Welcome to the Results Map blog!
Its focus is simple – to spark ideas, conversations and actions to help set communicators up for success through a strategic approach to communications planning.
Given the breathtaking proliferation of blogs and online conversations about communications (let’s face it, communicators like to communicate!), it’s fair to ask: Why this? Why now?
Because there has never been a more compelling – and urgent time for communicators to add real value to their organizations, and to ensure that value is recognized. Consider the sobering reality that last year, fully 25% of the International Association of Business Communicators (IABC) world-wide members lost their jobs.
The truth is that communications is often seen as overhead – as a “nice to have” function that’s frequently the first on the chopping block when cuts are made. And until we get very honest and real about the factors contributing to our vulnerability relative to other functional groups, we are doomed to experience the discouraging, demoralizing and often debilitating death by a thousand cuts that has been experienced by communications teams in every sector and every corner of the globe.
On the eve of the 2010 IABC World Conference where Canada plays host to the world’s communicators in Toronto next week, it’s time to make a change. It’s time to shift toward a model in which communications is about contributing leadership and unique, measurable value to the organizations we serve.
The Results Map has been developed with that singular focus – it’s all about setting communicators up for success. It’s the world’s first fully interactive online tool for strategic communications planning. The application includes videos, podcasts, tools, templates and dashboards as well as a powerful online community for communicators from around the world to share ideas and best practices. This blog is an integral part of the Results Map, which is now being offered to communicators after six years of R&D investment in the real power and impact of communications.
I hope you’ll join me on this journey of exploring innovative strategies to step up the communications function through an enhanced focus on value, leadership and evaluation.
Let’s go.