glad is over.'' Despite the stress she felt, Blanchett kept her cool leading up to the awards and during her graceful and gracious acceptance speech.

Matthew McConaughey - McConaughey’s journey from his breakout role in Dazed and Confused to his first Academy Award win for Dallas Buyers Club shows a stunning career transformation. The McConaissance, as the change is being called, began when McConaughey challenged himself to take on different roles. It serves as a reminder to business leaders that being able to adapt is crucial to career growth and success.

Jennifer Lawrence - Though she didn’t win an Oscar this time around, Jennifer Lawrence was caught falling at the Academy Awards for the second year in a row. Host Ellen DeGeneres made a joke about the tumble during her opening monologue, and Lawrence was seen playfully laughing along. Lawrence showed that even on the biggest night of your career, sometimes you just have to go with the flow.

John Travolta - Travolta’s part in the Academy Awards was a small but memorable one. When introducing Idina Menzel for her performance of the Oscar-winning song “Let It Go,” he mispronounced the singer’s name. Travolta’s flop reiterates how essential it is to prepare and practice, no matter how big or small your role.

Which lessons from the Oscars resonate most with you? Let us know what you learned from this star-studded event and how you plan to incorporate it into award-winning practices for your organization.

Lessons from Sochi

noreply@blogger.com (Jill Vitiello) — Thu, 27 Feb 2014 20:31:00 +0000

When the Olympic flame was extinguished in Sochi, Russia, it didn't put an end to the lessons that can be learned from the Winter Games. Athletes and coaches will examine tapes of the competition to determine what they did right and how they can improve. Television executives and advertisers will crunch numbers to evaluate the return on their investments. And, after 16 days of competition, business leaders can transform Olympic headlines into lessons that will help their organizations succeed. Here are just a few:

Expect the unexpected. From the unseasonably warm weather and Bob Costas' eye infection, to the failure of the U.S. speed skating team to win any medals, these games reminded us that nothing goes according to plan. For that reason, back-up plans are essential. Team organizers changed start times for events, NBC brought in Matt Lauer and Meredith Vieira to host the prime-time show, and speed skaters ditched their new high-tech suits in favor of an older model, all in an effort to make necessary course corrections.

Embrace new technology. Producers of the opening ceremony gambled on technology to engage the audience, and they succeeded. Hi-tech projectors, which turned the enormous arena floor into an IMAX movie screen, and elaborate sets, which rolled along tracks in the roof, dazzled an estimated 3 billion viewers worldwide. Even a malfunctioning electronic snowflake, which failed to turn into the fifth Olympic ring, couldn't detract from the night's memorable pageantry. In fact, producers poked fun at the glitch during the closing ceremony, proving that they have a sense of humor too.

Diversify. Olympic veterans Lolo Jones and Lauryn Williams, who previously competed in track and field events at the Summer Games, brought their speed to the U.S. women's bobsledding team. They are now part of an elite group of 128 athletes who have competed in both winter and summer games. Finding a new outlet for her talent even paid off in the form of a silver medal for Williams.

Do more with less. While Russia may have won the medal count with a total of 33 medals, some might consider the Netherlands to be the real winner of the 2014 Winter Olympics. The country won a total of 24 medals with a delegation of just 41 athletes. That's 1.7 athletes per medal compared to 7 athletes per medal for Russia and 8.2 athletes per medal for the United States.

Show appreciation for your team. When U.S. skeleton racer Michelle Pikus-Pace won a medal, she propelled herself over a guard rail and climbed high into the stands to share the moment with her family. Considered to be the "Comeback Queen" after being hit by a runaway bobsled before the Torino games and missing the medal podium by 0.1 seconds in Vancouver, Pikus-Pace said that it was important for her to share the moment with her team of supporters. Despite the fact that this an individual event, she told reporters, "We did it!"

There are many other Olympic milestones that business leaders can model for workplace success. Let us know which ones you will use to create gold medal moments for your organization.

Heeeeeeere's Jimmy!

noreply@blogger.com (Jill Vitiello) — Fri, 21 Feb 2014 20:26:00 +0000

When most people see Jimmy Fallon, they don't think about him being a role model for business leaders. However, if you were one of the 11.3 million people who watched Fallon take over the hosting duties of The Tonight Show from Jay Leno on Monday night, you witnessed a smooth transition that can serve as an example for bringing about change in your organization. So, what did he do right?

Planning. Every moment of Fallon's premier episode was carefully planned. The comedic bit about paying him $100 for a bet that said he would never be the host of The Tonight Show brought the star power of more than a dozen A-list celebrities to the stage. The dance video with Will Smith parodied the viral "Evolution of Mom Dancing" video, which he performed with Michelle Obama. Finally, U2's sunset performance on the top of the 30 Rock building appealed to a slightly older demographic than Fallon's typical audience, which is good for ratings.
Social media. In the days leading up to the premier, #FallonTonight dominated the Twittersphere. In fact, once Leno said his final farewell, Fallon's social media activity outnumbered activity from competitor Jimmy Kimmel at a rate of more than two to one. There is even a Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon app. Clearly, engaging his audience beyond the broadcast is a tactical move key to Fallon's success.
Be yourself. Fallon is known for his affable schoolboy charm. And, being at the helm of television’s longest-running late night talk show did not change that. Humble about his role in The Tonight Show lineage, Fallon made the show his own by filling 60 minutes with the jokes, skits and familiar faces from his Late Night roots.

Only time will tell if Fallon has found the secret to winning the late night ratings war. His smooth transition into the 11:30 time slot does, however, prove that he knows something about engaging his audience during a period of major change. And, that is sound advice that business leaders should heed.

Whether you stayed up late to watch Fallon or not, leave a comment to tell us how you engage employees during periods of change.

Random Acts of Kindness

noreply@blogger.com (Jill Vitiello) — Thu, 13 Feb 2014 17:04:00 +0000

Linda Eterno, VTLO Consultant, guest blogs about her experience with 26 Acts of Kindness.

Kindness is contagious. That was the thinking behind NBC correspondent Ann Curry's 26 Acts of Kindness movement, which went viral in 2012 in the wake of the tragic school shooting in Newtown, Connecticut. I took up Curry's call to action and committed to one random act of kindness for each of the 26 victims. After a few short weeks of doing good deeds and inspiring others to pass it on, I quickly lost count. Random acts of kindness had become a way of life for me.

In the name of #26Acts, I have made a conscious effort to volunteer my time more often and found several organizations that needed my help. I have let countless people go ahead of me in line at Target, at the supermarket or at the bank. I bought lunch for a woman in the bagel store who realized she had forgotten her wallet after she ordered. I bought coffee for a stranger at Dunkin' Donuts because I wanted to make the coldest day of the year just a little bit warmer. I have complimented cashiers and gone out of my way to let their managers know about a job well done.

During the last year, I have performed many simple acts of selflessness in the name of making the world a better place. There is, however, one deed that stands out from all the others. I was at Fairway when an employee got in line behind me. He was going to lunch and only had a drink in hand. Since the cashier had started ringing, I asked her to include the drink with my order so that he could go on his break and not have to wait. I later found out that the recipient of my random act of kindness was the type of guy who would do anything to help others and never asked for anything in return. I was glad that I had the opportunity to do something nice for him.

Curry said, "If you do good, you will feel good." She was right. Goodwill does more than brighten the day of those on the receiving end. It feels good to be on the giving end too.

This week, while watching the Olympics, I witnessed the most unlikely random act of kindness. After Russian cross-country skier Anton Gafarov fell, he got up and struggled to complete the race on a broken ski. A rival coach from the Canadian team ran onto the course and swapped out the broken ski for a new one. The story was picked up by news media around the world. Yes, kindness really is contagious.

Visit the VTLO Facebook page to find out what the rest of the team is doing for Random Acts of Kindness Week.

Go Red; Wear Red on Feb. 7

noreply@blogger.com (Jill Vitiello) — Thu, 06 Feb 2014 15:12:00 +0000

On February 7, I’m going red – and I hope you’ll join me.

I am proud to serve on the Executive Leadership Team for Garden State Go Red for Women, an extraordinary movement in New Jersey that extends to every corner of the country. Our goal is to tell women something that I didn’t know before I joined the movement: that heart disease is the number one killer of women – more than all forms of cancer combined. And to teach women what they can do to maintain heart health. That’s the Go Red mission:

Get your numbers. Ask your doctor to check your blood pressure and cholesterol.
Own your lifestyle. Stop smoking, lose weight, exercise and eat healthy.
Realize your risk. Heart disease kills one in three women.
Educate yourself and your family. Serve healthy meals; teach your kids to stay active.
Don’t be silent. Tell every woman you know that heart disease is our No. 1 killer.

Tomorrow, Vitiello Communications Group will participate in National Wear Red Day. We are asking VTLO team members, and readers of our blog and e-newsletter Dialog, to post a "selfie" wearing red to our Facebook page. Along with your photo, please share who you are going red for.

2014 marks a milestone as we celebrate 10 years of the Go Red for Women movement and the positive impact it’s had on women's health. In just 10 years, this movement has helped save more than 627,000 women from cardiovascular disease, which translates into nearly 330 fewer women dying per day.

But the fight is far from over. An estimated 43 million women in the United States are affected by the disease. We are still losing the women we love to this largely preventable disease. In fact, research suggests that nearly 80 percent of cardiovascular disease may be preventable if women take charge of their heart health today and lower risk factors including obesity, high blood pressure, high cholesterol and physical inactivity.

Who am I going red for? Visit the VTLO Facebook page tomorrow, February 7 to find out.

Moving the Trust Needle

noreply@blogger.com (Jill Vitiello) — Thu, 30 Jan 2014 18:28:00 +0000

Are you looking for a way to build your company's trust levels? The answer may lie in the old adage that it is better to give than to receive.

According to the 2014 Edelman Trust Barometer, stakeholders are putting more emphasis on engagement and integrity than they did five years ago. Despite this high level of importance, the study finds that businesses are underperforming in these key areas. However, there is some good news. Some 86 percent of study respondents believe a company can take specific actions that increase profits and improve economic and social conditions in the communities where it operates. That's where corporate social responsibility programs and philanthropic endeavors can make all the difference.

Creating a CSR program will not only positively impact stakeholders' perceptions of your company's integrity, but it can raise employee engagement levels at the same time. Through Building a Better World, Ernst & Young (EY) is doing just that. Using the global reach of its integrated organization, the company's CSR programs do everything from supporting employees in local volunteer efforts to removing barriers for women in Africa who want to join the workforce. "When our people are involved in the community, they are learning and they are improving their job skills," said Deborah K. Holmes, Americas director of Corporate Responsibility at EY. "It makes the world a better place for us and our clients."

According to Allison McGuire, author of the eGuide Engaging Millennial Employees, "If your company shows a strategic alignment with a cause, demonstrates a commitment, and exhibits the impact that promise makes, you’ll attract Millennials who are passionate about working for a company that cares as much as they do."

Since doing good for the community and the world matters to employees, a CSR program and philanthropic endeavors can be effective in moving the needle on your company's trust barometer. Tell us what you are doing to engage your employees around giving back.

The ABCs of Mentoring

noreply@blogger.com (Jill Vitiello) — Thu, 23 Jan 2014 20:06:00 +0000

Over the past several months, I’ve participated in two mentoring programs simultaneously – as the mentor and as the mentee. This unusual juxtaposition gave me the opportunity to learn about mentoring from both sides of the relationship. I want to share three insights, which I think of as the ABCs of mentoring: Accountability, Backstory and Confidentiality.

1. Accountability – When a mentor and a mentee establish a structure of regular meetings, agree upon goals at the outset, and identify the action steps they will take to reach their goals, it’s a beneficial mentor program.

As a mentor in the Healthcare Businesswomen’s Association (HBA) mentoring program, I was paired with an experienced HBA mentor. We received formal training with the 2013 cohort of mentors in the Metro Chapter, and participated in a robust orientation workshop with our mentees. Cynthia, a marketing and operations guru, and I were co-mentors for three women in the healthcare field – Belinda, a marketing director; JulieAnn, a clinical nurse who manages global investigational drug studies being conducted in oncology research centers; and Karen, a human resources and organizational design manager.

The five of us agreed to meet biweekly in person from March through October. In spite of heavy business travel schedules and demanding workloads, we kept to our agreement – and grew to know and appreciate each other in the process. We celebrated our progress with a special dinner and also attended the program’s closing ceremonies together. Even though our cohort has completed its work, we remain fast friends and champions of each other.

Tip: Set a start and end date for your mentoring arrangement and agree to regular check-ins along the way. The notion of a mentoring relationship that lasts a lifetime is unrealistic and daunting. Decide what you can learn from each other and seek to develop a relationship around these aims.

2. Backstory – When mentors ask questions of mentees – when they seek first to understand – the mentees are able to travel a path of self-discovery that is far more satisfying than being delivered a list of do’s and don’ts. The more personal information a mentor reveals, the more genuine everyone will allow themselves to be. This builds a culture of trust and connection that makes the mentor-mentee experience rich and rewarding.

As a mentee in Merck’s Supplier Diversity mentorship program, my mentors, Cyndi and Saunjah, provided a rapid immersion experience, leading me through an orientation, introducing me to key executives, and requiring me to complete a comprehensive analysis of my business and its relationship to Merck. My mentors taught me how seriously Merck takes its supply chain, and how important relationships are to the pharma giant. Saunjah and Cyndi challenged me to bring my best people and our best thinking to every assignment we win with Merck.

I took up their challenge, and as a result, have brought back the human resources training I received at Merck-sponsored workshops and the leadership lessons I gained while at the premier executive education program for women business owners offered by the Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth in conjunction with the Women’s Business Enterprise National Council (WBENC). Being a Merck mentee helped me identify where my company could grow to add more value to Merck leaders – and to all our clients.

Tip: Once you know the backstory – the why behind the what – reframe the conversation so it is focused on the listener. If your story doesn’t include the listener, he or she can’t hear you.

3. Confidentiality – A mentoring relationship is one of the most vulnerable – and valuable – in professional life. With agreement about accountability and a passion for understanding the backstory, you will create an environment of inclusion and trust. For mentoring to be meaningful, both mentor and mentee must honor the confidentiality of everything they share. This applies equally to information and emotions.

In our HBA mentoring group, the five of us constructed an impenetrable “cone of silence” that each of us continues to honor. Because of our positive experience in a mentoring group, we have built a tiny but strong network of supporters that we can call upon for advice without preamble. And we can count on candid feedback and constant encouragement. What other business relationship could have yielded so much in six short months?

As a Merck mentee, I have been entrusted with information, insights and opinions that have helped me understand the nuances of this important client and enhance our service to the company. And my mentors have identified areas of improvement for my growing agency and have cheered me on as I’ve addressed each one. It is a great honor to have been admitted into the supplier diversity mentorship program that has given me access to business tools and training that would otherwise be out of reach.

Tip: The secret sauce of great mentoring relationships is trust. For both mentor and mentee, the ability to hold confidential information as sacred enhances trust and firmly establishes your reputation for integrity.

For me, these are the ABCs of a successful mentoring relationship. What are yours? Share your story with us on VTLO’s LinkedIn page.

Trust in Employees Grows

noreply@blogger.com (Jill Vitiello) — Wed, 22 Jan 2014 16:32:00 +0000

Who do employees trust at work? The findings of the 2014 Edelman Trust Barometer show that they trust fellow employees more than they trust business leaders. Since 2009, trust in a “person like yourself” has increased 15 points and trust in a "regular employee" has jumped 20 points.

The study also shows that there is still a lack of trust in leaders, with trust in a CEO or government official having stayed flat since last year. Academic or technical experts are the most trusted individuals – nearly two times as much as a CEO or government official. And, findings reveal that only one in five people trusts a business leader to tell the truth and make ethical and moral decisions. This gives leaders the opportunity to effect change through engagement and transparency, and call on others in their organizations to do the same.

What can you do to increase your trust factor?

Always tell the truth and don't withhold information
Make communications transparent
Engage key stakeholders by creating an employee ambassador program
Be visible during difficult times

Business leaders can utilize multidimensional communications plans and employee ambassador programs to harness the power of their employees’ voices. Peer-to-peer communication allows employees to be heard and enhances the message.

How will you maximize the trust your employees have in one another? Tell us on VTLO's Facebook page.

Leveraging the Olympic Games

noreply@blogger.com (Jill Vitiello) — Fri, 17 Jan 2014 22:16:00 +0000

On February 7, all eyes will be on Sochi, Russia, as the 2014 Winter Olympics begin. Over 17 days, some 3.5 billion viewers around the world are expected to tune in to watch the action. With more than 1,500 hours of network and live-streaming coverage via NBC Universal alone, it's no doubt that the Winter Games will be entertaining. But, can they be beneficial to business as well?

For Shaun White, two-time Olympic gold medalist and member of the U.S. snowboarding team, the Olympics are an opportunity for rebranding. Previously known as the Flying Tomato, White has transformed his image from that of a wild and rebellious teen renowned for his extreme-sport prowess to a strategic-thinking entrepreneur. He even cut his well-known locks as part of his transformation. Now, he is poised to present his new look on the world's stage in hopes of creating a more serious image for Shaun White Enterprises, his multi-million-dollar brand, which includes a boys' clothing line at Target, sponsorship deals with Burton, Oakley and Stride Gum, and a partnership with GoPro cameras.
Proctor & Gamble is not waiting for the Opening Ceremony to start leveraging the Games' halo effect. Earlier this month, it launched its Thank you, Mom/Pick Them Back Up advertising campaign to create goodwill among a customer base that is comprised largely of mothers. The two-minute spot, which already has more than 9.5 million views on YouTube, is a celebration of perseverance. Mention of P&G is saved for a voiceover and slide show of brand logos, which appears during the last 10 seconds of the ad. To support the campaign, the company is utilizing an employee engagement strategy. By involving its global workforce in its sponsorship activities, P&G employees can serve as ambassadors in person and on social media.

During past Olympic Games, companies such as Panasonic and Deloitte used social media, the intranet and competitions to engage employees. Will you be watching the games? Do you have plans to leverage them to bring home the Gold for your organization? Let us know.

Are You My Mentor?

noreply@blogger.com (Jill Vitiello) — Thu, 09 Jan 2014 13:15:00 +0000

January is National Mentoring Month. While this campaign focuses on youths, it serves as a good reminder for business leaders of the value that a mentorship program can bring to their organization.

Business leaders are deluged with regular requests from strangers to be mentors. However, the best mentoring relationships often develop from the relationships you already have. "Searching for a mentor has become the professional equivalent to waiting for Prince Charming," writes Sheryl Sandberg, COO of Facebook, in her best-selling book, Lean In: Women, Work and the Will to Lead. However, she says that finding the right mentor does not automatically give you the key to a corner office—that you have to earn.

While men are more likely to have a mentor than women, mentorship is crucial for anyone's career development. In fact, according to Sandberg, men and women with sponsors are more likely to ask for stretch assignments and pay raises than their peers without sponsors. In order for mentees to succeed, they need to focus on the big picture and learn how to manage their business rather than concentrate on managing their career.

Here is what business leaders can do to advance the mentor-mentee relationship:

Be available. Whether you schedule time on your calendar or have an open door policy, making yourself available to your mentee will help the relationship flourish.
Be knowledgeable. Openly sharing your expertise and experiences is the backbone of any mentoring relationship and will go a long way in helping to develop your mentee's career.
Be supportive. Demonstrate pride in your mentee's accomplishments, advocate for her development and help your mentee learn from her failures.

When done right, everyone stands to benefit from mentoring. The mentee gains valuable insight, which helps advance his or her career. Mentors benefit from seeing things from a different point of view as well as from feelings of pride and fulfillment. And, for corporations, mentoring programs can fully integrate new employees and guard against critical knowledge loss.

Are you a mentor? Does your company have a formal mentoring program? Share a tip with us on what makes this relationship work.

Happy Holidays from Vitiello Communications Group

noreply@blogger.com (Jill Vitiello) — Mon, 23 Dec 2013 18:30:00 +0000

“There are many things from which I might have derived good, by which I have not profited…Christmas among the rest. But I am sure I have always thought of Christmas time, when it has come round …as a good time; a kind, forgiving, charitable, pleasant time; the only time I know of, in the long calendar of the year, when men and women seem by one consent to open their shut-up hearts freely…and therefore…though it has never put a scrap of gold or silver in my pocket, I believe that it has done me good, and will do me good; and I say, God bless it!”

That’s how Fred Holywell describes the meaning of Christmas to his uncle, Ebenezer Scrooge. A Christmas Carol, written in 1843 by the brilliant storyteller Charles Dickens, makes the spirit of the Christian celebration accessible to all.

In that same spirit, we, at Vitiello Communications Group, close our offices from December 24 through January 1, to give our talented, dedicated team the opportunity to spend time with family and friends when the world slows down in response to the merriment of this festive season.

On behalf of all of us at VTLO, we wish you and yours a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. May it do you good!

GM Drives Home Employee Engagement

noreply@blogger.com (Jill Vitiello) — Thu, 19 Dec 2013 14:58:00 +0000

Last week, Mary Barra made headlines when she was named CEO of General Motors. Most of the news coverage focused on Barra becoming the first female CEO among America's major automakers when she takes over in January. This is quite an accomplishment considering only 4 percent of Fortune 500 companies had a woman at the helm in 2013. For business leaders, however, there is another, underlying message. Barra's rise to the top points to the important role employee engagement can play in a company's long-term business strategy.

According to a Harris study, 80 percent of millennials plan to change jobs while still in their 20s. That makes Barra's 33-year career at GM an anomaly. But engaging Barra -- who joined the Pontiac Motor Division as a co-op student responsible for inspecting fender panels -- and keeping her engaged as her career path moved through jobs in manufacturing, management and human resources, has created a valuable asset for GM. After all, who better to lead GM at a time when it faces fallout from its recent bailout and brand instability, than an engaged employee with in-depth knowledge of the company?

Credit for GM's engagement strategy can be given to retiring CEO Dan Akerson. He recognized Barra's hard work and talent and gave her opportunity to thrive. In addition, Akerson's predecessor, Ed Whitacre, Jr., began a culture change at GM that opened up leadership positions to women. Both men can be considered visionaries when it comes to engaging employees.

Now, it will be up to Barra to keep GM's talent pool engaged. Known for a collaborative management style that empowers decision-making at all levels, there is little doubt employee engagement will be a high priority for her as CEO.

What are you doing to engage promising employees? Let us know.

Applying Nelson Mandela's Life Lessons

noreply@blogger.com (Jill Vitiello) — Wed, 11 Dec 2013 17:51:00 +0000

Presidents, kings, dignitaries and ordinary citizens gathered in Johannesburg, South Africa, on Tuesday to pay tribute to Nelson Mandela. Mandela's legacy is greater than the role he played in ending apartheid or the fact that he was the first black president of South Africa.

In his speech at the memorial, President Barack Obama said, "With honesty, regardless of our station or our circumstance, we must ask: How well have I applied his lessons in my own life?"

The lessons are many. First, consider Mandela's unassuming leadership style that united his nation. He was such an effective unifier that F.W. de Klerk, the last president under apartheid, served as Mandela’s deputy after he was elected president. Then, there was Mandela's vision and resiliency. He spent 27 years in jail because he believed in equality. Add to that, his ability to collaborate with his staunch political opponents. This earned him the respect of people around the world. And, finally there was his perseverance. "After climbing a great hill, one only finds that there are many more hills to climb," wrote Mandela in his autobiography, Long Walk to Freedom. "I have taken a moment here to rest, to steal a view of the glorious vista that surrounds me, to look back on the distance I have come. But I can rest only for a moment, for with freedom comes responsibilities, and I dare not linger, for my long walk is not yet ended."

Mandela's leadership traits greatly impacted the policies of his nation. But his legacy will not end there. For business leaders, using these same traits can help engage employees, create an inclusive environment and realize their corporate vision. What lesson will you take away from Nelson Mandela's life and how will you apply it to your own? Leave a comment to let us know.

Giving Tuesday and Every Day

noreply@blogger.com (Jill Vitiello) — Wed, 04 Dec 2013 18:02:00 +0000

What do a farmer, a snack food manufacturer, a fruit vendor, a hog raiser, a baker and a manicurist have in common? They are all women business owners, living in the Philippines, raising kids, caring for families and strengthening their communities with their hard work and resourcefulness. And, as of yesterday, #GivingTuesday, they are all recipients of World Vision microloans, funded by Vitiello Communications Group.

Since 2010, we have partnered with World Vision to invest in women entrepreneurs outside the United States. This year, we focused our giving on business owners and the relief effort in the Philippines. Having endured Superstorm Sandy in 2012, VTLO and its resilient team understand first-hand what it takes to recover and rebuild after a natural disaster. We hope that our modest donation provides the encouragement and resources women in the Philippines need to keep their businesses profitable.

We are proud that the business owners we have supported over the years – women in Africa, Mexico, and Cambodia – have completely repaid the small loans they were granted through World Vision. Their faithfulness has allowed our initial grant to recirculate through the program, providing a source of funds to even more entrepreneurs. That’s why I love the microloan concept. It gives women a hand, not a handout.

Thanks to VTLO, six Filipino businesswomen’s tiny loans are fully funded. They can buy the flour and vanilla, the animal feed, and the nail polish they need to nourish and beautify their countrymen and women. They can support their families and themselves. As a woman business owner, I share the incredible feeling of satisfaction that comes from running a company with integrity, providing a valuable service and contributing to the livelihood of people who matter.

As you consider how you’ll invest in the world this holiday season, I encourage you to join me and the entire VTLO team to support women business owners through the World Vision microloan program. Your donation stretches Giving Tuesday to every day.

VTLO's Guide to Must-Give Gadgets

noreply@blogger.com (Jill Vitiello) — Tue, 26 Nov 2013 12:49:00 +0000

This week, Thanksgiving and the first day of Hanukkah will coincide for the first time since 1888 and the last time for another 79,000-plus years, according to one estimate. As retailers bombard our inboxes with Black Friday and Cyber Monday deals, gift-giving is top of mind. A recent Gallup survey estimates that U.S. consumers will spend an average of $704 on holiday gifts this year. Although this is down from the $770 they forecasted last year, there are numerous stores open on Thanksgiving, encouraging people to wolf down their pumpkin pie and start shopping.

Here is a roundup of VTLO's favorite gadgets to give to business leaders – or get for yourself – this holiday season:

iPad Air: The latest version of the iPad has a brilliantly bright screen, and is thinner and lighter than ever, making it the perfect on-the-go companion for meetings, travel and just about anything.
Kindle Paperwhite: From the no-glare screen to the ability to write notes in the margin, this e-reader was made to feel like a book. And the best news? A single charge can last up to eight weeks.
Mophie juice pack: Part phone case, part charger, the juice pack protects your phone and gives it a battery boost of up to 80 percent while you’re away from your plug-in charger.
Brookstone pocket projector mobile: This small and handy projector can connect via HDMI to smartphones, tablets, computers, video players, cameras and more. It projects dazzling images for up to two hours on just one charge.

If you’re looking to experience the latest phones and tablets first-hand, there’s a new shop in town giving Apple Stores and Microsoft Stores more competition. Google has opened pop-up holiday exhibits, called Winter Wonderlabs, to showcase its latest devices. If you are in the tri-state area, you can find a Google Store at Bryant Park in New York City or Garden State Plaza in Paramus, N.J.

For a full list of our favorite gadgets this season and others, check out our Holiday Gadgets 2013 board on Pinterest.

Strike a Power Pose

noreply@blogger.com (Jill Vitiello) — Fri, 22 Nov 2013 18:56:00 +0000

When the Healthcare Businesswomen’s Association (HBA) judges awarded first place for Most Outstanding Poster to VTLO’s poster last week at the Leadership Conference, my reaction was automatic – arms up, chin lifted, “Yes!” This reflexive “V” stance is what Harvard Business School social psychologist Amy Cuddy calls the “pride pose.”

The next day, Cuddy was the closing keynoter. Reprising her 2012 TED talk, she walked the audience of nearly 1,000 women through the highlights of her research. Cuddy reminded us that humans are hard-wired to express emotion and social rank through body language. Dominance is demonstrated by occupying space – outstretched arms, erect posture, even feet up on the desk. Powerlessness is evident when people curl up and try to decrease the amount of space they use. Powerful people have increased levels of testosterone and lower levels of cortisol – high strength, low stress.

She noted that putting a smile on your face, even when you don’t feel like smiling, has been shown to improve your mood. Cuddy and her research team wondered if adopting a power pose would improve people’s confidence and performance in stressful, social evaluative situations – such as a job interview.

The answer is "yes." Cuddy’s research shows that simply standing like Wonder Woman – feet apart, chest high, hands on hips – for two minutes, elevates testosterone and lowers cortisol. And the opposite is true. Sitting with shoulders forward, legs crossed and elbows in diminishes testosterone and raises cortisol.

Research subjects who adopted the power pose for two minutes prior to a stressful interview were more likely to be awarded the job than those who struck powerless poses for the same length of time.

How is your body positioned when you are waiting to be called into the hiring manager’s office? If you are seated and hunched over your smart phone, you have unwittingly adopted a subordinate pose, and you will enter the meeting with hormones signaling your brain that you are in a position of powerlessness. Instead, Cuddy says, find the nearest restroom stall, lock yourself in, and strike the power pose for two minutes before the interview. Your body will trick your mind into feeling confident and capable.

Worried that the hormonal magic might not last? Skeptical about the “fake it ‘til you make it” philosophy? Cuddy dismisses these concerns based on her own poignant story. At 19, she sustained a head injury that caused the “gifted and talented” teen to lose two standard deviations of her high IQ. She defied the odds and her doctors, completed her undergraduate degree and convinced a kind admissions counselor at Princeton to give her a chance.

Halfway through her first year in graduate school, Cuddy was confronted with the requirement of giving a speech. Fearful and panicked, the budding psychologist decided to drop out rather than give the speech. Her advisor persuaded her to pretend that she was an accomplished speaker and just squeak through the assignment. Cuddy took her advice. She stayed at Princeton, completed her studies and went on to become a professor at Harvard Business School. Today, she is a Time Magazine Game Changer, a renowned researcher and a sought after speaker whose TED talk has been viewed more than 2 million times. Cuddy says she – and all of us – can fake it until we become it when we learn to use our bodies to change our minds, our behaviors and outcomes.

So strike that power pose and let us know what you accomplish!

Check Your Level of Engagement

noreply@blogger.com (Jill Vitiello) — Fri, 15 Nov 2013 15:25:00 +0000

How can your organization get added value from employee engagement research? The answer is simple: by participating in the study. Business research conducted by Gallup, Towers Watson and Dale Carnegie, to name a few, survey a representative sampling of workers to provide valuable information on the general state of employee engagement today. While statistics such as a recent Gallup finding that only 13 percent of workers are engaged can be telling, are they relevant to you and your organization? An assessment published this week on the Harvard Business Review (HBR) blog can help you find out.

According to HBR contributing writer Tony Schwartz, answering questions about yourself, your manager and your habits both at home and at work can provide you with a look at how specific company policies and practices influence employee satisfaction and effectiveness. Schwartz's company, The Energy Project, is conducting research to find out what would make employees more productive and satisfied at work.

You and your employees can participate in the study by visiting the HBR site. What makes this research unique is that upon answering a short list of questions, you will immediately get results showing how you scored in five key categories that contribute to the quality of your work life as compared to the average person. General findings will be made available through HBR at a later date.

"The way we're working isn't working for us, for our employers or for our families," wrote Schwartz in his best-selling book, Be Excellent at Anything: The Four Keys to Transforming the Way We Work and Live. "It's not the number of hours we work that determines how much value we create. Rather it's the quantity and quality of energy we bring to whatever hours we work." Schwartz hopes that his research findings will better define what elements are essential for a high-performance, highly engaged and sustainable workplace.

Will your voice be heard in this new study? Take a few minutes to answer the questions and let us know.

How Much is a Tweet Really Worth?

noreply@blogger.com (Jill Vitiello) — Thu, 07 Nov 2013 21:17:00 +0000

Kristen Erickson, VTLO Project Specialist, guest blogs about how Twitter is continuing to change the way we communicate.

According to the New York Stock Exchange, it’s worth approximately $25 billion. After establishing its IPO share price as $26 on Wednesday night, Twitter’s stock has surged 73 percent up to about $45 per share. The 7-year-old social media company has clearly proven its value, earning the honor of holding the second-largest tech IPO in history. Twitter has also shown its significance in changing the way we communicate and receive information.

For example, last week I learned that a tweet is now worth a cup of coffee. Starbucks introduced the @Tweetacoffee program which allows coffee (and tea) drinkers to send each other beverages through Twitter. Using your Starbucks and Twitter accounts, you can tweet a drink to a friend, who will receive a $5 e-gift card to Starbucks. This gives new meaning to a “coffee date.”

Twitter has also demonstrated its increasing value as a source for news. According to a new report released by the Pew Research Center, 8 percent of adults in the U.S. get their news through Twitter. While nearly 30 percent of Americans get their news through Facebook, Twitter’s newsreaders represent half of all Twitter users in the country. According to the research, these people are younger, more mobile and more educated compared to Facebook news consumers and the overall population, indicating that this trend is likely to grow.

Business leaders should take note of these shifting communication preferences, especially those of Millennials whose presence on Twitter has grown to 30 percent. For best practices and tips on how to build a following, check out Twitter’s business page.

Three Ways to Motivate Employees

noreply@blogger.com (Jill Vitiello) — Fri, 01 Nov 2013 18:47:00 +0000

How do you motivate your employees to get the job done? According to a recent Harvard Business Review (HBR) blog by Rosabeth Moss Kanter, Harvard Business School professor and author, it comes down to three things: mastery, membership and meaning.

First, Kanter says, good leaders need to help people develop their skills. Just look at Verizon, where a Lean Six Sigma program helped the company achieve operational excellence and a top spot in Training magazine's annual training and development ranking. "Having a highly trained and skilled workforce is good for our employees, customers and shareholders, and helps build strong leaders for the future across all of Verizon's business units," said Magda Yrizarry, chief talent and diversity officer at Verizon. In just one year, Verizon's training program increased profitability, drove shareholder value and helped the company save millions of dollars.

When it comes to motivating through membership, Kanter believes that creating a community that honors individuality is key. This is where employee ambassador programs can come into play. A dynamic and well-executed program can drive adoption of key initiatives and programs, and make employees feel part of the team. "Working at the same company doesn't automatically create community," writes blogger Jason Eng. "A brand ambassador program will create a common topic that employees can have conversations around, which creates community."

Finally, Kanter says that emphasizing the positive impact even mundane tasks can have on the organization's goal can prove motivating. Intel ties its core vision to engagement by calculating each employee's annual bonus based on sustainability results. In doing so, the company challenges every department to improve its processes and increases accountability in reducing the company's ecological footprint.

What are you doing to motivate your employees? Let us know on VTLO’s Facebook page.

Can You Make a Difference?

noreply@blogger.com (Jill Vitiello) — Fri, 25 Oct 2013 18:19:00 +0000

If you are volunteering your time on Saturday, October 26 as part of the 23rd annual Make A Difference Day, the answer is, "yes." Sponsored by USA WEEKEND Magazine and Points of Light, Make A Difference Day is the largest national day of community service. This year, 3 million people are expected to participate in projects around the nation that will benefit 20 million people.

Gannett, USA WEEKEND's parent company, is mobilizing its employees in more than 100 communities to participate in a variety of projects that will include planting a fall garden for a Jackson, Miss. wellness program; building a library for a Cincinnati orphanage; and working on a Habitat for Humanity build site in Denver. "People often think that volunteering means writing a big check or doing something lofty," says Gayle King, co-host of CBS This Morning. "But, it's the small things that can make a difference in someone's life."

Non-profit organizations are not the only ones that stand to benefit. Volunteers can benefit too. According to the 2013 Deloitte Volunteer IMPACT Survey, volunteering can build skills, provide valuable leadership capabilities and even give job candidates an edge. The survey also found that traditional and skills-based volunteerism is good for business and, therefore, encouraged at many organizations through corporate citizenship programs.

Howard G. Buffett, son of investor Warren Buffet, says that opportunities to make a difference are like a farmer's growing season. In his newly released book, 40 Chances: Finding Hope in a Hungry World, he writes, "Whether you love or hate what you are doing, whether you are good at it or struggling, life is not a treadmill – it's a moving walkway. There are no do-overs. We get a limited number of chances to do what we do, whatever we do, right. Am I making the most of my chances?" Through his philanthropic efforts and non-profit foundation, Howard Buffet, who works as a farmer for half of the year, is dedicated to making a difference when it comes to global food issues.

Business leaders can make a difference on two levels. Personally, they can find a cause that speaks to them and volunteer their time. Professionally, they can join the growing number of organizations that support non-profits through diverse and creative social responsibility programs. Looking for ways to volunteer without leaving your computer? Check out Skills for Change for online skills-based volunteer opportunities.

What are you doing to make a difference? Share your story with us.

Social Media: Plan for What's Trending in 2014

noreply@blogger.com (Jill Vitiello) — Fri, 18 Oct 2013 17:24:00 +0000

Headlines about Twitter’s upcoming IPO and Facebook’s proposed “Company Town” serve as reminders of the impact social media has on our culture. As social media continues to dominate the way people receive information, it is effectively being used by many businesses to engage customers and employees alike. As user preferences and new trends evolve, however, it’s essential for business leaders to adjust their social media strategy as they plan their communications initiatives for 2014.

A recent Forbes article predicted a number of changes for social media in the coming year. Here are some highlights:

Organizations will hire employees who are completely dedicated to social media and are skilled in that area instead of adding this responsibility to an existing staff member's job.
Micro-videos, offered by services like Instagram and Vine, will surge in popularity, and photos and check-ins will continue to be favored as social media users look for ways to interact with more than just text.
Businesses will increase their presence on Google+ as they realize that connecting with customers through this channel will help to get the search engine results they want.

Another trend in social media reveals that executives are hardly using it at all – but they should be. According to a study conducted by Domo and CEO.com, 70 percent of CEOs have no presence on any major social media channels. However, HootSuite makes the case that even non-technical CEOS can drive business using social media.

Just look at Richard Branson, founder and CEO of Virgin. With 3.3 million Twitter followers, he promotes his brand and ingrains social media into the culture by following others, talking about a range of topics and sharing his personal experiences. Peter Aceto, CEO of ING Direct, is also dedicated to engaging and educating his followers to drive business results. Aceto uses his personality to give company communications a face, while also creating loyalty among his followers.

Tell us what trends you’re seeing in the world of social media. And, make sure to consider these factors as you plan your social media strategy for 2014.