Damon Jones

There’s something special about seeing Maeve Hagen, Myles Worthington, Carmella Glover and Susan Oguche earn their spot on PRWeek’s 40 Under 40 List. And while I couldn’t see them walk the stage last week, they each deserve a proper toast!   Susan was a “go-getter” during her time at Procter & Gamble, and hasn’t stopped since. It’s been inspiring to see my mentee continue to impact brands and companies across the country. Hopefully she has forgiven me for moving her to Boston years ago with the promise that the snow wouldn’t be ‘that bad’ (record snowfall ensued). She’s now leading communications for the Cleveland Cavaliers — a full-circle moment filled with home-state pride.   I first met Myles while he was an AE at Ketchum – and look at him now. A whole CEO of an award-winning agency after pioneering work at Netflix. Let the record reflect when I tried to get Myles to consider a job at P&G, he had a pretty clear “no,” but when he asked me to be one of the first clients of WORTHI, I had a pretty clear “yes.” I guess that’s just the way it works! #BeYourOwnBoss   Maeve continues to lead a phenomenal team at longtime P&G agency partner Taylor. It’s no mistake that Taylor continues to have strong business growth and employee loyalty because of the tone from the top. #LeadershipMatters   Carmella and I have become fast friends over the past four years, through her work leading the Diversity Action Alliance. She consistently reminds us of the business case for diversity in our industry as we ensure our organizations are fully equipped with the talent and perspective that makes us all effective communicators.   Each of you is making waves, reaffirming that the future of our industry is in excellent hands. What you do each day shows that when communication is done right, it can move industries, communities and people forward. #PRWeek #40Under40   Read more here:

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As I progress in my career, I have come to realize that active listening is a crucial skill to master. It requires more than simply hearing words; it also involves paying attention to both verbal and non-verbal cues such as tone, body language, and facial expressions. I have been putting in a lot of effort to develop this skill, and though it has not been easy, I recognize that it is essential in building strong relationships with my colleagues and clients. I understand that this is a continuous learning process, but I am determined to hone this. #ActiveListening #VerbalCues #NonVerbalCues #BodyLanguage #FacialExpressions #RelationshipBuilding #ContinuousLearning

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As evidenced by the dynamics of the presidential election, women continue to be held to a different, much stricter standard than men. In my book "WOKE: A Cultural Competence Guide for Communicators, I delve into why and how women continue to struggle for equality and representation. "Women’s quest for equality is the longest-running struggle in the history of the world. Men have ruled over humanity for millennia, and nowhere has their dominance been more pronounced than over the lives and bodies of women. Although women have made great strides toward equality in the last few decades, they continue to be held to a different standard than men, and society holds many unconscious and deeply rooted biases against them. Nevertheless, women continue challenging traditional gender norms, advocating for equal rights, and reshaping female empowerment narratives." https://lnkd.in/gsTAMAbc

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In this recent article with Authority Magazine, I discuss the barriers women face in advancing to leadership roles and share actionable strategies to overcome these challenges. It's an honor to be part of this conversation and to continue advocating for a future where equity is not just an aspiration but a reality. Read the full article: https://lnkd.in/dXx-XWxK 💪🏽 #Leadership #WomenInLeadership #Equity #DEI #HopeForTheFuture #AmiraBarger

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Authenticity is key for senior executives to be influential on LinkedIn, but not every leader finds it easy to engage genuinely. 🔸In episode 342 of our For Immediate Release podcast, Shel Holtz, SCMP, and I explore how communicators can help executives craft authentic online personas and build influence and trust, focused on LinkedIn, with practical examples. I also dive into this topic in a new blog post published today, arguing that authenticity opens the door to success. Communicators must guide leaders who struggle with authenticity, identifying formats or mediums that play to their strengths. Take a read and listen to our discussion ⬇️ #Authenticity #Communication #LinkedIn #FIRPodcast https://lnkd.in/eMu9D48j

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This McKinsey State of the Consumer 2024 has some fascinating insights: What’s now and what’s next. If you think you know consumer behavior, think again. Middle-income consumers are feeling the squeeze and worrying about inflation but aren’t holding back on splurges. Rather than sticking to tight budgets in retirement, aging consumers are splurging too. Speaking of older shoppers, it turns out that the brand loyalty they’ve long been known for is a thing of the past. And young consumers in Asia and the Middle East are more likely than those in Western markets to switch to higher-priced brands. These are just some of the large-scale shifts taking place in the global consumer landscape. Consumers have continued to defy expectations and behave in atypical ways, keeping consumer goods manufacturers and retailers on their toes. More than ever, companies that cultivate a detailed, up-to-date understanding of today’s and tomorrow’s consumers—who they are, what they want, and where and how they shop—will be best positioned to succeed. https://buff.ly/3Xudmc2 via @McKinsey

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Joining Shameek Bose M.P.A. to preview the findings of our recent media landscape research, A Data-Driven Approach to Landing Sustainability Stories in Global Top-Tier Media with Alan Murray was a true career highlight. As one of the leading journalists of our time, Alan's perspective and recommendations were nothing short of inspiring. To complete this research, my team and I analyzed over 6,000 pieces of top-tier global media coverage in 2024 to answer three central questions: ⭐ What storylines are landing tier one coverage and what insights can companies draw from this to increase their coverage? ⭐ What narratives AREN'T landing in leading outlets? Which pitches should companies reconsider? ⭐ What can we learn from negative coverage of corporate sustainability commitments to ensure our clients don't fall in similar traps? The insights we identified through this project were surprising and are helping many of our clients uplevel their communications strategies for 2025. Let me know if you'd be interested in hearing the presentation live!

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If you follow me, you’ve seen my posts bragging about generating breakthrough media coverage. No doubt, it’s important. But just as important is counseling clients on how to dominate the discussion. How to set agendas and own dialogues. How to be the thought leader that customers, partners, reporters, analysts, investors, scholars and government officials turn to, to understand the zeitgeist of key publics and key industries. I wrote about ARM yesterday - that’s what we did with them. Challenged them to own mobile, and later data centers. To dare to be the dominant voice to set an industry agenda. That’s not a one-off. With every client served, that’s the nexus of the campaigns we lead - understand your strength and put it to work. If you want this kind counsel and the resulting dominance that comes with it, I’d love to talk.

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So called 'green hushing' (where organizations fail to share sustainability progress - or lack of it - for fear of being criticized) is a very real issue. Without transparency, we cannot see the scale of the problem and the most effective solutions. Genuine moves to net zero are complex and difficult. Sometimes progress will slow or slip, but we should encourage those making genuine efforts to be transparent. Having had the pleasure of working rbl Brand Agency over a number of years and handling some sticky sustainability challenges together, I can highly recommend the team for their thoughtful and pragmatic approach to aligning brand and sustainability. This should be a great session, so if this is a concern for your business, do try and join!

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I LOVE election season. So much opportunity to secure coverage for brands. Here are five tips to navigate the bustling weeks ahead effectively. Get in touch if you want to explore how your brand can make a ‘splash’. Sigh. #election #pr

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Our Age of Accountability debate, featuring The Times, Citizens Advice and Fairer Finance, left no room for doubt that accountability is a critical business imperative, not a nice-to-have.  Consumer expectations grow sharper and scrutiny from regulators more intense, companies must operate with greater transparency, responsibility, and integrity. This shift brings both risk and opportunity. Read this article for 5 things businesses need to understand to navigate these new expectations. https://lnkd.in/eMsDhXWw #reputation #regulation #riskmanagement #consumerduty

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Communications executives need to understand reporter lingo and be capable of translating it for their C-suite and other spokespeople.   “A Reporter’s Glossary: Journalistic Terms of Art” helps fulfill that mission by revealing definitions for a cornucopia of insider journalistic expressions (link to full paper in Comments). The publication sheds light on such jargon as: · The distinctions among clarifications, corrections, and retractions · What to do with an IFB when participating in an SMT · How to accommodate TV reporters who say they need B-roll · Why media training needs to be a comprehensive series of events, not a one-off, check the box situation · The peculiarities of off the record, on background, and not for attribution   My hope is that this resource will make the job of communications and government relations executives just a bit easier. It’s yours for the taking. No subscriptions. No nags. All I ask: If you find it useful, share it with colleagues and support it with a 👉 Comment 👈 here on LinkedIn.   💭 Once you’ve taken a look, don’t be shy about suggesting additional terms of art that might make it into future revisions. #mediarelations #reporters #journalism

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It's going to be an interesting week in comms. The 2024 US election presents unique challenges and opportunities for brands considering leveraging it for their PR. Here are some pointers: 1. Exercise extreme caution, as the election is likely to be highly divisive. Avoid explicit political stances, as research shows only 21% of US consumers want brands to take political positions. Instead, focus on nonpartisan messages encouraging civic engagement. 2. Leverage contextual advertising carefully, ensuring ads appear alongside appropriate content. Consider alternative channels to reach audiences, as news programming will likely be saturated with political content. Emphasise authenticity and brand values rather than opportunistically jumping on election trends. 3. Only explore cause-related marketing aligned with nonpartisan issues. Utilise social listening to understand audience reactions to election-related content. Focus on long-term strategy rather than sacrificing brand positioning for short-term gains. Remember, while the election presents engagement opportunities, the risks of backlash and negative associations are significant. Carefully weigh potential benefits against risks before incorporating election-related themes into marketing strategies.

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Building Influence Through Thought Leadership. Thought leadership has become essential for brands to connect with today's informed consumers seeking expertise. By sharing industry insights and guidance, brands establish credibility while navigating complex markets. This article reveals how thought leadership helps brands demonstrate knowledge and commitment, building trust with customers and partners. It discusses how providing valuable content positions brands as reliable resources and positively affects purchasing decisions. Brands attain higher visibility and influence by developing authentic, expert-driven materials addressing industry challenges and trends. This approach requires a careful balance of education and branding. Are you curious about how your brand can become a respected thought leader? The Pollack Group's Leadership Now and Connect to Lead solutions provide roadmaps on cultivating an influence platform distinct from competitors. #PR #ThoughtLeadership #LeadershipNow #ConnectToLead #branding

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💡 From the fediverse to the Kamala Harris election campaign, SEO, and more: Insights in FIR 425. In this episode of our For Immediate Release podcast, Shel Holtz, SCMP, and I explore six key topics that are shaping the future of business, communication, and technology: 🔹 Fediverse and Digital Sovereignty: We discuss the growing disillusionment with platforms like X and the potential for governments to establish their own instances on the fediverse to maintain digital sovereignty and control over public discourse. 🔹 The Decline of Individuality: A recent study shows a significant decline in people’s desire to stand out over the past 20 years, which has implications for society and how businesses engage with their audiences. 🔹 Corporate DEI Backlash: With growing political and social backlash against Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) initiatives, some companies are scaling back their efforts. But are they abandoning these goals or just changing how they communicate them? 🔹 Impact of Disabling Social Media Comments: Research reveals that disabling comments on social media can harm the perception of influencers and public figures, making them appear less sincere and likeable. 🔹 Kamala Harris’s Gen Z Campaign Strategy: We delve into how Kamala Harris’s campaign successfully engages Gen Z voters by mastering platforms like TikTok and leveraging influencers to drive massive engagement. 🔹 AI and the Future of SEO: The rise of generative AI and concepts like 'zero-click search' are changing the SEO landscape, with new strategies needed to maintain visibility in an increasingly AI-driven search environment. 🔊 For a deeper dive, listen to episode 425 of the podcast - check out the full blog post with audio player here: ⬇️ #Podcast #BusinessTrends #AI #DEI #DigitalMarketing #SEO https://lnkd.in/eCM9mj9d

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Thanks PRNEWS for running my piece on the power of narrative and its impact on brand. Brand management requires more speed, adaptability and constituent management than ever. Stay nimble. https://lnkd.in/eskBY88W

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At Procter & Gamble, they've cracked the code on empowering lower-level employees. Here's why it matters: ↓ ✓ Brand managers, four levels down from the CEO, make key strategic choices ✓ This approach trains future leaders and drives brand success ✓ It challenges the traditional top-down decision-making model ✱ The Head & Shoulders brand manager reports to the head of shampoos and conditioners, who reports to the head of beauty care, who then reports to the CEO. ✱ If brand managers don't make good choices, the brand suffers. But when they do, it leads to success and develops their leadership skills. This decentralized approach may seem counterintuitive, but it's a powerful strategy for: 1. Fostering innovation 2. Developing talent 3. Improving agility in decision-making 4. Increasing employee engagement and ownership While many companies struggle with top-heavy decision-making, P&G's model proves that trusting and empowering lower-level employees can drive success. What if more organizations adopted this approach? How would it transform leadership development and business outcomes? ALWAYS MAKE PROGRESS ⤴

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