Promoting Open Communication

🇬🇧 Worth checking out the updated #RESIST framework designed by the UK government in order to embrace information threats more fully. 🔹A pragmatic approach focused on perceptions and a full-blown model for any institution developing its own strategic communications methodology 👉🏼RESIST Counter‑Disinformation Toolkit : a structured framework for government communicators to identify, assess and respond to disinformation. 👉🏼The toolkit frames disinformation as a risk not only to communications per se, but to policy outcomes, national security, international reputation, and democratic legitimacy. 🔹It provides checklists, matrices (ex : for prioritisation: does a message harm ability to deliver services? does it affect vulnerable audiences? etc.) and guidance on measurement. ♻️ A 6️⃣ step approach : 1️⃣ Recognise: identify possible instances of mis/dis/malinformation, check the techniques (fabrication, disguised identity, rhetoric, symbolism etc) (FIRST indicators). 2️⃣ Early Warning: Monitor the information space for signals of emerging threats, vulnerabilities, target audiences, relevant narratives. 3️⃣ Situational Insight: Turn monitoring data into actionable insights : what’s happening, who is vulnerable, what narratives are evolving, what the context is. 4️⃣ Impact Analysis: Assess the potential damage: what are the objectives of the threat actor, the reach, the likelihood, how does it affect your priorities/responsibilities. Use structured analysis rather than just “gut feeling”. 5️⃣ Strategic Communication: Decide whether and how to respond. Not all incidents merit a public response — some may self-correct. If you respond: ensure the truth is well told, choose appropriate channels/audiences, embed resilience building, engage partnerships. 6️⃣ Tracking Effectiveness: Measure output vs outcome; track metrics (reach, behaviour change, attitude change) and learn from each response. Underlying principles 🔹A government communications function must support resilience: of institutions, public trust, policy delivery. 🔹Communications is a proactive posture : pre-bunking, shaping narratives is as important as reactive posture (debunking). 🔹Partnership matters because information threats do not respect organisational boundaries : across gov departments, with civil society, academia, media, international partners 🔹Focus on audiences & vulnerabilities: recognising that some audiences are more exposed (due to digital skills, language, socio-economic factors) and that those vulnerabilities shape how to tailor prevention/response. How this could apply to other nations 🔹 a structured framework to impart discipline & consistency in detecting and responding to threats. 🔹 helps build an institutional capacity 🔹 supports the shift from reactive (respond when scandal/hit) to proactive risk management

Navigating Political Discussions at Work, Fostering Trust, Respect and Inclusion In 2024, as we face another pivotal election year, the question of how to handle political discussions in the workplace remains as relevant as ever. Many of us were raised with the notion that politics, religion, and race are taboo topics at work. However, I've come to believe that we should discuss these issues—the key lies in how we approach these conversations. As workplace culture continues to evolve, particularly in our post-pandemic reality of hybrid and remote work, there's an increasing emphasis on bringing our authentic selves to the office. This naturally includes our political beliefs, which are often integral to our identities. The challenge arises when only certain views are welcomed while others are silenced, creating an inequitable environment. Here are some strategies that have helped me navigate political discussions at work: 1. Depersonalize disagreements: Remember, differing political views aren't personal attacks. Practice active listening: Hear others out and ask for the same courtesy in return. In 2024, topics like climate change policy, healthcare reform, and digital privacy laws are likely to be hot-button issues. These can quickly become contentious, making respectful dialogue crucial. Organizations play a vital role in fostering an environment where diverse viewpoints are respected. Some steps they can take include: 1. Providing resources and training on having difficult conversations respectfully 2. Incorporating inclusive team-building activities Ensuring leadership models open and respectful communication If these resources aren't available in your workplace, and you feel unsafe expressing your views, consider these steps: 1. Speak with leadership: Raise your concerns about the workplace culture. 2. Emphasize the importance of all employees feeling a sense of belonging, regardless of their political leanings. 3. Set personal boundaries: It's perfectly acceptable to express your discomfort with certain topics and ask colleagues to respect your choice not to participate in political discussions. 4. Seek common ground: Focus on shared goals and values in your work, which can help build bridges despite political differences. Remember, whether you support any particular candidate or party, you should feel safe expressing your views respectfully at work. Diversity of thought, when approached with mutual respect, can lead to more innovative and inclusive workplaces. As we navigate the complexities of election year 2024, let's strive to create work environments where all voices are heard, differing opinions are respected, and productive dialogue is encouraged. By doing so, we not only enhance our workplace culture but also contribute to a more understanding and cohesive society.

With so much talk about how divisive our political discourse - and conversations in general - feels right now, I'm so grateful for the robust ecosystem of positive and practical solutions that Civic Health Project and Kristin J. Hansen are fostering across geographies and generations. As they share in their latest newsletter: "This fall, for students of all ages, "back to school" means bridging." "Where can America's educational communities look for hope, and help? Fortuitously, a wave of innovative curriculum, pedagogy, and programming is emerging to "meet the moment" during this highly charged back-to-school season. From middle schools to high schools to universities, new approaches are empowering administrators, faculty, students, and school boards with skills to bridge divides, foster respectful conversations, cultivate viewpoint diversity, and inspire healthy civic engagement." Check out their many inspiring stories and suggestions including resources like: Made By Us's Civic Season activities that touched 13 million people this year (I personally love their Civic Superpower quiz!) Monica Guzman's must-read "I Never Thought of It That Way: How to Have Fearlessly Curious Conversations in Dangerously Divided times" - which is now required reading for many incoming college freshman. Amazing toolkits and programs from BridgeUSA, AllSides, Living Room Conversations, Third Way Civics, Generation Citizen, and many more. I'm particularly excited to dive into the new "Jesters Bridge Facilitation Guide" from Gotham Arts and Heterodox Academy which uses comedians and humor to help engage "constructively and curiously across disagreement. " (Um...definitely, yes, to more humor.) Lots of good stuff to dig in to here...but the bottom line is that there *are* better ways to practice dialog and disagreement. https://lnkd.in/gxytkvxx

The way we engage in difficult conversations can either build bridges or shut them down entirely. If you want to spark meaningful dialogue, start with curiosity, not confrontation. Use questions like, “Tell me more about that,” or “I’m curious about your perspective—can you help me understand?” These phrases invite openness and allow for a strategic, effective discussion. The key? Be approachable and friendly, but hold your ground. Don’t let your questions come across as accusatory—once people feel they’re being judged, they’ll stop listening. Instead, engage with empathy while staying firm in your values. This balance of kindness and conviction can transform conversations, creating opportunities for deeper understanding and genuine change.

The recent executive order ordering the Corporation for Public Broadcasting to defund NPR and PBS threatens to silence vital lifelines for rural America. In remote communities, public broadcasters are often the only reliable source of information during disasters, especially when cell towers fail and power lines go down. 📻 Without federal support, many local stations could be forced to cut services or shut down, leaving communities without trusted sources for community news and emergency alerts. Stations like KRTS Marfa Public Radio serving the Big Bend region of Far West Texas; KHNS, covering Alaska’s Upper Lynn Canal; and WMMT in Kentucky, reaching listeners across five Appalachian states, provide vital updates on weather emergencies, evacuation routes and recovery resources. In times of crisis, they are a trusted voice. 💵 While the national average is closer to 6%, rural stations often rely more heavily on support from the CPB due to limited local resources. This move risks deepening the "news deserts" already expanding across rural regions. 📢 In disaster philanthropy, we emphasize the importance of local knowledge, coordination and communication. Localized, public media is a cornerstone of that ecosystem. Defunding it undermines the very infrastructure that helps communities prepare for, respond to and recover from crises. ⭐ Surveys show strong bipartisan support for public broadcasting. This isn’t a political issue; it is a public safety one. We must protect and invest in the institutions that keep all Americans informed and connected, especially in their most vulnerable moments.

It's time for SEO to get radically transparent. SEO often lurks in the shadows of the marketing team, intentionally cloaked in a mystique that obscures its value. SEO practitioners speak of algorithms and crawl budgets, while executives struggle to grasp their contribution to revenue or user engagement. SEO has thrived on using the “black box” as an excuse and a crutch. This intentional opacity fosters skepticism and hurts SEO’s visibility as a strategic asset. It is difficult for an executive to fund an SEO ask if they don’t know where that money will be spent. Worse, when it’s time for RIFs (aka layoffs), SEO can be on the chopping block because the contributions from this team are far from obvious. The solution and the opportunity lie in transparency, with a disciplined approach to communication that integrates SEO with clear, measurable business objectives and encourages cross-functional collaboration. With all the chatter about the death of SEO, transparency is not merely beneficial but imperative for teams and organizations pursuing sustainable growth. Read the rest in this week's newsletter

5 reasons to stop separating your SEOs from other teams: Different departments often want to work independently. But keeping your SEO team apart only holds back your online success. Here's why: 1 → It limits teamwork When search insights are kept separate, your company loses out on valuable chances to innovate and grow. Collaboration brings fresh ideas and helps teams work towards shared goals. 2 → It affects the overall strategy Disconnected efforts lead to inconsistent user experiences. Bringing SEO together with other teams creates a smooth customer journey. 3 → It prevents integrated campaigns Isolation results in mixed messages and missed opportunities for impact. Aligning SEO with content, social media, and PR = better reach and audience engagement. 4 → It reduces flexibility Staying up-to-date with algorithm changes is hard without sharing knowledge between teams. Open communication and collaboration = agility and adaptability. 5 → It leads to limited thinking The most successful online brands know that SEO can benefit everyone. Breaking down barriers allows for a holistic approach (which drives better results) Keeping SEO separate (is not) specialisation. Keeping SEO separate leads to stagnation. ➟ Let go of the silo mentality ➟ Adopt a collaborative approach ➟ Make SEO a part of every discussion. Your online visibility will grow – and your business will do better. P.S. Have you faced divided teams before? Share your experience in the comments.

What makes a rainmaker make rain? Intapp asked—and answered—that very question. In what they call their Rainmaker Genome Project, Intapp unpacked what makes a successful law firm partner. The short answer: Connectors and sharers make the best business developers. Folks who share information, make introductions, and widen the circle. People who, in a nutshell, help others. Intapp calls these folks Activators; I think of them as connectors or conveners. How did they land on that conclusion? Intapp started with the premise that law firm partners have unusual jobs. As they put it, “law firm partners do it all.” Unlike a lot of industries where functions are siloed (e.g., sales, marketing, and engineering), law firm partners find the work, do the work, and manage the work. The upshot: Business development is only part of the job. So, optimizing those efforts is particularly crucial for lawyers. We’re called to do a lot but business development is essential—without work, there’s nothing to do. In their research, Intapp sorted us into five buckets: 🔵 Experts: Reluctant business developers who rely on their reputation as deep subject matter experts to bring in new business 🔵 Confidants: Client-centric partners with a track record of strong work who are highly protective of and responsive to their clients 🔵 Activators: Network builders with a proactive business development approach that includes information-sharing and making high-value introductions 🔵 Debaters: Subject matter experts who have strong opinions on what’s best for a client’s business and are not afraid to share them 🔵 Realists: Partners who are transparent with their clients about capabilities, cost, outcomes, and value Activators took the cake. They are the likeliest to succeed and the least likely to fail. At least when it comes to business development. My takeaway? Being helpful pays. Folks who take the time to share win. Share information. Share their circle. And share insights. Folks who do those things tend to have the best relationships. And, in turn, they tend to have the best books of business. Because people know, like, and trust them. Sharing and connecting is the key. Embrace the abundance mindset. Reject scarcity. If you do, the research says you’ll be well on your way to making it rain. https://lnkd.in/ehJ5iBsT

Disinformation is a "wicked problem"—complex, multi-faceted, and challenging to counter without risking unintended consequences. Tackling it with a “do no harm” policy approach requires nuanced, adaptable strategies that respect freedom of expression and reinforce the foundations of democratic governance. In my mid-career Master’s in Public Policy at Princeton School of Public and International Affairs I've encountered this excellent Carnegie Endowment for International Peace policy guide. It offers actionable, balanced approaches based on evidence and case studies that can truly boost policy approaches to counter disinformation. 💡 Key strategies include: Empowering Local Journalism: When local news sources disappear, disinformation spreads like wildfire. Strengthening local journalism revives civic trust, keeps communities informed, and builds a first line of defense against disinformation. #DemocracyDiesInDarkness Building Media Literacy: Teaching critical media skills across communities and schools equips individuals to spot manipulation and build resilience against false information. Prioritizing Transparency with Fact-Checking: Going beyond labels, fact-checking that promotes transparency enables audiences to make informed choices, fostering trust without policing beliefs. Adjusting Algorithms & Limiting Microtargeting: Creating healthier online spaces by limiting microtargeted ads and rethinking algorithms reduces echo chambers while respecting autonomy. Counter-Messaging with Local Voices: Developing counter-messaging strategies that engage trusted community voices enables us to challenge false narratives effectively and authentically. These approaches are essential for defending open dialogue, strengthening governance, and supporting sustainable development. It's all hands on deck! https://lnkd.in/egKKmAqh 🌐 #Disinformation #DoNoHarm #LocalJournalism #FreedomOfExpression #PublicPolicy #CivicTrust cc Melissa Fleming Charlotte Scaddan Rosemary Kalapurakal Alice Harding Shackelford Roberto Valent Allegra Baiocchi (she/her/ella) Danilo Mora Carmen Lucia Morales Liliana Liliana Garavito George Gray Molina Marcos Neto Kersten Jauer