Out-of-the-box thinking from MNPR

Olympic Communication

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Synchronized diving, swimming, beach volleyball and, of course, gymnastics. The Summer Olympics capture all of us – if only for 16 days.

Being part of a global organization, such as the International Association of Business Communicators, makes me think about the communication that goes on among Olympic athletes. Of course many of these athletes don’t speak the same language, just as some of our membership from across the world doesn’t.

It can be tricky to communicate with someone who doesn’t speak your language (and sometimes embarrassing) as you try your luck with a few common phrases heard on TV and mostly relying on grunts and rudimentary gestures. But surprisingly – just like a sly one-year-old – we usually get our point across.

I finished a cross-country drive with my kids this week and was thinking about these amazing athletes. Not only are they living their dream as Olympians, they’re visiting one of the world’s most exciting cities. I imagine they are wandering through the Olympic Village, attempting some non-verbal communication within the enormous international community. I’m envious. What an unbelievable adventure, even as a spectator, to soak up the ambience of Beijing at this time.

It reminded me of another international adventure that feels like a lifetime ago. I spent a high school spring break in Mexico with family. I returned to Shawnee, Kansas, and wrote a emotional commentary for my high school newspaper lambasting the communication skills of spring breakers – especially their treatment of the Mexican tradesmen. After digging through two boxes in the attic at my parent’s house, I found the piece (yes, my mom and I somewhat of a pack rats). I was Megan Mullikin back in 1989, but as you will see if you click the link below, I was just as opinionated as the Megan Neher you know now!

Thankfully, I’m confident the Olympians in Beijing use much better communication in the international scene than my classmates did during their weeklong freedom at Padre Island. U.S. Olympic personalities like Michael Phelps, Shawn Johnson and others help ensure we’ve buried the persona of the Ugly American forever!

 

Bee Herd Starts Buzzing

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It’s exciting to be starting the presidency of this year’s KC/IABC board of directors. I kind of feel like we’re starting a blank slate – or in today’s vocabulary: a blank white board. Not to say this board isn’t experienced because many of these folks are returning board members and talented leaders, thank goodness. But we’re still kicking the year off with lots of new ideas and innovative thinking.

It’s a little scary. In fact, I have a secret phobia. I’m terrified that someday I’ll be sitting in a meeting and someone will ask me to come to the whiteboard as the “scribe.” My nightmare is that the group will shout out difficult to spell words – like accommodate, idiosyncrasy, millennium, unanimous or Massachusetts (yes, I had to look these up),  and I will scramble to use my worst handwriting to ensure no one knows I can’t spell!

As we kick off the new board year, the power of the team of board members and the membership as a whole will be to rely on our individual strengths giving those of us “poor spellers” a chance to shine in other areas, while the champion spelling bee winners can take the lead in their area of excellence. There’s no stopping the power of a bee herd!

Now, as the new president I start the year knowing that “nothing is more beautiful than potential.” Please know I’m open to all suggestions, as is our board, so please keep ‘em coming. We all love to Be Heard!

Just in case you were wondering, here’s a list of some famous poor spellers in history. My heroes… uh, I mean, heros… whatever!

Hans Christian Andersen

Albert Einstein

Dan Rather

Gandhi

 

Elevated Journalism

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My husband and I have been grieving the loss of Tim Russert. We are almost disciples of Meet the Press, and I never miss the Today Show where he was a regular political analyst.

There are a million reasons the show resonated with me. As a former journalist, I loved seeing the integrity of journalism on this show. Even though I didn’t know him personally, I felt connected to Tim Russet because he was a personable, likeable person who was fair, tough, friendly and intelligent.

But what links us, and what I think I love the most was his unquenchable curiosity. This is something I’ve been teasingly criticized by my friends from time to time. Some say I have an intensive inquisitive nature. And, probably why I was drawn to journalism.

As a side note, I was thrilled to have the pleasure of seeing the handsome Tom Brokaw doing Meet the Press today. As my all-time favorite TV journalist and someone I’ve seen speak in person several years ago, it is always an honor to see his professionalism and incredible skills in communication leading the eulogy for Tim. Although his voice broke-up once during his remarks, he was able to lead his typically flawless and mostly spontaneous poignant memorial.

When I stop by the NBC headquarters for the IABC (International Association of Business Communicators) conference this Sunday night for the registration at 30 Rock, I will give a silent prayer to the man that inspired me to continue my curiosity in life. Thank you Tim Russert.

 

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