How Will Your Team Decide If You’re a Good Leader?

It's time for a three-peat appearance by Ron Thomas since he appeared here on my Blog in 2011 and 2015. Ron's specialties are human resources and leadership, and his international experiences are both eye-opening and inspirational. Ron and I met on Twitter in 2011 when social media was still relatively new. We spoke by phone when he was based in New York, and he soon moved to the Middle East to work for a company that recruited him via social media. I’m thrilled to welcome Ron back to my Blog. Highlights of our discussion follow his bio below.

Ron Thomas is the Managing Director of Strategy Focused Group, an international consulting firm based in Dubai and Singapore. He was the former CEO of Great Place to Work-Gulf and CHRO of Al Raha Group, based in Riyadh. Previously, he worked in senior level roles for IBM, Martha Stewart Living, and Xerox HR Services (HR Consulting) in the United States. He is a visiting Executive Faculty member at the Global Human Resources Leadership Institute at Howard University School of Business in Washington, D.C., and an Adjunct Facilitator at American University in the Emirates, Dubai. Ron was named as one of the 50 Most Talented Global HR Leaders in Asia, and his work has been featured in The Wall St. Journal, Inc. Magazine, and numerous international HR magazines covering Africa, India, and the Middle East. Ron is a sought-after speaker throughout the Middle East, Africa, and Asia Pacific Region and USA. Connect and follow on Twitter @ronald_thomas.

QUESTION: From your experiences since March, how has the Covid-19 pandemic impacted the employee experience in Dubai?

RON THOMAS:
Like the world over, it has had a tremendous effect. Since my work covers the Middle East, Africa, as well as Asia, the impact has been jarring. Inadequate workspace in the home, slow internet speed, entire families home with parents working, and children being schooled all in one space. However, on the flip side, commuting time has been drastically cut, and there is the possibility of more work-life balance.  

Organizations should begin developing managers for the new WFH/WFA dynamic (work from home/work from anywhere). Virtual management skills are different from in-person. Zoom burnout is much talked about as being the default method of communications. I have tried and successfully shifted back to personal calls as needed and have advised my clients to do the same as needed. The default communication should NOT be Zoom.

QUESTION: You appeared here on my Blog in a Q&A back in 2011. With that in mind, I'd like to circle back to a question I asked you then to see if your perspective has changed: What are the five most important qualities of a good leader?

RON THOMAS:
One thing that Covid has showed a lot of leaders is that leading in a crisis is a lot different than leading in a normal environment. I have heard from numerous leaders that it has exposed the lack of skills needed in managing in ambiguity, decision-making, etc. While on the other hand, some leaders and “non-leaders” have stepped up to fill the void. The past few months have shown the cracks in the armour of leadership that will have to be addressed while It’s hot.   

That being said, my five qualities of Covid Leadership are:
(1) Empathy
As workers return to the workplace, leaders will become counsellor-in-chief in many ways, whether they like it or not. Indeed, this tragedy has touched so many in such profound ways that many workers will be essentially working while grieving. Empathy must be authentic, which means that a lot of managers are not equipped for that role. Developing them is key.

(2) Candor
Be honest. If you led with honesty pre-Covid, you will be fine as long as you stay the course. While honesty has always been an important leadership trait, this moment requires another level of honesty – candor. Arguably, the best antidote for a workplace climate of anxiety and cynicism is being honest and open. People respond so much better to the known, than the unknown. Managers should be open, and their people should feel this as truth being spoken. “We are all in this together” is the mantra for Dubai citizens.

(3) Communication
Communicate, communicate, and communicate some more. “Information is the oil that greases an organization and keeps it running smoothly,” Klann says. “This is especially true during a crisis.”
Repeating and reinforcing information on a daily basis and via multiple delivery methods helps it to sink in and be retained.

“Remember, when information regarding what is happening is scarce or non-existent, people revert to gossip and rumours.” I learned this when I was VP of HR at Martha Stewart Living, when she was convicted. An employee told me one time “I spend 8 hours a day at this office and nobody is addressing this issue and what it means for employees. I have to go home and watch the news to get information as to what is happening although I just left there.”

(4) Listening – Be an Active Listener!
Don’t focus only on the words that your employee is using; nonverbal cues can convey essential information if one knows how to read them. Look out for changes in intonation, volume, pace, and flow – and keep an eye on facial expressions and body language. All of these can be quite informative and reveal a lot. Think of it this way: if you have kids or you are married, you can sense when something is wrong by the responses. STAY WOKE.

(5) Collaboration
Bring your team closer in your decision-making. Ask their advice, seek out their opinion more. Create an environment where they feel trust.

TWEET THIS: The five most important qualities of a good leader are empathy, candor, communication, listening, and collaboration. –@ronald_thomas #COVID19 #leadership

QUESTION: You also appeared on my Blog in 2015. I'd like to circle back to a question I asked you then to see if your perspective has changed: We agree that, for all new employees to be successful, an effective onboarding strategy must be implemented. What are your three must-have tips to all businesses when it comes to creating effective onboarding strategies?

RON THOMAS:
Imagine getting invited to someone’s house and when you turn up, it is a lukewarm welcome, you feel like they are looking at their watch until you leave. That was my experience at a former company. It was the worst experience ever, and I said then that if I had the opportunity to run this program, I would fix it. When the opportunity did come, we built an award-winning Onboarding program that was profiled in “Creative Onboarding Programs” book.

Three Must-Haves:
(1) Make them feel welcome and correct that they chose the right company.
(2) Check-in at the end of the first week and every month thereafter. At the end of the quarter, bring back a cross section of the new hires. Mission is to find out how are things and how could they be better. Those check-ins should last one year.
(3) Think of them as new customers and not new employees. This will alter your thinking and re-frame the conversation.

QUESTION: You wrote a recent post entitled, “You’ll be a better leader and manager if you don’t believe the hype.” Can you please elaborate?

RON THOMAS:
“I know that I am a great manager.” When I hear that phrase, I am looking at possibly a candidate for the worst manager. Your team will brand you as a great manager, it is not self-anointing. Leadership branding is earned over a period of time. It is a journey NOT a one-time event. My test is to go back to previous jobs and count the number of people that you still keep in touch with. How many of them reach out to you to keep you abreast of their career or to seek career advice? How many of them still count on you as their coach?

TWEET THIS: Your team will brand you as a great manager, it is not self-anointing. –@ronald_thomas #LeadershipTips #EmployeeExperience

QUESTION: You included a business tip in a recent blog post: “My rule is that if the email goes back and forth twice, I get up, walk over or pick up the phone to get the issue resolved.” Of course, that was pre-Covid, but once we are in the post-Covid world, it will become relevant again. Can you please elaborate?

RON THOMAS:
Since the phone was invented, it was the go-to tool to keep in touch. Covid has driven everyone to video calls, but if you are like me, the visual portions add an extra layer of stress. I have found that just picking up the phone is better for clarification or just to check in. Because every call should not be just about business. Remember how we react when we notice certain calls pop up. Do we eagerly pick up or do you, like me, respond by saying “Not now, I will deal with it later.” Create the relationship so that you are in the former category.

My extreme gratitude to Ron for sharing his leadership insights from across the miles.

Image Credit: Gratitude to Josh Winters of The Brooks Group (@TheBrooksGroup on Twitter).

Blog post referenced in #4:
http://www.strategyfocusedhr.com/youll-better-leader-manager-dont-believe-hype/
 
Blog post referenced in #5:
https://www.hrzone.com/community/blogs/ronald-thomas/when-it-comes-to-good-management
 
Blog post Q&A in 2015:
https://debbielaskey.blogspot.com/2015/02/lead-and-then-get-out-of-way.html
 
Blog post Q&A in 2011:
https://debbielaskey.blogspot.com/2011/04/tactics-for-welcoming-new-employees.html

Lastly, if you are interested in taking a job in a foreign country, read Ron’s tips on the TLNT website:
https://www.tlnt.com/what-i-learned-from-my-life-as-an-expat-hr-leader-in-saudi-arabia/

Top 10 Marketing Highlights of 2020

With 2020 now history, it's time for my annual “Top 10” marketing highlights post – incredible that this is my 11th post featuring annual marketing highlights.

What do you remember from the 2020 marketing reel? What stood out as marketing innovation, and what will go down in history that was as memorable as Apple’s 1984 Super Bowl ad? Without further ado, let’s get to it! 

With a nod and thank you to David Letterman for the format, here's my list:

NUMBER 10:
When it comes to signage, everyone knows about the “Welcome to Fabulous Las Vegas” sign from 1959 that greets visitors at the south end of Las Vegas Boulevard. But during 2020, a new downtown landmark appeared, the Gateway Arches. The 80-foot-high twin interlocking steel arches dangle a seven-ton, pink, retro-style City of Las Vegas emblem framed by more than 13,000 LED lights.

NUMBER 9:
Numerous brands changed their names in an effort to show their sensitivity to diversity, equality, racial injustice, and inclusion following the death of George Floyd and the #BlackLivesMatter protests.

Here are some of the new names: The Dixie Chicks became The Chicks, Lady Antebellum became Lady A, the Washington Redskins became the Washington Football Team.

The following food brands also made some changes:  

• Uncle Ben’s Rice became Ben’s Original.
• Eskimo Pie decided on a new name three months after it acknowledged its original name was offensive toward native arctic communities. In 2021, the chocolate-covered vanilla ice cream bar will be called Edy's Pie, after one of the company's founders, Joseph Edy.
• Land O' Lakes rebranded its packaging for its 100th anniversary, “to better tell its farmer-owned story” and removed the lady (a Native American Indian) from its logo.
• The Aunt Jemima brand of syrup and pancake mix will get a new name and image – this 130-year-old brand featured a Black woman named Aunt Jemima, whose look perpetuated a racist stereotype.
• Mrs. Butterworth and Cream of Wheat are in the process of a complete brand and packaging review.
• The Cleveland Indians and Atlanta Braves major league baseball teams may also change their names, logos, and uniform design in the future.

NUMBER 8:  
Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg passed away. Soon after her death, protests started because the person nominated to replace her had completely opposite views on all matters. However, women and men vowed to continue to honor Ginsburg’s legacy of equality for all. Shirts, hats, and pins appeared everywhere with Ginsburg’s likeness and famous quotes.

NUMBER 7:
No retail store is more associated with Christmas than Macy’s, but in 2020, Santa Claus ended a 159-year tradition and did not visit Macy’s stores for his annual meet-and-greet with children. This decision was made due to concerns about the Covid-19/corona virus pandemic. According to the company’s press release, “To replicate the magical experience of visiting Macy’s Santaland for children and their families, we will shift to a virtual engagement this year. The experience starts with a greeting from virtual elves who lead the way through Santa’s village and workshop, stopping to see the sights and play interactive games. At the end, kids will meet Santa through an interactive video, where they’ll be able to share their holiday wish list and take a selfie with Santa, which families can download immediately.”

NUMBER 6:
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex (Prince Harry and wife Meghan) gave up their status as “senior working royals” and moved first to Canada and then to Beverly Hills, finally settling near Santa Barbara. Their goal was to become financially self-sufficient – made easier due to deals with Netflix and the New York-based Harry Walker Agency, also used by the Obamas, the Clintons, Oprah Winfrey, and Jane Goodall, to arrange speaking engagements. The couple wishes to create their own philanthropic foundation called Archewell, and to focus on issues such as racial justice, gender equality, environmental concerns, and mental health.

NUMBER 5:
Little boys like to play with plastic toy soldiers, and until 2020, toy soldiers were all male. A seven-year-old girl, Vivian Lord of Little Rock, Arkansas, wondered why they weren’t any female toy soldiers. So, she wrote a letter that read in part, “Why do you not make girl army men?”and sent copies to several army toy manufacturers. Jeff Imel, owner of BMC Toys in Scranton, Pennsylvania, agreed with Vivian, and now, BMC Toys has a line of 22 women army toy soldiers. This action was demonstrative of the difference one person’s voice can make – as well as the change in the toy industry, especially for BMC Toys.

NUMBER 4:
Scientific American magazine broke its 175-year tradition and endorsed a Presidential candidate for the first time. The magazine endorsed Joe Biden due to his concern for the environment and his ideas to combat the Covid-19 crisis.

NUMBER 3:
Throughout the United States, women celebrated the 100th anniversary of the 19th Amendment, which granted women the right to vote in 1920. The National Women’s Party began wearing three distinct colors in 1913, and the United States Post Office created a stamp featuring purple, white, and gold. Purple was the color of loyalty, constancy to purpose, and unswerving steadfastness to a cause. White was the emblem or purity and symbolized the quality of the suffragists’ purpose. And gold was the color of light and life.

NUMBER 2:
The COVID-19/corona virus pandemic changed life dramatically. With a start in a small town in China, the virus traveled to all corners of the world infecting millions and killing thousands. This virus changed the way everyone lived and worked during 2020. Offices closed, which resulted in many people working from home or losing their jobs - some even lost their homes. Restaurants closed, hotels closed, stores closed, etc. One example of a retail store that closed was Lord & Taylor, which was the first department store in the United States - it closed after nearly 200 years. Sports teams played in empty stadiums. The 2020 World Series was played with less than 20,000 lucky fans in the stands. Stay-at-home orders were imposed, lifted, and imposed again in many cities across the world. While there are rumors that several drug manufacturers are developing vaccines, everyone hopes that vaccines appear in large quantities in 2021.

Online commerce was the only place where sales increased, thus, creating an opportunity for creative digital marketing.

And NUMBER 1 on my 2020 Marketing Highlights List:

Drum roll please...

Joe Biden and Kamala Harris won the 2020 Presidential Election in November. Biden, formerly a Senator from Delaware and Barack Obama’s Vice President, chose Harris, formerly a California Senator, as his Vice President. Harris will be the first woman vice president, the first black vice president, and the first South Asian vice president. Inauguration day will be on January 20, 2021. The amount of marketing swag with the Biden-Harris names and likenesses appeared almost overnight following the announcement of their win. And their marketing team was quick to act with the creation of social media accounts for the Biden-Harris Presidential Transition using the Presidential seal, the number 46, and their tagline of “Build Back Better.”

To quote President Elect Biden, “I’m running as a proud Democrat, but I will govern as an American President. I will work with Democrats and Republicans, and I’ll work as hard for those who don’t support me as for those who do. Because that’s the job of a President.”

To quote Vice President Elect Harris, “What a testament it is to Joe’s character, that he had the audacity to break one of the most substantial barriers that exists in our country and select a woman as his Vice President.”

Despite one’s political beliefs, there is no doubt that this was a memorable election and certainly an appropriate one to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the passage of the 19th Amendment, which granted women the right to vote.

What would you add to this list? Here's to 2021 and another year of marketing highlights. Happy New Year!

Image Credits: President-Elect Joe Biden's Inauguration campaign, Amazon, and US Post Office.

2020 Was the Year of Women!

While 2020 will be known as the year of the Covid-19 pandemic, we also celebrated the 100th anniversary of the 19th Amendment, which granted women the right to vote. However, based on many events that took place during 2020, it appears that 2020 was also the year of women and their amazing and inspiring accomplishments. 

To quote Eleanor Roosevelt, "A woman is like a tea bag; you never know how strong it is until it’s in hot water."

Here are the names and the events that made HERstory during 2020:

KAMALA HARRIS - First female Vice President of the United States, chosen by President-Elect Joe Biden, and first Black woman and the first woman of Indian heritage.

"While I may be the first woman in this office, I will not be the last — because every little girl watching tonight sees that this is a country of possibilities." - Kamala Harris (November 7, 2020)

Keisha Lance Bottoms, Governor of Atlanta, on the Joe Biden-Kamala Harris' historic win: "It's great for me to see it happen, but I'm also happy that my mother gets to see it, and my daughter get's to see it, because this is so much that so many generations have hoped for."

DR. JILL BIDEN - First "First Lady" in 230 years with four degrees including a doctorate in educational leadership, has plans to maintain a paying job outside the White House. She will continue teaching English at Northern Virginia Community College, where as Second Lady, she advocated for students and education after high school.

"As I work hard every day to inspire my students, it is ultimately they who inspire me."  - Dr. Jill Biden

RUTH BADER GINSBURG - Due to the passing of RBG, her legacy inspired millions of girls and women to get involved in politics, the law, and standing up for others.

"Women belong in all places where decisions are being made." - RBG

KIM NG - First female General Manager hired by the Miami Marlins major league baseball team - and first woman hired to be the GM by any of the professional men's sports teams in the North American major leagues.

"I entered major league baseball as an intern and, after decades of determination, it is the honor of my career to lead the Miami Marlins as their next General Manager." - Kim Ng

HOLLY MITCHELL - With the election of Holly Mitchell to the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors, a once-all-white-male institution will now be led by five women.

Janice Hahn, a member of LA's Board of Supervisors, said she hopes the novelty of having five women on the Board wears off eventually, but she’d like to celebrate it for a little longer. “We’ve once again broken a glass ceiling right here in Los Angeles County."

According to the Los Angeles Times, "For the first time since the board’s inception more than 150 years ago, the powerful Board of Supervisors will consist of all women, each of whom comes with significant backgrounds in politics and government. I can’t think of another example in the entire United States where you will have five women having control of ... the largest county in the entire country just in terms of people, but also the largest county budget in the entire country,” explained Ange-Marie Hancock Alfaro, a professor and chair of gender studies at USC.  

JANET YELLEN - Back in 2013, President Barack Obama nominated Janet Yellen as the first woman Federal Reserve Chair. While that appointment was a shattering of a glass ceiling then, in 2020, President-Elect Joe Biden nominated Janet Yellen as the first woman Secretary of the Treasury.

According to Alan Blinder, a Princeton University economist who served with Yellen on the Fed’s Board in the 1990s, "If she becomes Secretary, when she goes into a room with finance ministers from other countries, she's going to be the best prepared person in the room - probably the smartest person too."

According to Julia Coronado, founder of economic-advisory firm MacroPolicy Perspectives, "One of her underappreciated talents is the ability to drive a consensus in pretty convincing ways."

Back in 2013, I wrote a blog post about Yellen's appointment - here's the link:
https://debbielaskey.blogspot.com/2013/10/what-kind-of-leadership-legacy-are-you.html

Other quotes that continued to inspire during 2020:

Priyanka Chopra's father: "Don't try to squeeze into a glass slipper. Instead, shatter the glass ceiling."

Hillary Clinton: "Whether I am meant to or not, I challenge assumptions about women. I do make some people uncomfortable, which I'm well aware of, but that's just part of coming to grips with what I believe is still one of the most important pieces of unfinished business in human history: empowering women to be able to stand up for themselves."

Chelsea Clinton: "One of our core values in this country is that we are the land of equal opportunity, but when equal hasn't yet included gender, there is a fundamental challenge there that, I believe, having our first woman president - whenever that is - will help resolve." (2016)

Michelle Obama: "When you've worked hard, and done well, and walked through that doorway of opportunity, you do not slam it shut behind you. You reach back and you give other folks the same chances that helped you succeed."

Nancy Pelosi: "I would say that one of the things that encouraged me so much when I became elected to the leadership was the letters I received from fathers of daughters, saying that, ‘My daughter can now do many more things because of what you did.’”

Sheryl Sandberg of Facebook: "If you're offered a seat on a rocket ship, don't ask what seat."

Shirley Chisholm: “If they don’t give you a seat at the table, bring in a folding chair.”

Ayanna Pressley: “I wanted to fight for girls, not be their voice, but to lift up their voices.”

Kirsten Gillibrand: “If I had a daughter, I would tell her certain things. I would tell her that it’s great to be smart, really smart - that being smart makes you strong. I would tell her that emotions are powerful, so don’t be afraid to show them. I would tell her that some people may judge you on how you look or what you wear - that’s just how it is - but you should keep your focus on what you say and do. I would tell her that she may see the world differently from boys, and that difference is essential and good.” (On November 20, 2018, I had the opportunity to attend an event at the Skirball Cultural Center in Los Angeles, where United States Senator Kirsten Gillibrand from New York presented a reading of her book BOLD AND BRAVE, and talked about women's suffrage and the state of our democracy following the 2018 mid-term elections.)

Meghan Markle, Duchess of Sussex: "With fame comes opportunity, but it also includes responsibility — to advocate and share, to focus less on glass slippers and more on pushing through glass ceilings. And, if I'm lucky enough, to inspire." 

Image Credits: Quote by RBG; Kamala Harris image by artist Bria Goeller; Debbie Laskey's Great-Grandmother, Bertie Green, suffragist in New York in the early 1900's; and Facebook frame for November election designed by the National Women's History Museum.

Does Your Brand Communicate with Customers?

Like many of us during the covid pandemic, I shop more online than in the pre-covid days. This translates to purchases made via websites that in the pre-covid era, I would have visited stores in person to make my purchases.

One recent item consisted of three dozen colorful plastic hangers. While this item was not a necessity, it added some smiles when hanging clothes during the challenging covid era.

I chose some teal, purple, red, and yellow hangers on a retailer's website, and completed the online purchase. A few weeks later, in a timely manner, the teal, purple, and red hangers arrived on my doorstep. They were just as advertised, and immediately, they "met" some clothes and were placed in my closet.

But something was wrong. I noticed that the yellow hangers were missing. Soon after the box's arrival, I received an email indicating that the yellow hangers were not available from any nearby stores, but they would arrive shortly.

I don't know about you, but "shortly" means "soon" to me, certainly, within a week or two. Otherwise, the store should have sent another email and either provided a delivery update or asked if I wished to cancel my order.

Two months later, and still no yellow hangers. I only purchased five yellow hangers for a total less than two dollars. But where is the update from the retailer? I have sent a couple of emails asking for an update, and I have received no response to any of my communications.

I understand that we are living in a different world, but if a brand offers to sell products, and those products are not available, and the brand accepts payment, then it owes its customers an explanation or a refund. 

You can probably guess the name of the brand I'm talking about.

What would your brand do in this scenario?

Branding and the November Elections

While it is advisable for brands to remain neutral when it comes to American politics, brands should definitely be aware of current events that impact the community-at-large, consumers, customers, and fans. The recent November elections are a perfect example whereby brands should not choose candidates but they can still promote voting.

Here are examples of how five brands participated while staying neutral.

PIZZA TO THE POLLS
This nonpartisan nonprofit was founded in 2016 with a simple mission: make "democracy delicious by delivering free food for all to polling places with long lines." If you see a line at the polls, go to the website, provide the address, and free pizza will be delivered. Both small pizza joints and large pizza chains are used for deliveries. This happened on election day in 25 cities across America.

THE WALL STREET JOURNAL
Most online news content comes at a cost. But on election day, The Wall Street Journal offered its content for free.

ZOOM
Election day is not yet a holiday, and it may never be, but many people still had to go to work. Zoom provided a background promoting "get out the vote" and "voting" to get users in the mood and so that users could add a vote-themed background to their online meetings during election day.

M&M'S CHOCOLATES
Many people who voted wore their "I Voted" sticker on election day, so it was cute to see a familiar face, or in this case, a familiar M&M chocolate candy, in this case, Yellow, showcasing his stickers.

KRISPY KREME DOUGHNUTS
If one wore his or her or their "I Voted" sticker to Krispy Kreme, a free original glazed doughnut would be provided.

What brands stood out to you on Election Day? Please chime in and share.


Image Credit: Pizza to the Polls, The Wall Street Journal, Zoom, M&Ms, and Krispy Kreme via Instagram.

Three Instagram Brand-Building Tips from Halloween

 

Instagram is an easy-to-use and fun social platform for brand-building. Brands use it to share engaging images, thought-provoking quotes, and timely product or service launches. If a post grabs viewers’ attention, they will comment or like it – thus increasing brand awareness.

While holidays present an opportunity for memorable posts, Halloween provides three useful tips for brands to apply toward other holidays later in the year like Thanksgiving, the December holidays, and New Year's.

COLOR
Color is a universal way to tell a brand’s story. What brand is associated with red? Coca-Cola. What brand is associated with brown? United Parcel Service. What color provides the nickname for IBM? (Big) Blue. Once October begins, all variations of orange take front and center. Recall the beverages served by your favorite coffee houses and doughnut stores at this time of year: pumpkin spice latte, pumpkin iced coffee, pumpkin spiced iced latte, to name just a few.

My two favorite examples are a post by Pantone, the color company brand, and a post by Sherwin-Williams, the paint store brand. Candy corn, the most popular candy from Halloween is featured, and it is comprised of several colors. Pantone showcases the specific colors that align with candy corn. In Sherwin-Williams’ post, jelly beans are featured, and one specific color is called out. Does your brand integrate color in a creative way during October, November, and December?

HUMOR
When brands introduce characters into their posts, they often showcase humor, and humor is a universal way to attract interaction and support. Who wouldn’t laugh at the Muppets, the Energizer Bunny, or the M&M characters? Does your brand have characters that tell your brand’s story? If not, how can your brand integrate characters and humor into your Instagram posts?

My favorite example is a post by M&M’s chocolate candies. Two chocolate characters, Brown and Red, are featured in a field full of pumpkins. Everyone can associate with the two characters because everyone would like to have fun with their family and friends in a field of pumpkins.

TRADITION
When brands integrate elements of tradition into their posts, their posts become embraceable. When we think of the fall season with colder weather, the beginning of the holiday season, leaves changing color, we often think of times spent with family. And food is often associated with family gatherings. Starting with Halloween and pumpkins, there is the arrival of pumpkin pie. What’s more traditional than pumpkin pie?

My favorite post that demonstrates tradition is by Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf. This post shows how its pumpkin beverage was created by the traditional pumpkin pie. Do your brand’s posts show how your product or service originated or began?

How will you apply these three Halloween tips to your brand storytelling during the remainder of the holiday season? Chime in to share.


Image Credits via Instagram: @MMSChocolate, @Pantone, @TheCoffeeBean, and @SherwinWilliams.

Inspiration from RBG - A Tribute

During the days following the recent passing of Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, people who knew her personally reflected on their memorable experiences and memories. But for those who watched her from afar, we reflected on her actions and words. I've assembled some of my favorite RBG quotes below.

Fight for the things that you care about, but do it in a way that will lead others to join you.

Real change, enduring change, happens one step at a time.

I'm a very strong believer in listening and learning from others.

So often in life, things that you regard as an impediment turn out to be great, good fortune.

Reading is the key that opens doors to many good things in life. Reading shaped my dreams, and more reading helped me make my dreams come true.

Don't be distracted by emotions like anger, envy, resentment. These just zap energy and waste time.

I pray that I may be all that (my mother) would have been had she lived in an age when women could aspire and achieve and daughters are cherished as much as sons.

I would like to be remembered as someone who used whatever talent she had to do her work to the very best of her ability.

Women belong in all places where decisions are being made. It shouldn't be that women are the exception.

We are at last beginning to relegate to the history books the idea of the token woman.

My idea of how choice should have developed was not a privacy notion, not a doctor’s right notion, but a woman’s right to control her own destiny, to be able to make choices without a Big Brother state telling her what she can and cannot do.

You can disagree without being disagreeable.

When I'm sometimes asked when will there be enough [women on the Supreme Court] and I say, 'When there are nine,' people are shocked. But there'd been nine men, and nobody's ever raised a question about that.

And lastly, about RBG:
No other justice in history has become a popular icon in the way RBG did. She modeled for all of us in how to spend a life working to make society and individual lives better. We only can hope for a new justice in her mold. ~Erwin Chemerinsky, Dean of the University of California at Berkeley School of Law


Image Credit: Paying tribute to RBG while attending an exhibit in her honor at the Skirball Cultural Center in Los Angeles in February 2019.