The week that was 20200425

PROUDEST | MOST GRATEFUL MOMENT

The team has been on a roll with all the media that we've received this week. We had great coverage in the Financial Mail. Nalene got great traction with her World Book Day release, getting an opportunity to be on enca, RSG and Radio Tygerberg. Speaking about books, remember you can access a free copy of our 40 tips & tricks to look after your reputation during lock down here: www.reputationmatters.co.za/ebook. Chris also wrote a great article on how to adopt a sustainability strategy for your business. 

BIGGEST LESSON THIS WEEK / REMINDER

This week my energy levels have been considerably lower than previous weeks. Then I realised that  I was not drinking enough water. Rectifying this has been magical! 

The other thing that I learnt this week that I found very interesting is that suicide rates decline during war time. The most likely explanation for this decline is the greater social cohesion of societies and people realise the value of life. 

QUOTE OF THE WEEK

"Vocabulary enables us to interpret and to express. If you have a limited vocabulary, you will also have a limited vision and a limited future."

Jim Rohn

'Despise the free lunch - what has worth is worth paying for.' Alexander Emmanual

WHAT MADE ME GIGGLE

Spotted this on the World Economic Forum Book Club Facebook page:

 Tom Eaton has hit the nail on the head with this one:

One more week to go. Hopefully with cigarette sales being allowed, they'll also allow something healthy like being allowed to exercise & take our dogs for walks.

Have a wonderful week! What have you enjoyed most about this lockdown time?

Media release: World Book Day 2020: Reading for success

Pic via: Unsplash

“Reading is essential for those who seek to rise above the ordinary.” ~ Jim Rohn

World Book Day is celebrated on Thursday, 23 April 2020. Those who love to read are in good company: Warren Buffet, Bill Gates, Oprah Winfrey, Barack Obama, and Elon Musk are just a few of the famous people in modern times who believe in the importance of reading. With the South African lockdown due to the COVID-19 virus ongoing, it provides an opportunity to nurture healthy reading habits. Nalene de Klerk, reputation manager at Reputation Matters, outlines some of the benefits of reading.

1. Reading builds vocabulary.

Whether you are exploring a fictional world or upskilling yourself on new a subject, reading increases our understanding of how elements of language fit together. A solid grasp of grammar, spelling, and punctuation is imperative for effective interpersonal communication. While this is especially important for childhood development at a young age, the use of proper English lends credibility to adult communication, especially in the business worlds.

2. Reading enhances your curiosity and innovation

Reading expands your horizons, helping you to think outside the box. When reading fiction or biographies, you are exposed to other peoples’ world views, heightening your emotional intelligence. Reading non-fiction teaches elements of life and the world that you did not know before. Either way, it helps everyone to find creative solutions to challenges in everyday life and in business.

3. Reading builds knowledge

There is something to be learnt from every book we read. While there is plenty of merit to reading the news to keep ahead of current affairs, books enable us to understand the world in context and in the long term. In the long run, it is also more advantageous to read for self-improvement and education than to read mainly for entertainment. It is this knowledge that gives famous people like Bill Gates an edge in life and in business.

Although the libraries are closed during the lockdown, there are a wealth of ebooks and other digital literature available, including Reputation Matters’ latest ebook. “At Reputation Matters, we are encouraged to read at least one book per month, and with good reason,” says de Klerk. “On this World Book Day, we encourage every person to get into the habit of reading regularly, because well-read individuals help to build a stronger nation.”

For more information on Reputation Matters contact research@reputationmatters.co.za or visit www.reputationmatters.co.za. Follow Reputation Matters on Facebook (@yourreputationmatters) or Twitter (@ReputationIsKey).

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Media release SURVEY: The effect of COVID-19 on your family, organisation and country

How have you been impacted by the COVID-19 lockdown? Do you feel that you, your company and country were sufficiently prepared? Reputation specialists, Reputation Matters, are running a short online survey to get insights into these questions to help people and entities to be better prepared for future crisis situations.

“As we all contend with an extended COVID-19 lock down,  everyone is dealing with a new reality and new ‘normal’,” shares Chanell Kemp, reputation specialist at Reputation Matters. 

“The goal of the survey is to determine to which extent individuals, organisations and countries have been affected by the pandemic. The research also examines how prepared organisations were for the current crisis situation, with specific focus on their communication initiatives.

The results will be collated and analysed by mid-May and it will be presented back in a webinar series. Reputation Matters focuses on building businesses that people want to do business with and by conducting this research, organisations will be enabled to learn from the current scenario and build up resilience for future crisis situations.  The results will also form part of a webinar series hosted by the African Public Relations Association (APRA). Reputation Matters have been privileged to be APRA’s reputation research partner of choice for the third consecutive year. APRA would have hosted its 32nd annual conference in Tanzania. Unfortunately, due to the COVID-19 pandemic and its impact across Africa, APRA and the Public Relations Society of Tanzania (PRST) have taken the decision to postpone the APRA Tanzania 2020 Conference to May 2021. Reputation Matters have conducted an ethics and reputation study across Africa since 2018 and the research study provides valuable insights into the perception of ethics and reputation across the African continent. 

The survey is anonymous and should not take longer than five minutes to complete. “In order for the research to be valid, we need as many responses as possible and therefore everyone is encouraged to complete the anonymous survey and let us know how you have been impacted,” concludes Kemp.

Here is the survey link to the survey. Please share this link and QR code with all your networks (colleagues, clients, associations, friends and family) and social media pages: https://www.research.net/r/COVID19surveyRM

To receive the research results or to measure your reputation, please send an email to research@reputationmatters.co.za or visit www.reputationmatters.co.za. Follow Reputation Matters on Facebook (@yourreputationmatters) or Twitter (@ReputationIsKey).

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The week that was 20200418

PROUDEST | MOST GRATEFUL MOMENT

Every morning this week I have been following a course presented by ACTION Coach's Brad Sugars on how to SURVIVE and THRIVE during this time. During this morning's session, he spoke about RICHuals, which are daily habits that you need to form for a rich life. Not just the monetary 'rich', but also a rich life in terms of health, family; all aspects of your life. 

I am very grateful for my daily routine and for the wonderful view I have of Chappies during this time. Every morning starts with 30 minutes meditation (I love how Margaret Hirsch describes meditation; prayer is when you speak to God, meditation is when God speaks to you). Then I read for 30 minutes followed by a 30 minute podcast or video of Jim Rohn. This week I added Brad Sugars' videos to this schedule. I usually include 30 minutes exercise in this morning routine as well, but currently during lockdown exercise happens at different times and formats during the day.

These daily habits are definitely keeping me sane and focused.

                                        

My oven and I are definitely starting to 'understand' each other. Rather proud of the shortbread that I baked that wasn't over baked or raw!

BIGGEST LESSON THIS WEEK / REMINDER

"Don't complain about the results you didn't get because of the work and learning you didn't do." Brad Sugars.

My take home from Jim Rohn this week: Turn frustration into fascination. 
As well as not to be casual about things; casual leads to casualty. 

QUOTE OF THE WEEK

“Courage is more exhilarating than fear and in the long run it is easier. We do not have to become heroes overnight. Just a step at a time, meeting each thing that comes up, seeing it is not as dreadful as it appeared, discovering we have the strength to stare it down.” Eleanor Roosevelt

WHAT MADE ME GIGGLE
Not really a giggle, more just a smile when I opened my utensils drawer:

Here are some of my favourite giggles from the week:

Stay healthy, stay safe; here's to another wonderful week!

Reputation Matters launches free reputation management eBook

Reputation Matters have launched a free ebook outlining 40 tips and tricks to manage your reputation and communication during the lockdown. Their specialist team have compiled this practical guide based on their extensive knowledge and experience that they have gained over the last 15 years.

“At Reputation Matters we believe in growing businesses and growing people. We build businesses that people want to do business with,” shares founder and managing director, Regine le Roux.

“The team have been absolutely amazing in turning this ebook around in a week,” says le Roux. Your Reputation Matters, 40 tips and tricks during lockdown, is an easy reference book and is aimed at guiding people on how to manage their reputation and communication during a crisis, such as this current COVID-19 lockdown situation.

The content is aimed at providing practical advice from managing your communication during a crisis, etiquette tips on setting up a virtual office, embracing communication tips from millennials to planning for the future. 

If you would like a free copy of the ebook register for it here: www.reputationmatters.co.za/ebook 

Reputation Matters have also made several free webinars on reputation management available, for more information on these sessions contact: research@reputationmatters.co.za

For more information on Reputation Matters contact research@reputationmatters.co.za or visit www.reputationmatters.co.za. Follow Reputation Matters on Facebook (@yourreputationmatters) or Twitter (@ReputationIsKey).

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The week that was 20200411

PROUDEST | MOST GRATEFUL MOMENT

My team continues to be phenomenal. 

Something that we are passionate about at Reputation Matters is to build businesses that people want to do business with. We strive for excellence always, in all ways. Over the last two weeks during the lockdown, we’ve put together content to help empower people and businesses to look after their reputations.

Last week we launched our free eBook: 40 Tips & Tricks to manage your reputation during the lock down. This week, the team have been very busy working on creating webinars to share, here's a list of all the free sessions taking place next week. They are scheduled to take place throughout the day, follow the links below to secure your spot!

• 9 habits of highly successful crisis communicators https://event.webinarjam.com/channel/RMCrisisComms  Tips and tricks on how to manage your communication during a crisis situation. Duration: 19:14

• Working from a virtual office: Tops for acing it https://event.webinarjam.com/channel/RMVirtualOffice  Are you working remotely during the lockdown? Here are a few tips for managing and working from a virtual office, as well as conference call etiquette. Duration: 08:14 Presenter: Nalene de Klerk

• 5 Communication lessons from Millennials https://event.webinarjam.com/channel/RMMillenialComms  Want to make sure that your communication is effective? A few communication lessons that we can learn from Millennials to be more effective with our communication are shared during this session. Duration: 10:54 Presenter: Chanell Kemp 

• Looking ahead: environmental responsibility and your reputation https://event.webinarjam.com/channel/RMEnvironment1  In this session, reputation manager and sustainability specialist, Chris Bischoff, talks about the importance of having a sustainability strategy to mitigate your company’s potential impact on the environment. A sustainability strategy that is successfully implemented throughout your business and supply chain; and communicated to all your stakeholder will positively influence your reputation.  Duration: 19:36 Presenter: Chris Bischoff  

• Is your reputation fit for the long haul? https://event.webinarjam.com/channel/ReputationFitness  If you treasure it, you will measure it! How fit is your reputation? During this session the similarities between being physically fit and the health of your company's reputation are discussed.  Duration: 19:27  

• Discussing environmental public participation https://event.webinarjam.com/channel/RMEIA  In this session, reputation manager and sustainability, Chris Bischoff, talks about the importance of communicating environmental management plans with the public. South Africa is a developing country; with many new developments an environmental impact assessment (EIA) is required. Alongside an EIA, it is important to keep the public informed and to give them a platform to raise concerns. Reputation Matters has specifically designed a service to help with public participation. Duration: 15:22  Presenter: Chris Bischoff

• Your reputation matters: https://event.webinarjam.com/channel/ReputationMatters Duration: 01:01:27 This session will give you an overview of Reputation Matters, and includes:

• Who exactly is Reputation Matters?
• Our core focus and methodology
• An exercise for you to do a quick assessment your company’s reputation
• Some of our clients
• Our mentorship program

We would love to hear from you and get your feedback on either the ebook or any of the webinars that you attend, pop us mail.

I am beyond ecstatic, proud and grateful for winning the SABRE Award for Superior Achievement in Measurement and Evaluation for the work that we've been doing for the South African Innovation Summit. So proud of Nalene de Klerk on the team for working so hard on the project. Very well deserved award!

I am incredibly grateful for the opportunity to have been part of the Institute of Directors in South Africa (IoDSA)'s Business Bytes @9 sessions that they are running each Wednesday morning. I talked on the  '9 habits of highly successful communicators'. It was so well organised and we were well prepped, this was confirmed by the great feedback we received afterwards.

We had another great ECCO communication network session. Wonderful to be sharing and hearing ideas around the globe regarding all things communication related. We, Reputation Matters, are driving a short survey to find out how people and businesses are managing their communication during this COVID-19 crisis, please will you be so kind as to take a few minutes to complete it.  https://www.research.net/r/COVID19surveyRM

I am very grateful to have been on the panel discussion on Margaret Hirsch's ACTION Coach SURVIVE & THRIVE webinar session. Great lessons were shared. One of the key ones that have stuck with me, it's no longer about your 'Unique Selling Proposition'; it now all about Unique Problem Solving Ability. 

BIGGEST LESSON THIS WEEK / REMINDER

PRACTICE PRACTICE PRACTICE! I was reminded this week how much I like to be prepped and ready for things. For the IoDSA webinar session we had two dry run sessions to make sure that everything was ready for the presentation, and that all the transitions and polls and Q&As worked smoothly.  Initially I thought that it was overkill; but, being ready and prepped confirmed just how important practicing everything before hand is. I really appreciate all the time that went in behind the scenes to make sure that it was a seamless session. I've never been a fan of 'winging' things. I've always joked that I like to plan to be spontaneous. 

*****

The other interesting thing I learnt this week was from 'Tough Choices by Carly Fiorina" page 93:

An organisational psychologist once told me that a person needs to hear a new idea at least six times before he or she can acknowledge it

*****

I've been following Brad Sugar from ACTION Coach's videos. I quite liked his acronym for FEAR = 
False Expectations Appearing Real.

This also came up in my social media timeline about fear:

QUOTE OF THE WEEK

'The message of Easter is one we carry in our hearts tonight. It is the message of hope, of recovery and of rebirth. We shall recover. We shall overcome. May God bless South Africa and protect her people.' President Cyril Ramaphosa, President of South Africa

WHAT MADE ME GIGGLE

 To end off with this week, I'll end with a poem about dawn (which in my opinion is the most magical time of day). I also loved the beautiful picture that accompanied it:

Dawn is a riddle

from the middle of the night

Born in a ripple

in a giggle of light

Have a wonderful, safe and healthy week everyone!

The week that was 20200404

PROUDEST | MOST GRATEFUL MOMENT

I am so incredibly proud of, and grateful for my AMAZING team! We did not let the lockdown get us down this week.

What did we do this week during lockdown? We wrote an ebook!

Your Reputation Matters: 40 tips & tricks to look after your reputation during the lockdown.

Let me know if you would like us to send you a FREE copy: 

www.reputationmatters.co.za/ebook 

We also had our Q1 review and plotted and planned for Q2. Very grateful for technology and that our virtual office runs so smoothly.  

Proud and grateful for being part of the ECCO Network. We represent South Africa in this network of owner based communication agencies. Earlier this week we had our first online meeting. Twenty agencies across the globe were represented. Quite an eye opener and incredibly interesting to hear what all the agencies are experiencing and contending with during the pandemic. 

                                       

Last week I baked a chocolate cake (was marginally better than the carrot cake), while Mark went to the store to buy provisions for the house. As I was mixing the batter, I realised how grateful I am that it's not a war situation that we are contending with. My great grandparents fought in the Anglo Boer War (in fact my great grandmother was in a concentration camp). Husbands would leave their families alone on the farm, and the wives would not know whether their husbands were safe, would return home or when  they would see each other again. I just thought to myself how grateful I am to be at home baking a cake and that Mark would be returning shortly from the store. It's definitely not great to be in lockdown and not being able to go for a run or cycle. But, I will take it any day of the week, knowing that all loved ones are safe at home. 

                          

I am incredibly grateful for the amazing view we have of Hout Bay. I do think it is what is keeping me sane. 

                                               

Not only do we have incredible views. Last weekend, and on Friday afternoon, Ard Matthews (from Just Jinger fame), treated the Bay to a roof top concert. It was beautiful. He has raised over R40 000 for those less fortunate during this time. [Photo from Facebook, a bit tree is slap bang infront of our view :)]

BIGGEST LESSON THIS WEEK / REMINDER

You can achieve absolutely anything that you put your mind to. 

***

Attended a great flexibility session that Sabine from our running club, Hout Bay Harriers, is hosting weekly during the lockdown.

Main lesson / realisation: I am definitely not as flexible as I thought I was. I also found a skipping rope; I'm definitely not skipping fit!

QUOTE OF THE WEEK

                                         
"Readi gives us somplace to go when we have to stay where we are," Mason Cooley

THIS WEEK I FINISHED READING...

The past few mornings I have been enjoying my cup of coffee with Jack Welch. Love learning how the great business people ran their businesses. Great advice and insights!

WHAT MADE ME GIGGLE

The memes continue and I am sure that they will for a while.
Some brands have been so clever:

   

:D

My Mom shared a few images of people finding creative ways to protect themselves:

Another one: 

Last one, and perhaps my favourite one Grant Wood's American Gothic representation:

Please keep safe and healthy!