Formalising Stakeholder Relationship Management in an Organization

I recently had an interesting conversation with a manager that had been tasked to formalise stakeholder management in his organisation (a Bank). Without being able to do an in depth analysis of the specifics and needs of the bank, I summarised his basic needs as: 1. There is a need to start a strategic conversation […]

Pricing: A lesson from Picasso

A women was strolling along a street in Paris when she spotted Picasso sketching at a sidewalk cafe. The women asked Picasso if he might sketch her, and charge accordingly. Picasso obliged. In just minutes, there she was: an original Picasso. “And what do I owe you?” she asked. “Five thousand francs,” he answered. “But […]

Creative Linguistics – A Consultant’s Marketing Tool in the New World Order

Here is an article that I wrote on Fads in my Powerlines newsletter Number 7 way back in December of 1998. These days it seems that every month some consultant or writer comes up with a new Cure -all for managerial ills, that has its own trendy specific title. These actions have their origin in […]

How would you explain the difference between PR and branding? Do you think there is a difference?

It’s simple: Branding is what you use to mark your cattle. You take a red hot iron with your logo and burn it into the hide of each cow or steer you own. PR is what you use to explain why you are burning the poor, innocent cows. PR explains why this is important, PR […]

A Different view on Manyi’s ‘Media Tendencies’

The recent interview on the Radio 702 with John Robbie and Jimmy Many of the GCIS and his words that the media has ‘tendencies’ and the reported breakdown of relationships between the SA National Editors Forum and Manyi got me thinking. Tendencies? View points? What drives a journalist? Let’s view it from another angle. Why […]

Stories that coach–The Strange Incident with the Dog

Constable to Sherlock Holmes: “Is there anything about tonight’s incident that you would like to draw my attention to, Sir?” Sherlock Holmes: “Yes the strange incident with the dog.” Constable: “But, the dog did nothing, Sir!” Sherlock Holmes: “Yes! That is the strange incident.” Lesson: Management has to be like Sherlock Holmes and have the […]

Strategic Marketing and its implications for Professional Service Providers

Many of my readers may not be aware that I facilitate Marketing a Professional Practice workshops. These workshops are designed to teach professional service providers ranging from architects to doctors to management consultants how to build their reputation and market themselves elegantly in an inter-connected society. At my last workshop, I was asked for a […]