We love to share, teach and muse. Here are some of our latest postings.

The Show Must Go On: The Athenian Within

Rathbun PR would like to thank AwareNow Media for featuring Carrie Rathbun Hawks, APR in a personal look inside her journey to personal and professional success, and her decision to become a Certified ATHENA International Facilitator.

https://awarenow.us/the-athenian-within

Leaders: Born or Made?

Give a listen to this insightful podcast by RPR’s Carrie Rathbun Hawks as she shares her perspectives on leadership with Expert Connexions Host Julie Holton.

 

Embracing Courage: The Power of Communication for Women Leaders

In a world where the voices of women have often been stifled and marginalized, the journey of a woman leader is a remarkable tale of resilience, perseverance, and courage. As women continue to break through glass ceilings in various sectors and assume leadership roles, effective communication becomes a cornerstone of their success. It’s not just about speaking up; it’s about cultivating the courage to communicate with impact, authenticity, and influence.

1. Defying Stereotypes with Authenticity:

The journey of a woman leader begins with the courage to be authentic. Society has often dictated how women should speak, behave, and lead. However, embracing one’s true self and communicating authentically is a powerful way to challenge stereotypes and connect on a deeper level. Authenticity breeds trust and allows for genuine connections to form, both within the team and with stakeholders.

2. Amplifying Voices, Including Your Own:

As a woman leader, you possess the unique ability to uplift other voices that have been marginalized. In meetings and discussions, practice active listening and encourage others to share their thoughts. By creating an inclusive environment, you not only empower your team but also demonstrate your commitment to collaboration and diversity. Additionally, do not shy away from asserting your own ideas and opinions. Your perspective is valuable, and asserting it with confidence is an act of courage that can inspire others.

3. Navigating Challenges with Poise:

Effective communication isn’t just about delivering good news; it’s also about navigating difficult conversations with poise and grace. Addressing conflicts, performance issues, or challenging decisions requires courage. Approach these conversations with empathy, actively listen to the other party, and seek common ground. By approaching challenges head-on, you show your strength as a leader who can handle tough situations.

4. Embracing the Power of Vulnerability:

Vulnerability is often misconstrued as a weakness, but in reality, it’s a tremendous source of strength. Sharing personal stories of overcoming obstacles or acknowledging areas where you need support can humanize you as a leader. This openness fosters an atmosphere of trust and encourages your team to be open and honest as well.

5. Resilience in the Face of Criticism:

Criticism is inevitable, especially for women in leadership positions. Developing resilience in the face of criticism requires unwavering courage. Remember that not every critique is valid, and feedback is an opportunity for growth. Stay focused on your goals and keep pushing forward, regardless of the negativity that may arise.

6. Leading with a Vision:

A courageous woman leader is one who communicates a clear vision and inspires others to rally around it. Effective communication of your goals and aspirations can ignite passion within your team. Share your vision with enthusiasm and conviction, and your courage will resonate with those around you.

7. Empowering Future Generations:

Your journey as a courageous woman leader paves the way for future generations. By embracing your role with determination and authenticity, you create a path for others to follow. Mentorship and sponsorship are vital components of this process. Take the time to guide and uplift younger professionals, helping them find their own voices and cultivate their courage.

Conclusion:

Communication is not just a tool for women leaders; it’s a weapon of courage that can shatter ceilings, transform perceptions, and inspire change. Embracing your authenticity, amplifying voices, navigating challenges, and leading with vision are all part of the journey toward effective communication as a woman leader. With every word spoken, you contribute to the collective effort to create a world where women’s voices are not just heard but celebrated. Your courage sets the stage for progress, and your communication paves the way for a brighter, more inclusive future.

If you want to incorporate more of these elements into your leadership style, consider joining my Being Athena Leadership Cohort. We’ll meet weekly online Mon., Sept. 18 – Nov. 20 from 5:30 – 7:30 p.m. EST. Check it out here: https://www.athenainternational.org/events/register.aspx?id=1765476

 

Authenticity and the big mirror

“Live authentically” is the first of eight charges in the ATHENA Leadership Model. Living authentically allows you to be fully present with others and yourself. It can make you less tired and worn down. Not being authentic can lead to lost trust, confusion and misalignment. That’s why it’s one of the single-most important things about good leadership.

Figuring out who we are and being comfortable in our own skin is easier said than done for some people, however. It’s been an interesting two weeks going through this process as part of my Being ATHENA cohort. My emotions and thoughts have been all over the place. When you have to sit down and put on (virtual) paper what it means to be real, your psyche can get a little weirded out! I’ve found myself being hyperaware of my words and actions in every meeting I’ve attended outside the cohort since it started. I’ve been back and forth between skepticism, gratitude, fear, excitement and wonder. I feel healthier for it though. It’s like being given permission to be who you are without apology.

Picking my top five core values was an interesting challenge. Having a page with lists of words representing values was helpful, but it was not as easy as one might expect. Over a few days, I must’ve adjusted the list a dozen times. I quickly realized that five was just a starting point. We knew it was okay to have more than that. But for the purposes of the exercise, we had to whittle it down. Ugh! I enjoyed the thoughtfulness that came with this assignment though. It really gave me perspective. Were these things I wanted from others, just myself or both? As I considered the nuanced differences between things like integrity and honesty, or faith and spirituality, I knew this was about digging deep. Here are the five that rose to the top:

  • Responsibility
  • Communication
  • Integrity
  • Generosity
  • Loyalty

I value these things foremost in myself, then in others. My growth now will come from holding onto these while realizing that they may not be appreciated by people with whom I’m interacting — and knowing that I have to respect the values and beliefs people have that are different from mine. That’s part of being a good leader.

What else about authenticity contributes to being seen as a leader? In our groups, we agreed that people should know what they’re getting when they walk into a room with you. You must be mission-minded, believing in what you’re saying and doing. You have to recognize that everybody is a leader in some way, and be secure enough to surround yourself with people who are smarter than you. I was particularly intrigued by something one of my classmates said: “To evaluate authenticity when I’m hiring or promoting, I look for someone who’s been an effective volunteer leader. If they are committed enough to do the right thing even when they’re not getting paid, it’s pretty telling.” Makes a lot of sense!

Since I last wrote, we’ve also reviewed our Predictive Index results. PI is based on scientifically proven methods to understand people and teams—specifically what drives behaviors at work. It’s not a personality test. It helps us to learn more about our authentic selves, and our discussions gave us the opportunity to recognize if we’re living that authenticity. I was categorized as a “strategist” (yep). My rankings were pretty dead-on, though there were a few humorous miscalculations (“Aloof?” Me? Hell no.). It was no surprise to see terms such as “proactive,” “assertive,” “openly challenges the world,” “independent” and “impatient.” And I fully own “by the book,” “careful with rules,” “intense,” “takes work and responsibilities very seriously and expects others to do the same” and “sensitivity to criticism.” Nope. Not very thick-skinned but pretty darn strong and focused. If you know me, you know all of this.

I’m still working out how to use this information to lean into my strengths and adapt where necessary to be an effective leader. Being especially self-critical, I immediately wanted to go to good vs. bad; right vs. wrong. But it was emphasized that that’s not what this assessment is about. There are no winners or losers; just having a good look in the mirror so we can work as harmoniously as possible with those at the other end of the spectrum. Setting boundaries is important — internally and externally. Reflecting back on our outcomes will be a regular occurrence over the next seven weeks, I’m sure.

Today I watched a TED Talk by Brene Brown, one of my favorite authors and speakers. I was particularly moved by two things she said:

  • “Don’t walk through the world looking for evidence you’re not enough because you will always find it.”
  • “Our worth and belonging are not negotiated with others. I’m not going to negotiate who I am with you because then I may fit in for you, but no longer belong to myself.”

I love her truthfulness and vulnerability; her authenticity. Her words tie in so well with finding and living as our authentic selves. We are enough. Who we are is not negotiable. Join me in putting this sage advice on repeat in your brain.

Starting my “Being ATHENA” journey

“What is honored in a country will be cultivated there.” Plato

This is what we started with in week one of ATHENA International’s Being ATHENA Leadership Program. In our case, the quote speaks to the importance of recognizing and building strong, diverse, impactful and mindful women leaders. We will do this by studying the eight principles of the ATHENA Leadership Model:

  • Live Authentically.
  • Learn Constantly.
  • Advocate Fiercely.
  • Act Courageously.
  • Foster Collaboration.
  • Build Relationships.
  • Give Back.
  • Celebrate.

These are all very exciting to me. I think of myself as a pretty authentic person, and I know I am fierce in many ways. But am I directing that authenticity and fierceness in the right directions? I guess I’ll find out. Learning constantly is an area I know I can work on. Having Generalized Anxiety Disorder, I’m easily overwhelmed. Sometimes it can feel like there are just too many things to read, too many podcasts to keep up with or too many webinars or networking events to attend. But learning takes many forms. I must keep that in mind because it is truly important to feed our minds. In the words of Mrs. Doubtfire, “Expand your craniums!” And as a more serious saying goes, “When you stop learning, you start dying.” (I find it funny that this expression is attributed to multiple people, including Albert Einstein and Tom Clancy!)

Courage can be hard. In my experience, however, once you see the results of it, it gets easier. Lots of personal, health and spiritual journeys have taught me this. More about those later in another post.

Collaboration? I love collaboration! We need more of it to keep this crazy world going ’round. It’s not often we can stand on islands and get much done. If we can swim, row or surf to the shore and meet on the beach around the bonfire, our collective minds, talents and resources can lead to more impactful and successful outcomes (this goes with the Building Relationships piece too). Afterward — or along the way — we can celebrate. And we might just be giving something back to someone or something as well.

A couple of things that particularly struck me from our session:

  1. There are two levels of respect: gold and platinum. Gold is to treat others the way you’d want to be treated (Yep. Gold = Golden Rule). Platinum is to treat others in a way that’s meaningful to them. Heads nodded and eyes opened wide when the latter was shared. We agreed adopting the platinum definition would be one of our rules of engagement. It’s been on my mind ever since it was shared.
  2. This course should not be a one-and-done thing. As ALM #2 says, “Learn Constantly.” We aren’t fulfilling the mission of ATHENA if we put our workbooks on a shelf or fail to carry forward our new-and-improved selves to make a difference somewhere. I plan to use my expanded cranium in whatever way(s) God and life lead me to. If you know me personally, can I count on you to hold me to it?

Lastly, here is what I want to take away from this whole experience:

  • Being more comfortable with not being perfect, yet knowing I’ll still be respected.
  • Learning how to be myself — unapologetically.
  • Developing a clearer idea of whether I’m ready to pivot in any way personally or professionally (this has been on my mind for a couple of years now).
  • Expanding my leadership skills through the collective learning and sharing with the group.

Sharing this makes me feel vulnerable but courageous. But that’s part of being a leader, or so I’m told. :)

I’m looking forward to the next nine weeks with the women in my group. We come from across the country; from all walks of life, professions and levels of leadership. We are not all Athenians (not a requirement). But we are ALL amazing!

 

Time to Plan?

Have a communication plan, or getting ready to create or update one? Make sure you ask these five questions:
1. Are my audiences clearly defined?
2. Do I know how they perceive me or my organization?
3. Do I know if I’m giving them what they want or need?
4. Am I using the right tools to reach them?
5. Is what I’m doing in line with our mission, brand and strategic goals?

Doing an audit of your communication efforts every once in awhile — along with using other myriad evaluation tools regularly — can help you answer these important questions. Shooting from the hip is, well, likely to miss your target.

I’ve helped many organizations work through this process in my 30 years of PR work. The outcomes usually shed light on some pretty great opportunities. It’s like GPS: you’ll be driving down new avenues with a better roadmap.
#communications #planning #audit #pr #strategy #strategiccommunications #audienceinsights #research #evaluation

 

The Right Way to Write

In public relations, we love to tell stories. That means we write a lot. Really, a lot! What are some tips to stay sharp and keep putting out content people want to read (and hopefully share)?

1. Always write for the reader. This means knowing something about your intended audience.
2. Ditch the inverted pyramid (putting the 5Ws & H in your intro). Get to the interesting stuff up front.
3. Do your homework. Are you providing enough “meat” on your subject matter? Taking time for some quick research always pays off.
4. KISS (no, not the rock band, though they’ve put out some really great stuff!). In case you don’t know, this still stands for “Keep it Simple, Stupid!”
5. Check in occasionally. Are the readers you want, well, reading? Are you asking their thoughts on your goods?

What are some of your best tips?

#writing #publicrelations #share #people #content #research #featuredarticle

 

Podcasts for Picking

Looking for a new podcast? Maybe a little detour from something related to your field of practice? These look interesting from NPR. I think I will check out the one on the Rocky Balboa statue first.

What are some of your favorite podcasts?