Leah M. Dergachev’s Post

Have you ever wanted a crystal ball to see into the future? 🔮 Well, PR Daily has one! Allison Carter asked several communicators where the practice might be headed, inquiring: “What is the biggest PR storyline you see on the horizon for 2025?” 🗞️ I'm honored to be one of the professionals she asked. 😎 From AI, the media, and content trends to a renewed focus on sustainability and bad CEO behaviors, here's what I and some other PR leaders have to say about what to expect in the coming year. https://lnkd.in/eHQR_PU4

In a rapidly changing world, the PR and communications industry is undergoing a seismic shift and the field looks very different than it did just a few decades ago. In our latest blog post, "The Evolution of PR: How the Industry Has Changed and Where It's Headed," we sit down with Ron Culp, a veteran PR professional with over 40 years of experience, to explore these changes and what they mean for today's communicators. Culp takes us through the history of PR, from its early days to the present, and shares his predictions for the future based on the three seismic changes he believes will shape the industry: 1. The rise of technology and AI 2. The growing importance of business acumen 3. The shift towards internal communications. He provides insights and advice for navigating these changes and succeeding in the ever-evolving world of PR and communications. Read the full blog post here: https://lnkd.in/gZDEfr6A #PublicRelations #Communications #IndustryEvolution #ThoughtLeadership #RonCulp

Is tough management necessary for success? 💥 The debacle at Baidu, where V-P Qu Jing's controversial videos caused a market capitalization drop of $1.22 billion, sparks a crucial debate: Do we need a "wolf-like" culture to thrive in the cutthroat tech industry? While some argue for tough leadership, citing competitiveness, the fallout raises serious questions about toxicity in the workplace. Here's my take: 👍 Some say Ms. Qu's approach mirrors the reality of high-stakes corporate battles, advocating for resilience and efficiency. 👎 However, others condemn her behavior as emblematic of an outdated, abusive management style that ultimately undermines employee morale and damages company reputation. Let's ignite the conversation: 🔥 What's your stance? Do you support a tough-as-nails management approach, or do you believe in nurturing a more empathetic workplace culture? Comment below and let's dive into this fiery debate! #ManagementMatters #ToxicWorkplace #BaiduControversy BTW, word has it that Ms. Qu has been sacked: https://lnkd.in/gymbMCRV

To the companies and #PR folks I've mentioned this to -- and to those I haven't -- early applications for Fast Company's annual Most Innovative Companies list are now open. Questions about the process or your company? Send me a note.

Have you ever dared to open the comments section on a controversial social media post? Or even a post on a heavily debated topic, like “the earth is flat”? You’ll often find comment after comment from people firmly standing by their beliefs, even starting arguments with anyone who sees things differently – no matter how outlandish their claims might be. This behaviour is known as "Confirmation Bias" 🧠 You see… humans are wired to seek out, interpret, and agree with ideas that fit their preconceptions and beliefs while ignoring or dismissing conflicting information – even when faced with facts and reason. Often, we’ll even choose to believe a reassuring lie over an inconvenient truth because it aligns better with what we believe or stand for. This can lead to different conclusions from the same set of facts. We don’t usually do this consciously - rather, the belief is reinforced by our subconscious mind protecting our existing viewpoint. Think about a time when someone told you something that didn’t align with what you believed. Did you immediately accept their viewpoint, or did you find yourself searching for reasons to discredit it? This natural tendency impacts how consumers interact with marketing messages. As marketers, it’s vital to recognise and navigate this bias so we're not pushing potential clients away. Instead of challenging someone’s belief and forcing a “my way or the highway” approach, focus on how your product or service aligns with their values and creatively frame your messaging to support that. Remember, your messaging doesn't have to say the same thing every time... it should adapt to fit different facets of your audience's beliefs and values. By doing this, you speak their language and make your message more relatable. Understanding and respecting the power of confirmation bias allows you to create more effective marketing strategies that guides your audience toward action without triggering defensive reactions and pushing them away. #marketingpsychology #fractionalCMO #marketingconsultant #consumerbehaviour

With these turbulent times, it’s very hard to balance content, especially in the B2B sector between “You don’t care about something horrible is happening right now” and “You are not respectful enough to post something unrelated to horrible thing happening right now”. It’s an extra credit question, right? So, what should we do as content strategists? My point of view is not to ignore totally but step a step back and propose something useful. For example, some tips on how to manage political polarisation in the workplace (if you are targeting the leaders). While I was working on this piece I saw two points of view: Either you basically ban all politics related conversations at work, Or You become the mediator and try to create a safe space for discussions. Although I found the second advice in HBR that I can hardly doubt in, I honestly can’t see how it’s possible to hold conversation like that midst controversial election year or, in some cases, in an even more disturbing social climate. Feel free to share your opinion, please. I’m very curious how it happens in different countries. Do you discuss politics in the workspace with your colleagues? https://lnkd.in/eYxGwJt5 #contentmarketing #contentstrategy #workculture

In #5InsightTrends series we at Intuit Research share trends we are seeing in the research and insights space  #Trend4# Attention#Cut-through Stakeholders are drowned in information. Research need to be engaging to draw attention of and motivate organization stakeholders as well as external partners.Infographics, PR collateral, white papers and videos are not luxuries but essential to make an impact.  We have proven ability to create engaging stakeholder content from your insights. Engagements are always led by a “grey haired”  senior researcher immersed in your business and sector.

Are politicians...human? 🤖 Working on President's team involves being around a lot of politicians. I noticed through time that the way people imagine politicians is very far away from reality. The perception that politicians are some kind of soulless robots in suits is pretty common. Breaking news - politicians are also human, who besides their high ranking positions have personalities, families, hobbies and...feelings. Like any other human sometimes they are sad or happy, tired or hungry, in good or bad mood, they succeed and they make mistakes. Just like any of us. This gap in perception often emerges from a public image that is built around political leaders - rich people in suits who always talk about serious things, show no emotion and have nothing in common with regular people. This label has been there for years and is hard to get rid of. However many political communicators and leaders themselves have already understood that a public image of a cold faceless person in a grey suit is not likable or relatable& won't bring you far. This led to many politicians "going personal" in their communication - showing their kids, cats& dogs, sharing their interests with wider audience. It makes the face of politicians more human and brings them a little bit closer to people. However I am certain that key to being closer to people is simply BEING CLOSER to people - talking to one's electorate, listening, being with them and for them. Not trying to fake it with comms tricks, but actually meaning to be understood better& to understand better. While it's important for people to remember that politicians are people too, it's crucial for politicians to remember too that they are just humans, whose job is to serve their people. Once that becomes the basis, it's easy to build public image around it. The image that will be genuine and truthful. 

Giving public speeches can be pretty nerve-wracking. Pretty sure I was a sweaty, squeaky mess the first one I did. There's a few things I do now that reduce the craziness of it all: - Write the deck yourself: Not always easy, but I like to know the content I'm about to talk through, and that means having a clear understanding of the message I'm trying to get across. - Pictures > Words: Quite often, there's a point I'm trying to make. Being able to show the problem visually and then just talk through it is far easier than having a slide with 5 long paragraphs or complex diagrams to talk through. - Tell stories: It's less interesting to say "hey, check out my database" than to teach people why it was necessary. Stories and framing are more interesting to hear than problems. - Keep it light: Back when I was in college, the Computer Science professors were the most dull people I'd never met. They'd stand there for ages, reading off a powerpoint with no hook for me to latch onto. Negative aura. Nowadays, my tiktok riddled brain won't pay attention to anything for more than 5 minutes if it's not interesting. If I wouldn't pay attention to my own talk, how can I expect others to? - Build your brand: For better or worse, everyone knows what I'm going to talk about on stage. Pizza and Sneakers. It might be about personalisation, social proofing, relevancy, research, or something else - but talks always follow that theme. Why? All of the above. You'll listen if i talk about pizza, but if I make the same observations about paying your TV License, I doubt it. I'll talk tech, but nobody expects me to talk about building a culture of experimentation or selling that idea into IBM. Anyway - that's just a few ideas to consider the next time someone asks you to dance for a few hundred people for 15 minutes.

Ever been in a conversation that just… stopped? Sometimes, it’s because of two simple words: “Yes, but.” It’s easy to say without realizing it, but it can unintentionally shut down ideas or make the other person feel unheard. Here’s a small shift that changes everything: replace “Yes, but” with “Yes, and.” Why? Because "Yes, and" builds on the conversation instead of cutting it short. It shows you’re listening and open to their thoughts. 🔹 Here’s an example: If your manager says, "Let’s try a new approach for this project," instead of: ❌ "Yes, but that’ll take too much time." (which feels dismissive), Try: ✅ "Yes, and we can find ways to make it efficient while trying something new." See the difference? One response feels confrontational, while the other invites a discussion. It’s a small change in how we talk, but it can make a huge difference in how others feel and respond. Next time you’re about to say “but,” try “and” instead. It might just make your conversations smoother and more positive! Have you tried this before? #conversations #positive #data