The PR Breakdown with Molly McPherson

Communication fails are a starting point in talking about the importance of having a sound communication skill set. And there were a lot of them in 2018.It helps to know what mistakes look like so you can avoid them, and even learn how to come back from them effectively. Last week, I talked about the top communications wins in 2018; in this week’s episode of the Confident Communications Podcast, we’re looking at the flubs.From mistweets to apologies gone wrong, from insensitivity to public safety scares, we have quite a list. And there’s a lesson in each of these 10 mistakes that you can learn from, whether you’re a corporate executive, a business owner, a public figure or just someone who wants to be deliberate in the way you present yourself.People pay attention and people are quick to point out when you make mistakes in your communications and PR. When you make mistakes, people lose faith in you and your organization. Take the time to learn how to win in communications in 2019.*SPOILER ALERT* ...Mentioned in this Episode: Hawaii erroneous missile alertAir Force ‘Yanny’ or ‘Laurel’ tweetRed Hen Controversy and Sarah Huckabee Sanders’s responseMegyn Kelly’s racist remarksRob Porter abuse allegationsMelania’s “I really don’t care” Papa John’s N-word scandalMen of #MeToo - Les Moonves and Louis CKWant 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/...

With the year coming to an end, this week's episode delves into ten communication wins of the year by the people, politicians, brands, and beer drinkers who made headlines and then made hay from an earlier challenge they faced at some point in 2018.The stories on the list range from publicity stunts to political maneuvers that captured the public's attention over the past year. From #10 to #1, you will hear what made the story memorable and what was the communication strategy behind it landing it on the list.  This episode is the first in a two-part series of Top Communications for 2018. Next week I'll explore the top communication fails of the year.Want to make sure you are prepared to have only communication wins in 2019? Sign up for my free download, "The Top 5 Rookie Mistakes Seasoned Business Leaders Make." Mentioned in this Episode:"KFC apologises for chicken shortage with witty 'FCK, we're sorry' advert" (Evening Standard, February 23, 2018)Kavanaugh Hearing Cold Open - SNL  (Published on Sep 29, 2018)Kavanaugh, Klobuchar tangle over drinking habits during Senate testimony  (Published on Sep 27, 2018) Are you subscribed to my podcast yet? If not, I encourage you to do so today. Let's make 2019 the year for communicating your confident self. Now, if you’re in the mood for sharing, I would be grateful if you left me a review on Apple Podcasts. These reviews help other people find my podcast, and then that means we'll all be a bunch of confident speakers in 2019. Just click  here to review, select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review.” Thank you!  © Molly McPherson 2018Want 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 the country mourned the passing of President George Herbert Walker Bush, former presidents, congressional leaders and figures from across the political spectrum gathered for his funeral at Washington National Cathedral.While millions of people watched the service to honor Bush as a member of Congress, an ambassador to the United Nations, the director of the CIA, and the vice president and president of the United States, they were also watching the dynamics of the current and former presidents and their wives situated in the front pew.Did Hillary Clinton snub President Trump? Or was it the other way around? Did the Clintons ignore the former President Jimmy Carter and his wife, Rosalynn? Or was that fake news?In this episode, I respectfully analyze the body language and social cues happening in that front pew as they attended the state funeral. I also take a moment to appreciate the fitting tributes paid to our 41st president by his son and the agency that served him.Mentioned in this Episode:George W. Bush cries delivering the eulogy for his father, George H. W. Bush (Full Eulogy)George W. Bush Ground Zero Bullhorn Speech 9-14-01 (Source: 911archives.webs.com) © Molly McPherson 2018Want 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/...

“Most people do not listen with the intent to understand; they listen with the intent to reply.” - Stephen R. Covey.Are you really listening? One of the most valuable tools for communication is the ability to listen and understand what someone is saying and feeling. Whether we are solving issues at home or tackling tasks in the workplace, effectively listening can help us reach our goals sooner.In this episode, I explore some great tips for improving your listening skills, as well as some personal ways these very tips have helped me.In this episode, you’ll learn:How to connect by showing genuine interest.How to ‘rewire’ yourself to listen and suppress your predispositions.How to achieve better results with targeted responses. Mentioned in this Episode:Just Listen: Discover the Secret to Getting Through to Absolutely AnyoneWant 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/...

With our daily communications frequently moving to the online world, we have forgotten some of the nuances of face to face interaction. Improving our conversation skills, both as a speaker and a listener, allows us to sharpen our message and get a better understanding from those we communicate with.This episode features a recent NY Times article about NPR's Terry Gross and the art of a good conversation. In this episode, you’ll learn:The only icebreaker you'll ever need.How to prepare for a great conversation.When to pivot, when to dodge and when to push back.Mentioned in this Episode:Terry Gross on The Tonight Show with Jimmy FallonKerr, Jolie “How to Talk to People, According to Terry Gross. The NPR host offers eight spicy tips for having better conversations.” New York Times, November 18, 2018. Print.  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/...

Interviews don’t have to be stressful. Chances are you’ve been in many job interviews over the course of your career, and maybe even interviewed some candidates for your organization. Ellen Mahoney, chief human resources officer of Harvard Business School, has more than 30 years of experience interviewing applicants from a wide background, and she’s seen it all.Ellen dives into interview secrets from the interviewer’s perspective so you can nail your next interview--whether you’re looking for a corporate job, trying to land a freelance gig or even interviewing candidates for an opening you have. This episode runs the gamut.In this episode, you’ll learn:How the interview process has changed over the last century (or has it?)How to explain gaps in your employment historyWhether to divulge you lack technology skillsHow to answer questions about being let goWhat your appearance has to do with your competencyWhat you need to do to walk away knowing you’ve aced the interview Mentioned in this episode:The Confidence Gap About EllenEllen is the chief human resources officer of Harvard Business School and the executive director of HBS Initiatives. She is responsible for managing HBS’s human resources functions for the more than 1200 administrative staff who support the school’s mission.  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/...

If you want to project confidence and competence, you need to eliminate filler words from your vocabulary. Filler words. They’re a pesky tic that everyone uses. But if overused, filler words can undermine the potential for your success. We use them to take up space in a conversation, give us time to think up a response or simply because it’s a habit we’re not even aware of.In this episode, I’m sharing the different types of filler words and how you can (and should) eliminate them from your vocabulary. It’s become an epidemic and the types of filler words you use can be a dead giveaway for your age and your confidence.In this episode, you’ll learn:My own least favorite filler word(s) and how it’s changed over timeThe four types of filler wordsThe one filler that all women seem to use and why we need to stopTools you can use to get rid of the filler wordsThe connection between filler words are similar to a profanity Mentioned in this Episode:Valley GirlKeeping Up with the Kardashians About MollyMolly McPherson, M.S., APR, combines her knowledge of current communication practices with years of news and PR experience to help people become modern-age communicators in their industry and help build crisis-proof businesses. From her work with the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the cruise line industry in Washington, D.C, Molly develops the right plans and messaging for clients to protect and build their reputations. Molly founded Confident Communications executive learning program and frequently speaks on crisis communications, public relations and social media.Listen + subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Stitcher or wherever you listen to your podcasts.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/...

No matter your age or professional level, you need a guide to communication so you can be seen, heard and relevant. Today’s episode gives you the “tells.”Do you know that you can tell how old someone is just by how they communicate? It’s true, and many marketers and other professionals are savvy at using this information to determine whether you’re a good fit for a product or even a job.In this first episode of the podcast, I’m sharing my background in communication and how I used my status as a Gen-Xer and communications professional to understand both sides of the technology spectrum. And I’m also sharing my faux pas in my very first email address as a non-digital native. Here’s a hint: My maiden name is Baker. Molly Baker. (If this doesn’t resonate with you, I can tell you’re likely a Baby Boomer.)In this episode, you’ll learn:The 3 “tells” in your communication styleHow you can tell the age of others simply by how they communicateThe one question I ask every audience, so I can adjust my messaging accordinglyWhat the fastest growing language of our time isThe magic number for social media platforms in your organizationAnd most importantly, you’ll learn why this all matters. Because it does matter if you want to be a good communicator and remain relevant online and offline.About MollyMolly McPherson, M.S., APR, combines her knowledge of current communication practices with years of news and PR experience to help people become modern-age communicators in their industry and help build crisis-proof businesses. From her work with the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the cruise line industry in Washington, D.C, Molly develops the right plans and messaging for clients to protect and build their reputations. Molly founded Confident Communications executive learning program and frequently speaks on crisis communications, public relations and social media.Listen + subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Stitcher or wherever you listen to your podcasts.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/...