The PR Breakdown with Molly McPherson

With the rising demand for transparency from the public, organizations and their leaders are learning the importance of interacting openly and honestly with their stakeholders. The leaders and organizations who interact openly and honestly with the media and the public, will be rewarded with trust and credibility. Similarly, those who try to mislead and deceive will find themselves in a hole filled with negative press and public opinion, from which they will find it difficult to emerge unscathed.This episode is a 24-hour glimpse into President Trump’s visit to Walter Reed National Military Medical Center and the swirl of confusion that resulted from conflicting reports from Trump’s own chief of staff and press briefings led by his physician. Listen + Subscribe Stitcher or Apple Podcasts© Molly McPherson 2020Want More Behind the Breakdown? Follow The PR Breakdown with Molly McPherson on Substack for early access to podcast episodes, private member chats, weekly live sessions, and monthly workshops that go deeper than the mic. It is the inside hub for communicators who want real strategy, clear judgment, and a little side-eye where it counts.Follow Molly on Substack Subscribe to Molly's Weekly Newsletter  Need a Keynote Speaker? Drawing from real-world PR battles, Molly delivers the same engaging stories and hard-won crisis insights from the podcast to your live audience. Click here to book Molly for your next meeting. Follow & Connect with Molly:https://www.youtube.com/mollymcphersonhttps://mollymcpherson.substack.com/https://www.tiktok.com/@mollybmcphersonhttps://www.instagram.com/molly.mcpherson/...

Everyone makes mistakes. However, not everyone admits to making them, and that can lead to much bigger problems.  Talk show host Ellen DeGeneres used the opening monologue of her season premiere to address her role allegations of a toxic production environment at the daytime series in her opening monologue. It was time to admit a mistake.  Learn five maneuvers to help create an architecture for getting you through the sometimes brutal process of admitting when you are wrong.Mentioned on the podcast: How to Apologize During a PR Crisis: Why Ellen DeGeneres Kept Quiet (And Why You Shouldn't) Listen + Subscribe Stitcher or Apple Podcasts© Molly McPherson 2020Want More Behind the Breakdown? Follow The PR Breakdown with Molly McPherson on Substack for early access to podcast episodes, private member chats, weekly live sessions, and monthly workshops that go deeper than the mic. It is the inside hub for communicators who want real strategy, clear judgment, and a little side-eye where it counts.Follow Molly on Substack Subscribe to Molly's Weekly Newsletter  Need a Keynote Speaker? Drawing from real-world PR battles, Molly delivers the same engaging stories and hard-won crisis insights from the podcast to your live audience. Click here to book Molly for your next meeting. Follow & Connect with Molly:https://www.youtube.com/mollymcphersonhttps://mollymcpherson.substack.com/https://www.tiktok.com/@mollybmcphersonhttps://www.instagram.com/molly.mcpherson/...

This episode, my 100th, is my treatise for helping communicators do their job in the crazy age of media mayhem. For over two years I have been sharing my advice and experience from the front lines of my client work to help other communicators and PR people become self-confident in their professions.  From crisis management to social media wins and fails, this weekly podcast is my commitment to help you communicate better, smarter, and more confidently in a time when it is confusing and stressful.  Listen + Subscribe Stitcher or Apple Podcasts© Molly McPherson 2020Want More Behind the Breakdown? Follow The PR Breakdown with Molly McPherson on Substack for early access to podcast episodes, private member chats, weekly live sessions, and monthly workshops that go deeper than the mic. It is the inside hub for communicators who want real strategy, clear judgment, and a little side-eye where it counts.Follow Molly on Substack Subscribe to Molly's Weekly Newsletter  Need a Keynote Speaker? Drawing from real-world PR battles, Molly delivers the same engaging stories and hard-won crisis insights from the podcast to your live audience. Click here to book Molly for your next meeting. Follow & Connect with Molly:https://www.youtube.com/mollymcphersonhttps://mollymcpherson.substack.com/https://www.tiktok.com/@mollybmcphersonhttps://www.instagram.com/molly.mcpherson/...

You know a memorable quote when you hear it. You see it published repeatedly or going viral on social media, you have a quote for the ages.We are weeks into a global pandemic and there are multiple heads of organizations attempting to make their mark on this historic moment.How will they succeed?In this episode, you’re going to learn how to create a memorable quote plus hear examples of memorable quotes throughout history. [4:31] 1: Write like people actually talk.Learn how to be conversational while leaving out the unnecessary filler language.[7:29] 2: Use memorable language.Find out how to use your words to help paint a picture.[8:52] 3: Avoid the hype.Lose the hyperbole and focus on the facts.[9:53] 4: Skip the jargon.No one wants to burn calories struggling to understand your acronyms.[11:38] 5: Fancy facts.Sprinkle storytelling to add depth to the story.[13:12] 6: Use this grammar style to attribute a quote.Certain styles lend themselves to speaking; others to writing.[14:02] 7: Consider the appropriate tense.Different word choices should be used for something that has just happened vs. something that’s more timeless.[15:33] 8: No fake news.Keep it real; avoid the bias.[16:58] 9: Boil down your big idea.Here’s how you can make your message more shareable.Listen + Subscribe Stitcher or Apple Podcasts© Molly McPherson 2020Want More Behind the Breakdown? Follow The PR Breakdown with Molly McPherson on Substack for early access to podcast episodes, private member chats, weekly live sessions, and monthly workshops that go deeper than the mic. It is the inside hub for communicators who want real strategy, clear judgment, and a little side-eye where it counts.Follow Molly on Substack Subscribe to Molly's Weekly Newsletter  Need a Keynote Speaker? Drawing from real-world PR battles, Molly delivers the same engaging stories and hard-won crisis insights from the podcast to your live audience. Click here to book Molly for your next meeting. Follow & Connect with Molly:https://www.youtube.com/mollymcphersonhttps://mollymcpherson.substack.com/https://www.tiktok.com/@mollybmcphersonhttps://www.instagram.com/molly.mcpherson/...

Given that an estimated 75% of people suffer from fear of public speaking, it is safe to assume that most people, when asked, would say that they want to become more confident in their public speaking.  This means there will never be a shortage of speakers who need a tip or two to calm their nerves when speaking in front of a crowd.  The pandemic may have put a pause on in-person presentations, but the ease of virtual presentation means more people are being asked to speak on-screen, often the case, in front of large numbers of people. On the podcast, revisiting an earlier conversation with public speaking and voice coach Gina Razón. Why the voice is a tattletale for your confidence and exactly what speakers do when they’re not as confident or as prepared as they’d like to be when they speak.   © Molly McPherson 2020Want More Behind the Breakdown? Follow The PR Breakdown with Molly McPherson on Substack for early access to podcast episodes, private member chats, weekly live sessions, and monthly workshops that go deeper than the mic. It is the inside hub for communicators who want real strategy, clear judgment, and a little side-eye where it counts.Follow Molly on Substack Subscribe to Molly's Weekly Newsletter  Need a Keynote Speaker? Drawing from real-world PR battles, Molly delivers the same engaging stories and hard-won crisis insights from the podcast to your live audience. Click here to book Molly for your next meeting. Follow & Connect with Molly:https://www.youtube.com/mollymcphersonhttps://mollymcpherson.substack.com/https://www.tiktok.com/@mollybmcphersonhttps://www.instagram.com/molly.mcpherson/...

*Jerry Seinfeld voice* What's the deal with all these lame excuses from people??!! The last weeks of August 2020 were far from sleepy and dull. From the DNC to the RNC; from Jerry Seinfeld to Jerry Falwell, Jr. - what a week for people speaking their minds about the heated issues of the week.  On the podcast, the best/worst excuses we heard from the week from people and organizations that landed in hot water. What they said and the likely strategy behind the response. Denial, shift the blame, bolstering, minimization, mortification, transcendence, and attacking the accuser. Response strategies to lessen the blow to a reputation. Mentioned on the podcast:  Jerry Seinfeld: So You Think NYC is Dead? Want More Behind the Breakdown? Follow The PR Breakdown with Molly McPherson on Substack for early access to podcast episodes, private member chats, weekly live sessions, and monthly workshops that go deeper than the mic. It is the inside hub for communicators who want real strategy, clear judgment, and a little side-eye where it counts.Follow Molly on Substack Subscribe to Molly's Weekly Newsletter  Need a Keynote Speaker? Drawing from real-world PR battles, Molly delivers the same engaging stories and hard-won crisis insights from the podcast to your live audience. Click here to book Molly for your next meeting. Follow & Connect with Molly:https://www.youtube.com/mollymcphersonhttps://mollymcpherson.substack.com/https://www.tiktok.com/@mollybmcphersonhttps://www.instagram.com/molly.mcpherson/...

Is it wrong to want to be admired?  Of course not!It is natural human behavior to want people to view you in a positive light. This is neither narcissistic nor selfish behavior. It’s a healthy desire that inspired people to do better — to live up to the admiration. It also helps with your reputation if you find yourself in a PR crisis.On this episode, three approaches for becoming an admirable person.Listen + Subscribe Stitcher or Apple Podcasts© Molly McPherson 2020Want More Behind the Breakdown? Follow The PR Breakdown with Molly McPherson on Substack for early access to podcast episodes, private member chats, weekly live sessions, and monthly workshops that go deeper than the mic. It is the inside hub for communicators who want real strategy, clear judgment, and a little side-eye where it counts.Follow Molly on Substack Subscribe to Molly's Weekly Newsletter  Need a Keynote Speaker? Drawing from real-world PR battles, Molly delivers the same engaging stories and hard-won crisis insights from the podcast to your live audience. Click here to book Molly for your next meeting. Follow & Connect with Molly:https://www.youtube.com/mollymcphersonhttps://mollymcpherson.substack.com/https://www.tiktok.com/@mollybmcphersonhttps://www.instagram.com/molly.mcpherson/...

People are social beings who not only thrive on interactions with others but rely on it daily. Whether it’s a conversation with a friend, time with family or a business interaction, I think we can all agree we miss mixing with people. However, with all the chaos and fear COVID-19 brought into our lives, our typical social opportunities as well as norms have gone sideways. Even if when we do have the opportunity to see people in person, there’s an enormous elephant in the room with us — mask or no mask? The rules for interacting during a pandemic are complicated, but the mask issue is as huge as the elephant. Here's how get someone to politely wear a mask without sounding obnoxious.   © Molly McPherson 2020Want More Behind the Breakdown? Follow The PR Breakdown with Molly McPherson on Substack for early access to podcast episodes, private member chats, weekly live sessions, and monthly workshops that go deeper than the mic. It is the inside hub for communicators who want real strategy, clear judgment, and a little side-eye where it counts.Follow Molly on Substack Subscribe to Molly's Weekly Newsletter  Need a Keynote Speaker? Drawing from real-world PR battles, Molly delivers the same engaging stories and hard-won crisis insights from the podcast to your live audience. Click here to book Molly for your next meeting. Follow & Connect with Molly:https://www.youtube.com/mollymcphersonhttps://mollymcpherson.substack.com/https://www.tiktok.com/@mollybmcphersonhttps://www.instagram.com/molly.mcpherson/...

A few weeks back, The Ellen Degeneres Show fell under heavy scrutiny for how it's treated its employees in the past.   Reports came flying in about the working conditions that many employees have been experiencing while filming the show. Many of which include racism and intimidation.   The calls for cancellation are loud and clear - not the for the television program necessarily - but for the host, Ellen DeGeneres.   Anyone can find themselves in a public peck of trouble that spills out online, causing reputational harm. On the podcast this week: Why you need to apologize When to apologize What not to do when you make a public apology © Molly McPherson 2020Want More Behind the Breakdown? Follow The PR Breakdown with Molly McPherson on Substack for early access to podcast episodes, private member chats, weekly live sessions, and monthly workshops that go deeper than the mic. It is the inside hub for communicators who want real strategy, clear judgment, and a little side-eye where it counts.Follow Molly on Substack Subscribe to Molly's Weekly Newsletter  Need a Keynote Speaker? Drawing from real-world PR battles, Molly delivers the same engaging stories and hard-won crisis insights from the podcast to your live audience. Click here to book Molly for your next meeting. Follow & Connect with Molly:https://www.youtube.com/mollymcphersonhttps://mollymcpherson.substack.com/https://www.tiktok.com/@mollybmcphersonhttps://www.instagram.com/molly.mcpherson/...

As much of our communication nowadays shifts to remote platforms, we are having more conversations via text, email, instant message, and chat. Even if there is no personal interaction in communication, you may be exposed to deceptions and lies you may not even notice. On the episode this week, the tell-tale signs someone is lying to you when you read a text or email.   Mentioned on the podcast: Episode 16 - How to Spot a Liar.   © Molly McPherson 2020Want More Behind the Breakdown? Follow The PR Breakdown with Molly McPherson on Substack for early access to podcast episodes, private member chats, weekly live sessions, and monthly workshops that go deeper than the mic. It is the inside hub for communicators who want real strategy, clear judgment, and a little side-eye where it counts.Follow Molly on Substack Subscribe to Molly's Weekly Newsletter  Need a Keynote Speaker? Drawing from real-world PR battles, Molly delivers the same engaging stories and hard-won crisis insights from the podcast to your live audience. Click here to book Molly for your next meeting. Follow & Connect with Molly:https://www.youtube.com/mollymcphersonhttps://mollymcpherson.substack.com/https://www.tiktok.com/@mollybmcphersonhttps://www.instagram.com/molly.mcpherson/...