Beloit College has just published its annual Mindset List for the Class of 2013. It provides a look at the "cultural touchstones of students as they enter college." In other words, it's a list that makes the average adult feel 100 years old.
Did you know that today's college freshmen think the Green Giant is Shreck, "not the big guy picking vegetables." Dr. Seuss died before they were born. Salsa has always outsold ketchup. Tattoos have always been very chic. And Magic Johnson has always been HIV-positive. Jeez. That really hurts. I remember being on a business trip in LA when Magic made his announcement.
And on and on. The list brings home the issue of context that has application far beyond the amusing reading of 75 interesting, odd and you-have-to-be-kidding facts that define the mindset of nineteen year-olds. Whether its messaging, branding or long-term strategic planning, we all know if the audience doesn't understand the setting then the relevance of the subject matter will be lost or misunderstood. And the Beloit List really makes that point. Here's the list if your interested. http://www.beloit.edu/mindset/2013.php
Wednesday, August 19, 2009
Thursday, August 13, 2009
Winning with Awards -- Award Season 2010
The award season has started in full-force again. For some agencies it's practically an assembly line operation and for other organizations a glorious one-time victory.
No doubt there are different reasons to enter award competitions, with agency marketing topping the list of the annual winners, if their web sites are any indication, and a simple desire for internal recognition of great work by the occasional champ.
But it doesn't seem many organizations actively use the award process to actually create better work. Silver Anvils is one competition that makes an effort "after the fact." Its scoring procedure and judging process helps entrants -- if they ask -- understand how the judges felt their programs rated in different sections compared to the winners. And some agencies that develop a lot of programs hold internal competitions to choose the ones they will eventually enter. Having judged many of those contests, however, there isn't a lot of teaching that goes on about the program elements themselves.
So why not? Probably because we don't organizationally connect training and development to industry award entries. For instance, have you ever seen an Account Supervisor level development session focusing on the four critical elements of program research as explained in the Silver Anvil judges briefing book? Or has the training department used winning awards as part of the curricula for entry level employees? Both are ready-made and can mean better programs and better awards.
The award programs themselves could serve the industry and themselves by developing training around their approach to awards. A robust training package attached to an award program would serve as a revenue stream and as a major differentiator and provide a winning leadership position for the organization that moves aggressively.
No doubt there are different reasons to enter award competitions, with agency marketing topping the list of the annual winners, if their web sites are any indication, and a simple desire for internal recognition of great work by the occasional champ.
But it doesn't seem many organizations actively use the award process to actually create better work. Silver Anvils is one competition that makes an effort "after the fact." Its scoring procedure and judging process helps entrants -- if they ask -- understand how the judges felt their programs rated in different sections compared to the winners. And some agencies that develop a lot of programs hold internal competitions to choose the ones they will eventually enter. Having judged many of those contests, however, there isn't a lot of teaching that goes on about the program elements themselves.
So why not? Probably because we don't organizationally connect training and development to industry award entries. For instance, have you ever seen an Account Supervisor level development session focusing on the four critical elements of program research as explained in the Silver Anvil judges briefing book? Or has the training department used winning awards as part of the curricula for entry level employees? Both are ready-made and can mean better programs and better awards.
The award programs themselves could serve the industry and themselves by developing training around their approach to awards. A robust training package attached to an award program would serve as a revenue stream and as a major differentiator and provide a winning leadership position for the organization that moves aggressively.
Friday, August 7, 2009
Did anyone else see the irony in Senator Chris Dodd's statement at his press conference about his prostate cancer.
Dodd, as you know, is leading the Senate charge for health care reform. He announced that because it was early stage that made it very curable. Dodd added he was lucky that Congress has such good health care. After consulting with several well-known doctors, he decided on surgery and then went on to tell us his schedule.
The irony comes when 1) Dodd choose to boast about having the type of rich-benefit plan that Congress is talking about taxing for everyone else; and 2) that under most of the plans (not Congress') being considered, experts would determine "best practices" for treatment; "careful watching" and not surgery for an older man such as Dodd -- he's 65 -- is the frequently preferred treatment.
Being so tone-deaf would get you fired in the public relations business. It will be interesting if it helps make him a loser in the next Senatorial election.
Dodd, as you know, is leading the Senate charge for health care reform. He announced that because it was early stage that made it very curable. Dodd added he was lucky that Congress has such good health care. After consulting with several well-known doctors, he decided on surgery and then went on to tell us his schedule.
The irony comes when 1) Dodd choose to boast about having the type of rich-benefit plan that Congress is talking about taxing for everyone else; and 2) that under most of the plans (not Congress') being considered, experts would determine "best practices" for treatment; "careful watching" and not surgery for an older man such as Dodd -- he's 65 -- is the frequently preferred treatment.
Being so tone-deaf would get you fired in the public relations business. It will be interesting if it helps make him a loser in the next Senatorial election.
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