Articles

The Terri Ammerman Group pairs decades of communications and media experience with relevant, current perspective. We understand the ever-changing needs and scenarios faced by companies, executives, and media professionals. Part of our training involves examining communications scenarios in real-time, so participants can clearly see what to avoid when speaking and what to say when delivering a clear, convincing message. Our team regularly offers perspective and insights on current situations through the articles posted here.

Showing Compassion During Crisis

Showing Compassion During Crisis

When conducting crisis press briefings, you are the face of your company or agency. You must deliver facts with authority and, in many cases, take questions with patience and grace. But your first job is to sincerely show that you care about those whose lives have been impacted or lost in the unexpected event. Empathy  and compassion are crucial...

Meteorologist: Breezy with a 100% Chance of Confusion

Meteorologist: Breezy with a 100% Chance of Confusion

What did he say? What did she mean? These are questions you don’t want your audience to be asking during a press briefing, media interview or presentation. The use of jargon will jeopardize your message and confuse your audience. A meteorologist with Pacific Gas & Electric recently fell into the jargon trap when explaining why the California...

How Belichick Fumbled the Antonio Brown Handoff

How Belichick Fumbled the Antonio Brown Handoff

Bill Belichick is well known for developing and implementing a precise game plan for his media news briefings. The New England Patriots head coach will only “talk football” as he engages the media during his weekly briefings that precede his team’s next game. Recently, Belichick was confronted with questions about Antonio Brown, the wide receiver...

An Unexpected Interview Interruption…

An Unexpected Interview Interruption…

Here at The Ammerman Experience, we advise our clients to stay focused on their messages during press briefings. You don’t want to be distracted by anything or anybody. But every rule has its exceptions. Once in a great while you must improvise or, in football terms, call an audible. Earlier this year, and Australian police detective was briefing...

When Confidence Doesn’t Match Credentials

When Confidence Doesn’t Match Credentials

Can an expert in his or her field, armed with solid credentials and decades of experience, fail to deliver a clear, confident message during a press briefing or interview? It happens all the time. Take Barbara Borden, chief horse racing steward for the state of Kentucky. Borden started in racing in the 1970’s as a groom and exercise rider and...

How the Best Managers Communicate

How the Best Managers Communicate

The best managers are great communicators. That’s not surprising, because great management is about bringing employees and teams together, motivating through big picture thinking, and then organizing logistics and roles to achieve objectives. Naturally, doing that well takes great communication skills. Just as naturally, poor communications...

Some Bad News about Communicating Good News: It’s Tougher than You Think

Some Bad News about Communicating Good News: It’s Tougher than You Think

Layoffs. Benefit cuts. Slumping sales and earnings. Accidents. Communicating bad news isn’t easy. Which is why some companies avoid doing it, or do it in an untimely or ineffective manner. On the other hand, communicating good news is a “no brainer,” right? Wrong. Sharing positive information can be just as tricky. And some companies fail at it...

Should CEOs Be Vulnerable?

Should CEOs Be Vulnerable?

Should CEOs be vulnerable? Let’s get it out of the way: the answer to that question is a resounding yes. In the words of Dr. Brené Brown, “Vulnerability is the absolute heartbeat of innovation and creativity.” If that’s true (and we believe it is), vulnerability is essential. But practicing vulnerability is also hard. It doesn’t come naturally....

So, You’re Going to Present in a Webinar. Here are Some Tips for Hitting a Home Run

So, You’re Going to Present in a Webinar. Here are Some Tips for Hitting a Home Run

Chances are you’ve participated in a webinar. If not, it’s almost certain you’ve been invited to participate in one. The growing popularity of these web-based seminars is no surprise. Business people have limited time, so travel to a nearby, out-of-state or even international location to attend a seminar may not be ideal. There’s also a financial...

Starbucks in Philly: Not Much Brotherly Love . . . But Effective Crisis Management

Starbucks in Philly: Not Much Brotherly Love . . . But Effective Crisis Management

Like most companies, Starbucks, which operates some 27,000 locations worldwide, has had its share of problems and crises. For example: ▪ Its iconic logo (an image of a twin-tailed mermaid or siren) has undergone a number of changes over the years. But when the company temporarily reintroduced a vintage version of that logo in 2006, controversy...