This is a test that will gauge if you’re firm’s really ready to take on face-to-face-communications. Below is a list of 22 statements. Check only the spaces in front of each statement that apply to your firm’s current communications situation.

Only check a space if you can honestly say “yes” to the question or declarative sentence in the statement behind it. Give yourself 5 points for each statement checked. Total your points and look at the summary box immediately below the 22 statements to find out if you’re truly ready for face-to-face.

(This scorecard is based, on a case study of face-to-face communications at U.S. Cellular by David Murray, editor-in-chief of the Journal of Employee Communications Management; and an article by presented by Ragan.com)

My firm and face-to-face communication

______1. At any company, face-to-face must start with either (a) the CEO, or (b) one of the officers at the level im¬mediately below the CEO, or it will fail. I can get the CEO or one of the four or five execs just below him or her to do this.

______2. Face-to-face must be a consistent effort started very early in the CEO’s tenure, and the effort must be unremitting throughout that tenure. These conditions apply where I work.

______3. If your CEO is wavering about face-to-face, you or some powerful advocate must have frequent contact with him or her to press the case. At my company, I (a) have such frequent access to my CEO, or (b) know an influential officer who believes in face-to-face, trusts me, and has daily access to the CEO.

______4. Face-to-face precedes and is the very life and foundation of employee engagement, NEVER the other way around. You just don’t get engagement without a huge missionary effort in face-to-face first. At my company, we’re not distracted by a big trendy campaign for “engagement” that means absolutely nothing. (This does not imply that all engagement campaigns are frauds.)

SEE MORE & DOWNLOAD

Tags: Kara Smith, Karasma Media, Legal Marketing Tactics, Legal Marketing Tips, Public Relations