by Phil Jones | Updated 29 Oct, 2018 | Avoiding communication mistakes, Communicating bad news
Watching the developments after the terrible earthquake and tsunami in Japan, I have been frustrated by the reporting of the problems at the nuclear reactor plant at Fukushima. The thing that frustrated me the most was the loose language used in describing the...
by Phil Jones | Updated 9 Feb, 2016 | Avoiding communication mistakes, Communicating bad news, Planning communication
As it it budget day in the UK, (The day the Chancellor announces changes to various tax rates) we have been inundated with speculation about what will be in the Chancellor’s budget. All prior to the announcement. Now it is a tradition that the contents of the...
by Phil Jones | Updated 18 Oct, 2017 | Avoiding communication mistakes, Communicating bad news
Only a few weeks ago Lord Young was booted out of office for telling the truth about the cuts, but at an inappropriate time. He was merely an advisor to the Cabinet. Now we have Vince Cable, a member of the cabinet, telling people “in his constituency”...
by Phil Jones | Updated 20 Oct, 2017 | Avoiding communication mistakes
When is a 25% cut an increase? In the case of the public sector cuts, when you want to communicate your strategy, create an imperative for change and protect your reputation. Let me explain. I feel a little sorry for Lord Young. He has been lambasted in the press...
by Phil Jones | Updated 11 Jul, 2017 | Avoiding communication mistakes, Communicating & Socialising Strategy
This is a classic story of how NOT to communicate with your customers during acquisition. In fact, confusing your customers and mis-communicating your strategy and actions during acquisition…. The background I wanted an eye test and some new glasses, so I...
by Phil Jones | Updated 20 Oct, 2017 | Communicating bad news, Communicating change
Just at the moment, one of the most difficult places to be must be in finance in the public sector. They are constantly re-doing budgets and subject to negotiations over custs to funding from central government. That is if the organisation still exists: if you are a...
by Phil Jones | 12 Sep, 2010 | Avoiding communication mistakes
This is possibly the most common mistake in communication, How often have you though you have told someone something, but either they forgot or you only meant to tell them but never got around to doing it. You never actually said it. How often have you told someone...
by Phil Jones | 14 Jul, 2010 | Avoiding communication mistakes
My reaction would be no! No, No, No. And again, NO! (Just so you are sure) And that is the reaction of most of the people who posted responses to this Harvard Business review article “The Subtleties of Strategic Swearing”. Frankly there is nothing subtle...
by Phil Jones | 10 May, 2010 | Avoiding communication mistakes, Communicating bad news
Listen out for how people explain problems and faliures. Do they say: “It was the weather. We had a wet summer and numbers were down” “There were roadworks outside the shop for 6 weeks and that discouraged people from visiting” “The...