Resource Hub for Strategic Communication Professionals
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Calm in a Crisis: You Set the Tone
When an organizational crisis hits, tensions run high. You may be feeling stressed and overwhelmed yourself. But here's the most important thing to remember: As the communicator, your job is to set the tone.
Look at Your Leader’s LinkedIn
Whether they realize it or not, your organization's leader, and ultimately the entire leadership team, acts as an extension of the organization itself. For some companies and nonprofits, the CEO (or executive director, president, or whatever title they hold) is inextricably linked to the brand. Whether they have a big personality or operate behind the scenes, they're highly visible, influential in shaping perceptions, and serve as a public face for the organization.
As a strategic communicator, your job is to identify the channels you can influence and optimize. Your website and organizational social media accounts are obvious places to start, but there's one area that's often overlooked: your leader's personal social media presence.
Meet the Messenger: Dr. Gail F. Baker, Former SVP & Provost, University of San Diego
We’re excited to feature Gail F. Baker, former senior vice president and provost at the University of San Diego. A respected communications leader, educator, and scholar, Dr. Baker has built a career that spans higher education leadership, journalism, public relations, and academia. During her time at USD, she served as the university’s chief academic officer, working closely with academic leadership to guide strategy and institutional priorities. Before joining USD in 2017, she was the founding dean of the College of Communication, Fine Arts and Media at the University of Nebraska Omaha and held additional leadership roles at universities across the country.
Dr. Baker’s career reflects a deep commitment to communication, leadership, and storytelling. Before transitioning into higher education administration, she worked in journalism and corporate communications, including positions with IBM and International Harvester, and as a reporter and editor for the Chicago Daily Defender Newspaper. An accomplished author and educator, she has written books, articles, and book chapters and has earned recognition for both her teaching and documentary writing, including multiple Emmy Awards for Excellence in Documentary Writing and Producing. We spoke with her about the experiences that shaped her leadership style, the evolving role of communication in higher education, and the lessons she’s carried across journalism, academia, and executive leadership.
L.T.A.A. (Let’s Talk About Acronyms)
Let’s talk about a common writing issue: acronyms.
In the communications world, they can save you some serious keystrokes, but they also give some important unspoken signals about who the writing is for.
So when should you use them, and when should you hold back? Just like an acronym, here’s some short guidance.
Do You Have a Defined Brand Voice?
You know when you hear an ad and can immediately tell who it’s from based on the language, tone, and music?
Or when you come across a social post that’s captivating less because of what it’s saying and more because of how it’s said and how it makes you feel?
Brands that have this figured out are clear on what their brand voice is.
The Power of “No, But…” in Communications Teams
How do you maintain a partnership mindset when your team is stretched thin?
One simple philosophy:
“No, but…”
Those two words, paired with clear processes and thoughtful alternatives, create flexibility. They allow communications teams to protect priorities and brand standards while still being helpful and collaborative.
Here’s what a “No, but…” philosophy can look like in practice.
How Does Your Customer Experience Every Touchpoint?
We often think of communications as messaging: campaigns, content, media. But the truth is that communication encompasses your customer’s entire experience and every touchpoint they have with you.
Even when those touchpoints don’t sit within your job description or the communications department, they shape perception. Which means they’re your business.
If you want to close the gap between what you say and what people experience, here are a few areas to look at.
Meet the Messenger: Robert Fogarty, Founder of Dear World
Fifteen years ago, in the wake of Hurricane Katrina, Robert Fogarty started asking people in New Orleans who were rebuilding their lives to write a message. In one sentence, they wrote their stories on their bodies, which Robert then photographed.
Over the years, he has continued his project: Dear World. Robert gives people around the globe a mechanism and the permission to express themselves and share their most powerful and vulnerable moments.
Now, he also takes his project to the stage, creating an interactive experience that brings people together, builds trust, and fosters belonging.
An incredible storyteller, we were honored to get his perspective for The EO Report.
The Case for a Writing Style Guide
A writing style guide brings clarity and consistency to how your organization communicates. It defines tone, standardizes language, and eliminates the small (but frequent) decisions that slow teams down and dilute your message.
Equipping Your Team to Tell Your Story
As communicators, we love stories. It’s in our bones. We’re wired to share information that shifts perspectives, sparks ideas, and helps people see the world a little differently.
But in our drive to reach new audiences, we often overlook one of the most important ones: our internal audience. Our team.
These are the people who should be the most informed in order to effectively champion the organization. But often, they’re operating with different versions of the same story or incomplete information.
Meet the Messenger: Ericka Miller, President & CEO of Isaacson, Miller
We’re excited to feature Ericka Miller, President and CEO of Isaacson, Miller, a leading national executive search firm. A strategic leader with deep roots in education, nonprofit leadership, and public service, Ericka brings a wide-ranging perspective shaped by roles across government, academia, and consulting. We spoke with her about the early debate-driven roots of her communication style, how she leads with clarity and purpose, and the lessons she’s learned that continue to shape her decisions and impact.
What My Toddler Taught Me About Language
Last weekend, we took our two-year-old out to dinner. If you’re a parent, you know all too well that taking a toddler to a new restaurant is always a gamble, and this was no exception. Here’s what we learned about language over a battle surrounding cheese pizza.
Use What You’ve Got
The other day, I received a new skincare product in the mail. It all felt standard until I opened the box.
The product box had a pull tab. As I followed it, the packaging unfolded (literally), revealing additional brand messaging tucked inside. What’s typically blank space became part of the experience.
It was unexpected, and, frankly, a fun experience. A boring, standard product box became a storytelling piece. It gave me a deeper understanding of the brand than I would have gotten otherwise. And it did it using space they already had.
100 15-Minute Communications Wins (With Free Download)
This week, as we wrap up our spring cleaning series, we’re focusing on something manageable:
15-minute fixes.
Here’s a list of 100 wins you can quickly score for your communications work, complete with a free downloadable checklist.
Meet the Messenger: Karisa Malchow
Karisa Malchow is the Vice President, Marketing of LOVB Nebraska.
Volleyball is one of the fastest-growing sports in the country, and League One Volleyball (LOVB, pronounced “love”), now in its second professional season, is helping lead that momentum.
Growth at this level doesn’t happen by accident. It requires thoughtful strategy and strong communications leadership. Karisa is at the center of those efforts, shaping how LOVB Nebraska connects with athletes, fans, and communities. We spoke with her about her experience in the communications industry and what she sees on the horizon for professionals in our field.
Clean Data, Clear Strategy: Spring Cleaning Your CRM
Whether you use Salesforce, HubSpot, Mailchimp, or another platform, where and how you store your data matters.
Your CRM is one of your most valuable organizational assets. These are the people who have given you a direct line to them. Whether through direct mail, phone, or email, they’ve said they want to hear from you. They are likely your strongest champions and supporters. You owe it to them to steward their information carefully.
Spring is the perfect time to audit your system.
Spring Cleaning: Dust Off Your Bio
We’re rolling up our sleeves and gearing up for spring by doing a little communications spring cleaning over the next several weeks. Another communications asset that’s likely gathering cobwebs? Your bio, along with the bios of your leadership team. Spring is the perfect time to refresh them.
Spring Cleaning Your Website
Last week, Nebraska, where The EO Report is headquartered, had some spring-like temperatures that had us jumping into spring cleaning mode. Admittedly, it was a little premature given the next day brought six inches of snow.
But that temporary sunshine did get us thinking about one spring cleaning area communicators often neglect until it becomes unwieldy and feels impossible to catch up with.
Your website.
Bauer’s Brand Protection Backfire
Recently, TikTok user @pavvythegoalie, a small creator who posts hockey gear reviews, shared a largely positive video reviewing hockey gear brand Bauer’s newest catalog. She has posted several complimentary videos about the brand before. She wasn’t a mega-influencer. She wasn’t angling for sponsorships. She just likes hockey gear.
So when the Bauer social media team reached out asking for her email to discuss a possible collaboration, she was understandably excited.
But when the highly anticipated email came through, she was instead rocked. Instead of a collaboration invitation, she received a cease-and-desist letter demanding she take down the video.
Communications Burnout Is Real. Here Are a Few Ways to Relieve the Pressure
Some EO Report articles we write for you. Some we write as a reminder to us. Communications is a hard field. We operate in a 24/7 news cycle. Our work is publicly broadcast, along with all of the typos and missteps that others get to make more privately. And in many ways, we are the keepers of our organization’s reputation.
That’s a lot of pressure. Here are a few small steps to alleviate that burden.