Services Archives - Nolu C. NTONGA

External Affairs: Engaging Your Stakeholders and Partners

nolucn — Sun, 07 Oct 2012 23:15:08 +0000

Getting everyone to the table is hard enough, getting them to play their role in helping you put the pieces of your program together is another critically important challenge. Healthy relationships with your stakeholders and partners create additional opportunities for your organization to reach its goals. Like any relationship, it takes time to develop and sustain engagement for the long term amid the ever-evolving terrain between your organization and those who are potentially impacted by your work. Good external affairs and stakeholder relations are sure to save you headaches down the road and deliver better outcomes, regardless of if your stakeholders and partners encompass private sector business, non-profits/NGOs/FBOs/CBOs, government officials or more broadly, the public.

History proves that it is usually best to develop relations with your stakeholders earlier rather than later, especially if there is even a whiff of controversy. If you haven’t worked out the details–all the better–because you can honestly tell your stakeholders that you don’t have all the answers and sincerely desire their input. When you get people on board early in the game, it is so much easier to have their support to avoid problems in the first place, and find resolutions when problems do arise.

At my core I’m a real “people person” with the talent of engaging people because I’m truly interested in them. This makes it easier for people to connect with me. I seek to understand their point of view, even if it is not my own. In addition, the experience of living for years in different cultures gives me a deep understanding of cultural norms–why it is actually important to know, for instance, when it is best to wear a dress, and when only pants will do. My professional demeanor is always appreciated by stakeholders. I remain in good spirits, even when faced with unanticipated logistical difficulties well beyond my control–-a prized asset among often impatient U.S. and European colleagues.

Knowing how to listen deeply, seeking to understand others, and developing win/win scenarios is certainly my core competency when it comes to external affairs and stakeholder engagement.

As a trained professional with a Master’s Degree in Journalism, I have more than 10 years of experience designing, implementing, leading and advising senior leaders in governments and nonprofit organizations about effective communications strategies that help deliver results in international development. To learn more about my experience including online products, outreach, media relations, stakeholder engagement, crisis communications, and media training, read my bio, check out my portfolio or contact me today.

To greater success,
Nolu

The post External Affairs: Engaging Your Stakeholders and Partners appeared first on Nolu C. NTONGA.

Crisis Communications: Planning to Weather the Storm

nolucn — Sat, 06 Oct 2012 23:14:22 +0000

Crises are a fact of life, despite our best efforts. You can usually tell that a storm is coming if you know how to read the sky when events turn dark and sometimes scary. Your organization can find itself tossed to and fro like waves crashing against a sea wall. Those waves can be quite destructive. Sort of like when the puzzle falls off the table and all the pieces scatter on the floor. Has all your work been destroyed? What to do? Well the best plan is to PLAN and always prepare for the worse. Do your research and come up with a worse case scenario. Identify the crisis management team in advance. Consider the best way to use social media to quickly establish your message and control rumors.

How do you protect your people if there is a physical threat of danger? Do a complete run-through to practice the plan like a fire drill, including on-camera interviews with senior leaders. Does everyone on your team know the process? Ask the hard and uncomfortable questions BEFORE you really need to.

In my experience I have both planned and implemented crisis communications plans, helping to craft messages, knowing when “we’ll get back to you ASAP” is the right answer, and ALWAYS ensuring safety comes first.

As a trained professional with a Master’s Degree in Journalism, I have more than 10 years of experience designing, implementing, leading and advising senior leaders in governments and nonprofit organizations about effective communications strategies that help deliver results in international development. To learn more about my experience including online products, outreach, media relations, stakeholder engagement, crisis communications, and media training, read my bio, check out my portfolio or contact me today.

To greater success,
Nolu

The post Crisis Communications: Planning to Weather the Storm appeared first on Nolu C. NTONGA.

Media Relations: Get Your Message Read and Not DOA (Deleted on Arrival)

nolucn — Thu, 04 Oct 2012 23:12:56 +0000

The media relations picture is more complex than ever and constantly evolving. Gone are the days when the organization could send out a news release and expect reporters to respond with coverage on radio, television and in the paper or magazine–even when there was real news. Old School says the media is fractured–broken. New School knows the media has mutated–changed into another creature altogether and therein lies tremendous opportunity if this piece is handled properly to fit into the total picture.

It is still essential to get your message out to the media to inform the public. But as noted “traditional” media is no longer traditional, with reporters in long-established media outlets now doing everything–shooting video, recording podcasts, writing and constantly updating blogs. To maximize positive earned coverage you must know how the reporter works and what they want. Personal relationships can often make the difference in whether your release gets read or deleted.

I have personal relationships in the media in Washington, DC and around the world. I also have personal relationships on Capitol Hill, in the Administration, in nonprofits and in the private sector. As a result, I seek to know and understand a given journalist’s needs and interests. I avoid sending blanket emails and attempt to tailor the pitch. Reporters tell me that this is greatly appreciated. As a result when they see my name attached to an email, they are much more likely to click open rather than delete.

I constantly nurture my relationships, not just to get things done, but because I am essentially a people-person at heart who believes in a win-win approach to life.

The post Media Relations: Get Your Message Read and Not DOA (Deleted on Arrival) appeared first on Nolu C. NTONGA.

Media Training: How to Control Your Message

nolucn — Wed, 03 Oct 2012 23:11:57 +0000

What sets the professional apart from the amateur can be summarized in one word: training. While it is not brain surgery, complex operations are indeed involved, thus training is another piece of the overall communications strategy which must be in place.

Whoever is to be the face and voice of the organization must know how to effectively communicate, especially orally and visually. And as shallow as it may sound, how you look is extremely important to how your message is received by your target audiences. Not just the clothes you wear, but your facial expressions and body language all communicate something about you and your organization.

Speaking calmly, clearly and effectively in all situations is a valuable skill which can be learned with targeted and hands-on training, including practice interviews on camera. Developing quotable quotes is another part of media training which can lead to you and your organization being the “go to” source for reporters.

Over a period of more than 10 years, I have trained 2,000 plus participants in effective communications. Participants included leaders in NGOs, nonprofits, governments, faith-based organizations and the media, in more than a dozen African countries as well as in Washington, DC.

In addition, I am a former adjunct professor of journalism at Howard University and Trinity University, so I understand the importance of training and education principles.

As a trained professional with a Master’s Degree in Journalism, I have more than 10 years of experience designing, implementing, leading and advising senior leaders in governments and nonprofit organizations about effective communications strategies that help deliver results in international development. To learn more about my experience including online products, outreach, media relations, stakeholder engagement, crisis communications, and media training, read my bio, check out my portfolio or contact me today.

To greater success,
Nolu

The post Media Training: How to Control Your Message appeared first on Nolu C. NTONGA.