Women’s History Month is not just about acknowledging the achievements of women who came before us. It is about making note of the women we surround ourselves with who are making history today.

The days of all women being placed in boxes of just childrearing or homemaking are gone as women themselves continuously burst through each ceiling placed above them. The women we traditionally celebrate throughout Women’s History Month are merely the spark of the modern day woman: one made of strength, grit and passion for building and excelling in all aspects of her life—professionally, personally and more.

An attribute of the female power network that never fails to disappoint, surprise, and most importantly, empower me is the success that spurs from women supporting women.

I have worked nearly my entire career until joining NP Strategy in male dominated industries like journalism and politics and rarely had a female boss. Due to those early years, I typically built relationships with male mentors and never understood the importance of honing in on those female leaders until later in my career.

Madeline Albright might have the most famous quote on this subject but I’ve always liked Gloria Vanderbilt’s take the best, “I always believed that one woman’s success can only help another woman’s success.” I truly believe this.

And men, don’t stop reading now. This dialogue is almost more important for you than it is for the women reading this today.

In my role working with clients at every level of the corporate ladder and managing internal relationships across a female dominated firm, I have to be incredibly cognizant of the behavior around me and the performance I exude. Here are a few tactics I recommend we all consider when working with our team members to build a supportive and cohesive environment in our workplace:

1) Fully commit to the understanding that your colleagues’ achievements can assist in your long-term success. I have personally experienced or watched colleagues worry about the success of a partner or colleague to the detriment of their own efforts. It shouldn’t work that way. You can always learn from your friends, colleagues and family members and being able to see success in action will only help you in achieving your own goals.

2) Don’t just say you support women—put in the work to back it up. There are many instances in which women in leadership preach about their interest in seeing other female leaders, or promote their organization’s efforts in hiring female employees. However, when it comes time to share opportunities or work with other females on their individual success, it turns into a game involving egos and a lack of interest in moving the ball forward on a larger scale. Voicing your commitment to DEI is not enough. Implement support at every step of leadership.

3) Use your time and energy in building up the next generation. I have heard, and admittedly been part of, conversations about the work ethic of the next generation and the differences in what we’ve seen in generations before us. Without teaching and spending time with these young people and displaying the work ethic and professional behaviors we expect, we are effectively setting them up to fail. Help them understand the importance of work-life balance while reminding them the importance of deadlines.

With the ongoing growth of women leaders from Lou Kennedy at Nephron Pharmaceuticals to Vice President Kamala Harris, women are the future of business and politics. We can do the job just like men, if not better, with high heels on and a dinner to cook for two kids and a spouse at home. If we all work together to achieve each other’s successes, our potential is great but our accomplishments will be greater.

In this day and age, if you want your company to reach its maximum potential, a concerted effort must be made to use social media. But it goes deeper than just posting a few sentences every day. Successful brands are frequently discussed and part of the conversation, even when they aren’t directly involved. This impacts brand awareness and creates visibility for your company, which can have a positive impact on your bottom line. So, where do you start? Here are a few tips on how to use social media to increase brand awareness.

First, choose the right platform(s) for your audience. Once you do that, you’ll know exactly who you’re talking to. From there, deliver engaging content and encourage your audience to share it. The more people you get to share what you’ve posted, the more chances you have of growing your audience, which will allow you to make a greater impact and be a part of the larger conversation.

Next, connect with influencers and other brands that are like-minded and share your vision. This is a great way to tap into their followers while building a social media campaign that speaks to your audience as well. At its core, social media is about building a community, so retweeting, sharing, liking and commenting increase overall engagement. Customers and followers love being mentioned on social media, so feel free to include them in the same post as their favorite influencer.

And finally, invest in promoted posts and advertising. Social media is not what it used to be, with some platforms changing their algorithms weekly. Facebook, Instagram and others limit the reach of posts to your audience, leading to plummeted engagement across brands and accounts. In order to combat this, you should make sure your company invests in promoted posts and advertising via posts and stories. And remember authenticity is key – ads that come across as organic perform best and lead to more conversions.

When a crisis hits there is no time to spare. If you do not have a crisis and risk management plan in place, there is even less time to discuss what steps need to be taken and how to handle the issues at hand. But if you plan in advance, when a crisis does hit (and it most likely will) you can confidently handle the situation and keep everything under control.

At NPS+ we offer an array of services including crisis management. We provide a written Risk and Crisis Management Plan that includes:

• Crisis management guidelines principles
• Crisis response steps
• Crisis management plan implementation, capabilities and maintenance
• Identification of key company risk and how to handle

Each client is going to have different needs when it comes to crisis preparation, so NPS+ can create a customized crisis plan catered to your needs. A construction firm may need to focus more on training employees who could potentially be hurt on the job. An international manufacturing company may focus on supply chain issues. A school may need to focus on teacher relations or student athletics. Having an organizational rollout of the crisis response program will provide a guidebook for leadership, employees, and even board members and stakeholders to follow in a time of need.

NPS+ offers onsite crisis and risk training with a full day of “real life” scenarios.  Practice answering questions from media, stakeholders, parents, etc. so you don’t get caught off guard speaking off the cuff in a moment of panic. Our team of former journalists and communications professionals will set your company up for success. Prepping beforehand keeps your company on the offense and not the defense.

Don’t let a lack of preparation for a crisis BECOME your crisis.

In 2012, I left a thriving career in Washington, DC to move back to my native state of South Carolina. Apart from family and friends, a driving factor in my decision to move back to South Carolina was my desire to be able to make an impact in my community.

Looking back, it’s hard to believe that Columbia has been my home for nearly a decade. When I first moved to Columbia, I had a handful of personal relationships, but very few professional relationships. Nevertheless, I was determined to hit the ground running and get involved.

I quickly sought out individuals and organizations I aligned with to see how I could be engaged in the community outside of my job. My involvement with local organizations allowed me to not only build my network in Columbia but also strengthen my skill sets. One organization gave me public speaking opportunities while another organization helped me learn patience as I aided an elementary student with reading. Each experience helping me grow as an individual, both personally and professionally.

Due to my steady commitment to one organization, in particular, I’m proud to share that I am chairing the Board of Directors of the Columbia Chamber this year. The Chamber matches my personal interests of wanting to make a difference for my community while also complimenting my professional interest in helping businesses succeed. As I look back on my decision to move back to South Carolina to try to make a difference, I’m beyond grateful for the friends and mentors who have encouraged and guided me along the way allowing me the opportunity to serve in this capacity.

So, my plea to you is to get involved in your local community! Some people choose to get involved through elected office, while others give back through their churches. Whatever your outlet, get in the arena and you will realize you get way more out of it than you give.

Here are a few things to consider when deciding whether to engage:

• Are you passionate about the organization?
• Can you commit time to the organization?
• What talent or attribute could you bring to the organization?

My friends in development have taught me that giving back is not just about providing financial resources, it’s more about sharing your time and your talent. I hope you will join me in giving back to your community!

Delivering a great client or customer experience isn’t as simple as it sounds. Professionals who deliver services to either businesses or individuals may assume there is only one way to do it “right.”  While there may be standards and best practices, an exceptional experience is based on the client’s perception – not yours – but you can indeed affect how your clients and customers feel when they work with you.  After all, their experience isn’t just about the outcome, it’s about the process.

With that in mind, start a project the right way by talking your client about their expectations and preferences.  Ask about their timelines, when they want to see updates, how often they want communication, and how best to communicate (phone, zoom, in person, text). Clients can be lost and won on the basis of responsiveness, so make sure you know how quickly they expect return phone calls and emails.

These seemingly small details add up to how your services are perceived. You were hired because you are skilled in the service you provide, but never forget that you are not the only option. Competitors are ready and willing to take your place if the experience is subpar – even if your services are excellent.

Communication is always critical, so consider using some time (free of charge) to interview your client and ask how things are going. These periodic check-ins will serve you well in two very important ways. First, you will be able to troubleshoot any small issues before they become big ones and give you an opportunity for correction. Second, the client’s experience is enhanced because you cared enough to ask for honest feedback, and your quick efforts to improve will be remembered.

If you’ve ever heard the term “it’s not about you,” it definitely applies here. Confidence in your company’s expertise does not directly translate into “the right way” unless you and your client are in agreement on the expectations.  Establish those early, check in often, and when you have a happy client in the end, the referrals will follow.

Your website is the digital face of your organization or campaign. Though funds may be lower than desired for your web design, this is not an area where you should skimp when it comes to price or time. Well-designed sites are more trustworthy.  People are more likely to stay on your site and learn your story as well as contribute financially if they feel they can trust your organization.

Our tips for a trustworthy site:

Keep it Simple:

• Don’t clutter your site with tons of random pictures
• Use no more than 3 fonts (only use 2 if you can get away with it)
• Don’t go crazy with your color scheme. Your scheme and palette should reflect your mood as an organization. Need ideas? Adobe can help you with that.
• Make sure your navigation is easy to both find and use.

Show Your Purpose:

Why do you want people to get involved in your organization? Why should they buy your product or invest in your services? Put this information upfront and center, don’t hide it away!

Keep Your Site Current:

No one likes finding outdated information when they are searching for contacts and events. Make sure your website’s information is up to date. This includes regularly editing bios, pictures, and calendars as well as making sure there are no broken links throughout your site. Being as up to date as possible will make your organization or company current, and in turn visitors will be more trusting of the information you are providing.

Show Your Personality:

Don’t forget, as this is your organization’s digital “face,” to show off your personality! Use imagery and color schemes that best represent your team and work culture.  Don’t be afraid to have fun, but always make sure that whatever additions or edits you make to your website should still stay true to the tone of your organization’s mission.

Communication is often at the core of many dilemmas or disagreements, whether personal or professional. At NP Strategy, we personalize in professional communications issues and help our clients find solutions to complex problems. Effective communication with media, stakeholders and business partners can impact your success. However, dealing with press conferences or media relations on a day-to-day basis won’t always solve your communication troubles – sometimes the messaging needs to occur within your company.

Internal communication is the function responsible for effective communication among participants within an organization. If the messaging does not line up within an organization, it will be hard to sell a united front message to the outside (media, stakeholders, etc.).

Building a strong, internal communications culture is vital to the success of team members, which leads to the overall success of an organization.

Here are three ways to build your internal messaging:

1. Engage employees: If leadership sees that communication is just gossip or toxicity around the water cooler, it is time to identify the gaps between the current vision and what the employees are actually feeling. Through anonymous surveys or small meetings employees will have the chance to have their voice heard and leadership can gain a true understanding of what needs to change.

2. Metrics: We monitor metrics for clients, but do we monitor them internally? If leadership is sending out multiple emails a day that employees do not read; there is a problem. Monitor the metrics and then discuss if pivoting to a different method is better. Weekly team calls or in-person meetings with a defined agenda can provide weekly messaging without bombarding an inbox.

3. Focus on the Message: Don’t get frustrated with pivoting and the reworking of internal communications. However, don’t lose sight of your company’s core mission and vision. Stay true to your foundation, and lead with clear and open communication.

Strong internal communication leads to even stronger external communication. The impact on your company will be positive and sustainable. Never be afraid to get back to the basics and grow the messaging from the ground up. Your staff will engage better with you and each other.

Dr. Seuss once said, “The writer who breeds more words than he needs is making a chore for the reader who reads.” Simply put, superfluous pieces are a one-way ticket to decreased engagement. Readers are looking for a few things – usually based on the who, what, when, where and why. These are the important details – tread lightly with anything extra.

Since grade school, we’ve been conditioned to believe that more is better. From word count to page number requirements, we’ve developed “fluffing” habits. Truth is, fluff is not equal to detail. Furthermore, it is distracting. Where readers should be gaining valuable information, they get caught in a whirlwind of hyperboles and anecdotes. Sure, when used appropriately, literary devices can be entertaining and help to craft a beautiful message, but just like everything else in life, there is a time and place for them. Here are a few tips on how to keep your audience engaged through concise writing.

Don’t get caught up with fancy language

When reading for leisure, readers will appreciate not having to think too hard. You don’t have to write on a third-grade level to be relatable, but keep it simple where you can. Avoiding jargon-heavy writing is best, too.

Edit, edit and edit again

The revision process helps you eliminate unnecessary information and consolidate your thoughts. Constant reiteration falls on deaf ears, so stating your point succinctly is the way to go.

Put yourself in the reader’s shoes

Consider your audience demographics. Are they on the go? Even if they’re not, would you want to read a dissertation to get basic information?

Don’t use the conclusion as a summary

Eliminate redundancy by making the big point with your conclusion. No need to reiterate the same points you made previously.

It’s no secret that our nation is increasingly diverse. In fact, groups that once were considered minorities, now represent the majority of our population. With that in mind, what does “inclusive content” mean? Simply put, it is content that serves and resonates with many people with different characteristics, backgrounds, and identities. It is content that truly reflects the diverse communities that make up the world we live in.

There are a few steps you can take to make your audience read, listen and see content that makes them say “yes, this brand is speaking to me, I can relate with this, and I can consider what they are offering.”

Acknowledge the many faces of diversity

As the old saying goes, there is no “one size fits all” approach. Diversity means a lot more than gender and ethnicity – it includes age, location, sexual orientation, socio-economic position, learning abilities, and beyond. Besides, more often than not, audiences are not homogeneous groups.

Revise tone and language

Keep empathy, context, and nuance top of mind when drafting your message. Show your audience that you recognize their unique characteristics, values, and personal journeys.

If you are trying to reach a specific group who prefers another language that’s not English, go beyond the simple translation of content. Authentic and personalized content will help you better connect with your audience. After coming up with a phrase, caption or slogan, put yourself in your audience’s shoes to understand how it could be interpreted.

Representation

Have you ever had trouble relating to ads, TV, or other media because it told stories of people with lives that were vastly different from your own? If so, you’re not alone. Now, imagine what a differentiator it would be if your content incorporated real and diverse voices.  If you are thoughtful about the images, videos, and visuals that represent your brand, you will make people feel empowered and heard.

Crafting inclusive and relatable content isn’t an easy task. But when you do it transparently and genuinely, it will have a powerful impact on your brand, employees, customers, and the community.