The impact of what we do
4th May 2007 by Michael Zimet
In his most recent post in the IABC Cafe, Gerard Braud makes a profound statement:
As communicators, we have the ability to save lives.
Although he’s speaking in the context of crisis communications, I think we can apply that statement more broadly.
You see, I’ve long felt that we have the ability to affect people’s lives. It could be by improving communication in the workplace and making people’s jobs more productive and enjoyable. It could be by doing a better job disseminating information that’s of genuine value — on or off the job. It could be by helping others learn to communicate more effectively. It could be by lending our skills to projects and causes, outside of our jobs, that could help make the world a better place.
If you’re wondering what this has to do with Advocacy, I’ll answer your question with a question of my own — no, make that two questions:
Is this is what being a communicator is all about?
What do you think we should do, as part of our Advocacy initiative, to promote ourselves and our profession?
May 7th, 2007 at 8:12 am
It’s one thing to say we can affect people’s lives. It’s another thing to prove it.
Only with research and validation of HOW our work has affected audiences can we begin to better describe and defend what we do.
Wilma
May 9th, 2007 at 7:57 am
Wilma offers an important way to prove how communications and communicators can save lives. Another way exists: Do something.
The people who will be swinging hammers, carrying drywall and painting walls next month for the Habitat for Humanity project prior to the IABC International Conference in New Orleans will be doing something. Anyone who raises the issues of, for example, hunger, slavery and the homeless is saving lives.
Sometimes it means actually intervening to prevent someone from dying or being killed. Sometimes it means giving hope to someone who would otherwise have died of a broken heart.
Sometimes these efforts can be measured, as Wilma suggests. Sometimes they don’t need to be measured, because the deed is enough.
May 16th, 2007 at 11:46 am
Tom,
I agree that by doing something we can help save lives.
To me, the difference is in giving a man a fish to feed him for a day and teaching a man to fish so that he may feed himself for life.
As communicators, we can use our abilities and outlets to inform and educated the un-enlightened who continue to think that solving our world-wide social problems is something the anonymous and ubiquitous “they” should take care of.
Wilma
May 18th, 2007 at 10:15 pm
Wilma,
I very much like your thoughts here on using communication to “teach people to fish” rather than to have them continue to expect others to do their fishing for them.
There’s an interesting extension of that concept–to take major world issues, like world hunger, climate change, housing shortages, or even insufficient organizational performance–and reframe them as communication problems that can be addressed by moving information to people in a way that empowers them to lead, follow, or get out of the way.
As for measurement–it’s important, but it’s more useful in convincing others of the value of what we do than in informing us about how to operate. An over-reliance on measured and proven approaches can stifle creativity–and leave us fighting the previous war instead of specifically meeting the next challenge.
All the best,
Mike
May 24th, 2007 at 10:38 am
Wilma and Mike,
Great comments! Time to stop talking and start brainstorming. I’ve asked members of the MyRagan site for their thoughts, as well. The important thing is to start.
Tom
May 27th, 2007 at 6:16 pm
Here’s an area where IABC could add some real value–how about a “CommsCorps”–a crew of experienced communicators who could be sent for a week or a month into an organization or community that is in need of support in obtaining needed resources or in managing the effective deployment of those resources…
While local chapters often adopt local charities, CommsCorps could go further by sending in pros to take control of a crisis situation, or by “training up” local resources to become more effective after the intervention. Funding could combine sponsor, participant, and, potentially even support from the target organization itself. Participants get great case study material, and it becomes a branded, distinctive and international part of what IABC is to be known for as the comms world evolves.
Justathought,
Mike Klein