What Romney lacked in South Carolina, however, is the same thing that many change leaders lack. The failure to tap into an emotional vein.

A CNN political pundit put it well when he said, “You can serve a mayonnaise sandwich on a silver tray – but it still has no taste.”

That’s exactly what happened to Mitt Romney in South Carolina. Information alone won’t result in change. Compliance is not commitment.

As author Rick Mauer puts it so eloquently in his book Beyond the Wall of Resistance, “The myth is: All I need to do is tell them…but what many leaders miss is that just giving people facts and figures doesn’t cut it.” To make a case for change, people need to feel the heat of the burning platform.

Simply put, people don’t make decisions on data and information alone. They want passion.

Contrary to Romney, Newt Gingrich might be boot-strapping his campaign together, but he clearly understands the critical importance of emotional appeal.

For any initiative to be successful, whether it’s organizational change or a political campaign, people must feel a sense of urgency and have emotional momentum. Otherwise, you just have an empty sandwich.

The third and most important hurdle is trust. While information and emotion count, trust is critical. Without it a leader is paralyzed. It will be interesting to watch which candidate can truly capture the trust of Republican voters.

Now… Who’s hungry?

Professional Speaker Pamela Gilchrist To Present "NO FEAR" Crisis Communications Workshop At OSAE Conference

the 2011 Ohio Society of Association Executives (OSAE) Annual Conference and Marketplace. Her session takes place Thursday, July 28 at 1:15 p.m. at the Cincinnati Marriott North in West Chester, Ohio.

The interactive session will focus on the essentials for associations when managing a crisis — and most importantly how to plan for and avoid crises in the first place.

“You don’t build reputation during a crisis. That’s the time when you withdraw on the bank of goodwill that you’ve built up over time with your stakeholders,” Gilchrist said

Gilchrist’s Top Three Crisis Tips:
1. Regularly engage with key constituents both online and off
2. Continuously monitor your ecosystem inside and out
3. Failure to plan is planning to fail — don’t wing it

Pam Gilchrist is a professional speaker and international-award winning, Fortune 500 communications and leadership expert. As chief strategist and CEO at the Gilchrist Group™, she advises organizations on how to have more impact by focusing on breakthrough business strategies, brand identity and influencer engagement.

She has guided organizations through crises ranging from reputation to tragedy for more than 25 years and is “on call” for numerous organizations. Gilchrist is accredited (APR) by the Public Relations Society of America where she is a member of its Counselors Academy. Gilchrist also serves as operations director for the National Speakers Association Ohio Chapter and on the public relations committee for the Nothern Kentucky Chamber of Commerce.

The Gilchrist Group is a strategic business consulting firm specializing in business growth, executive leadership and high impact communications. The firm has special expertise in guiding organizations through times of significant growth and change.

When you want impact – choose the Gilchrist Group™.
We build businesses. www.gilchristgroup.com

What’s the biggest, freakiest thing you have ever overcome?

Think about it for a second.

If you’ve had any “good life experience” (as my father-in-law calls it), you’ve probably had those moments that seemed insurmountable… when the big wave was going to crush you and pull you under.

Don’t miss Keynote Speaker Pam Gilchrist, Friday morning April 8, 2011 at the Ohio IAWP Spring Institute as she shares “Tsunami Success™: How To Surf The Big Waves And Seize Success Now. Pam will share tips on how to:

1. Seize emerging opportunities to strengthen market share 

2. Adapt quickly to the rapidly changing socio-economic landscape
ahead of your competitors 

4. Leveraging core strengths in the new economy 

5. Learn how to be THE industry thought leader in the recovery 

Surfer Laird Hamilton faces those waves every time he pulls on his big boy shorts, crawls on his board and waits for a swell. If you don’t know much about the sandy-haired, muscle-bound surfing kamikaze who attacks waves the size of seven story buildings raging at 30 miles per hour — you should…

Cincinnati, OH – March 25, 2010 – The Gilchrist Group™, a Greater Cincinnati-based strategic business and communications consulting firm, has garnered two top industry awards from the Public Relations Society of America (PRSA).

The Gilchrist Group was honored with a Diamond Award from PRSA’s East Central District for the launch of Otterbein Homes’ newest skilled nursing care and rehabilitation small house neighborhood – Avalon by Otterbein at Maineville in Hamilton Township. This is both the second time that Otterbein has partnered with the Gilchrist Group on a neighborhood launch and that the work has won top awards.

“Pam Gilchrist’s knowledge and communications expertise has been extremely valuable to our organization. She and her team have provided strategic guidance on media relations and issues management. We truly appreciate her expert knowledge and feel blessed having her as a trusted partner,” said Gary Horning, vice president of marketing, Otterbein Homes, Inc.

Additionally, Gilchrist Group won the “Best in Show” campaign award and a top research category award at the PRSA Cincinnati Chapter’s Blacksmith Awards. The award was given for the firm’s Communications Effectiveness Research for the Greater Cincinnati Health Council.

“Best-practice organizations build communications benchmarks into their strategic plans. Our work with the Health Council established a solid baseline for future measurement and outlined a series of recommendations to align all communications to drive member engagement and achieve strategic objectives,” said Pamela Gilchrist, MA, APR, chief strategist and CEO at the Gilchrist Group.

The Gilchrist Group conducted a communications audit, a series of in-depth interviews and teamed with R.L. Repass and Partners for development of an online survey tool. The findings of the research are guiding alignment of all communications for the Health Council. “We were extremely pleased with the outcome of the work and feel we have a solid path to move forward in our journey,” said Nancy Strassel, senior vice president at the Health Council.

“The feedback that we receive from the independent judges is validation that we continue to provide a high-level of excellence and impact to our clients,” said Gilchrist who was named 2009 PRSA Professional-of-the-Year. Independent judges from the Houston PRSA Chapter had this to say about the research: “An excellent example of how communications research should be conducted! Very thorough. Execution clearly defined and well executed. Excellent research.”

About The Gilchrist Group:
Gilchrist Group™ is a strategic business and communications consulting firm that works with organizations experiencing times of dramatic growth and change in three key areas: business strategy, executive leadership and high impact communications. By focusing on influence and engagement, the firm brings Fortune 500 expertise in areas such as: strategic road maps; next level leadership development; change management; communications research; best practice and gap analysis; go-to-market plans, and Marketing|PR|Social integration. Chief Strategist and CEO Pamela Gilchrist is also a frequently requested speaker at corporate and industry conferences. Founded in 1999 as PR~Link Public Relations, the international award-winning firm serves clients across the country in a wide-range of industries including: financial services, healthcare, technology, manufacturing, engineering, government and not-for-profit.

To learn how your organization can benefit from the firm’s strategic planning, leadership develop and high impact communications, contact Pam Gilchrist at: pgilchrist@gilchristgroup.com or call 859-431-9090.

# # #

The Gilchrist Group Garnered the Best In Show Award at tonight’s PRSA Blacksmith Awards in Cincinnati Ohio for its Communications Effectiveness Research work.

Independent judges from the Houston PRSA Chapter had this to say about the project:

• It is evident that a lot of work went into this project.
•  The situation analysis was clearly defined.
• Objectives stated and execution on tactics was excellent.
• Background material and research tools were very thorough.
•  An excellent example of how communications research should be conducted!
•  Very thorough. Execution clearly defined and well executed.
• Excellent research.

The question is… now that the election is over, can we all get back to business?

While President Obama will never be “pro-business.” But thanks to a more evenly divided Congress, Corporate America, has an opportunity to influence the discussion in Washington. Now is the time to help our elected-officials understand that business is the driver behind jobs and our econmic recovery.

Leaders… I am urging you to shake it off and shake it up. It’s time to fine tune your business models and align your employees as quickly as possible. This is the key to emerging from the “unrecovery” ahead of your competitors.

Surf The Big Waves & Seize Success Now

CEO Pam Gilchrist’s keynote presentation, Tsunami Success, will help your audience successfully learn how to surf the big waves of change and seize success.

Based on her research on 10 emerging socio-economic trends that are driving dramatic change in the U.S., Pam shares secrets and best practices from organizations and leaders who are forward thinking. And, she shares some personal stories about the problems with water — from sinking, to swimming to finally learning how to surf.

You can count on wit, wisdom and a fast-paced, current keynote that will keep your audience engaged and wanting more.

Find out more at: http://tinyurl.com/pamspeaks or www.gilchristgroup.com

The Gilchrist Group's Speaker-Link Program Will Turn You Into A Rock Star & Information Czar

 

Speaker-Link(TM) 

When you need more impact, you need the Gilchrist Group.

Call us when you need a personal brand that can turn your profile into profit! We’re experienced. For more than a decade, we’ve helped authors and speakers successfully develop their branding and go-to-market strategies through our exclusive Speaker-Link™ program. From business planning to marketing, PR, web and social media strategies, our award-winning work will help you gain traction and grow your business.

Our Fortune 500 insider success secrets can help you — whether you need national publicity, a new website, PR|Social content, online profiles, one sheets, book editing and publishing management, or an overall marketing plan to align and leverage your assets – you can count on us for results.

 It’s a big problem for businesses. Communications complexity, fueled by the explosion of social media applications and content. It’s easy to be overwhelmed by all the new ways to reach out and connect with customers and prospects.

CONFUSION

There’s LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, Blogs, and on and on.

UNCERTAINTY

Then there’s the uncertainty. Sure … all thesocial media stuff sounnds good, but can it help the bottom-line?

THE ANSWER

To answer that question and help  solve the social media communications complexity The Gilchrist Group launched a new service today called SPEAKER-LINK™
 

SPEAKER-LINK helps breakthrough online clutter, increase visibility and optimize your social networking. The result: More gigs. More profit.

SPEAKER-LINK TURNS YOUR PROFILES INTO PROFIT:

1. Your online profiles are carefully set-up  with the right keywords to drive sales
2. Your profiles are linked and optimized to gain  higher search engine rankings for blogs and websites
3. The Gichrist Group will train and teach you what really works.

FOR MORE INFORMATION

E-mail Pamela  today for a NSA member discount pgilchrist@gilchristgroup.com
or connect with her on

• www.twitter.com/pamgilchrist
• www.linkedin.com/in/pamelagilchrist
• www.facebook.com/PamGilchrist

Or … you could do it the old-fashioned way.

The Gilchrist Group
8190 Beechmont Avenue, #361
Cincinnati, Ohio 45255
P) 859-431-9090
F) 800-233-1415
pgilchrist@gilchristgroup.com
Twitter: @PamGilchrist

Too many SMBs and entrepreneurs are too focused on “bringing the vision to life” instead of focusing on CASH FLOW. Keeping one eye on the pipeline and the other on expenses is what keeps CEO’s focused.

There is a fabulous quote in the Wall Street Journal article by Colleen Debaise, “Starting Up, and Conquering the Numbers,”

“You can’t change the past but you can usually influence the future.”

True. True. True.

Some excellent comments on the article as well .

Check it out. well worth your time.

“Starting Up, and Conquering the Numbers,”

International Award-Winning Speaker  Pam Gilgchrist  Presents Dead On Arrival at the National Speaks Association Convention

International award winning speaker Pamela Gilchrist, MA, APR, CPT will be presenting DOA: How to Revive Your Digital Presence at the National Speakers Association Convention at the Orlando World Center Marriott on Tuesday, July 20 at 10am. Gilchrist, CEO of strategic business consulting firm Gilchrist Group™, will inform international speakers how to use social media to build their digital database to catch their prospects’ attention.

“If you haven’t used social media, embedded video or updated your Web site in more than three years, your digital presence is DOA,” says Gilchrist. “Attend my presentation and learn how to revive it!”

Gilchrist will show professional speakers how to:

•Learn easy ways to keep your digital presence alive and well;
•Understand the bottom-line business results you can expect by integrating your Web site and social media profiles;
•Learn how to leverage major social media sites to boost sales and search engine rankings;
•Understand the essential elements that take a Web site from an online brochure to a dynamic space to grow relationships with prospects and customers; and,
•Learn why researchers have proven that video gives you an instant search engine boost.

About Pamela Gilchrist:

As chief strategist at the Gilchrist Group™, Pam is a Fortune 100 leadership and communications expert. She says that understanding how to integrate social media into your business planning is critical to success in today’s competitive marketplace.

Pam advises organizations on how to have more impact by focusing on breakthrough business strategies, brand identity and influencer engagement. Her forte is guiding organizations through times of significant growth and change. Additionally, she has significant experience coaching C-Suite leaders on messaging, executive presence and personal branding.

Pam has served as chief communications council for companies ranging from Fortune 100s to regional businesses for 26 years. Her unique combination of vision, executive management and entrepreneurial skills helps organizations achieve maximum results. In 2009, she was named PR Professional-of-the-Year by the Cincinnati Chapter of PRSA.

The Gilchrist Group® is a strategic business consulting firm. Founded in 1999, as PR~Link Public Relations, LLC, the firm serves clients in a wide-range of industries including: financial services, healthcare, technology, manufacturing, engineering, government and non-profit. Gilchrist’s professional team works with leaders on next level leadership, branding roadmaps, go-to-market-strategies, issues management and marketing/PR including social media integration.
She has won numerous national and international awards for her work including the coveted Golden World Trophy from the International Public Relations Society (IPRA). Her work has been recognized with multiple platinum and gold Hermes International Creative Awards, as well as top awards from PRSA’s East Central District; and the Cincinnati, Columbus and Pittsburgh PRSA Chapters. She has been named one of the top 40 leaders by the Cincinnati Business Courier.

She is a professional member of the National Speakers Association (NSA), an accredited member of the PRSA Counselors Academy, and a member of the American Marketing Association (AMA) and American Society for Training and Development (ASDT).