What do Lincoln and Hickenlooper have in common with SE2?
In Governor Hickenlooper's State of the State address earlier this month, he used a quote from Abraham Lincoln:
“With public sentiment, nothing can fail; without it, nothing can succeed.”
That statement has been on SE2’s website for years (see the rotating quotes on the bottom of the page) because we feel that it so clearly describes the service we provide for our clients. We help build and shape public sentiment.
It may sound underhanded and manipulative, but it’s true. And, luckily, we get to do it for clients about whose issues we’re passionate (we may be spin doctors, but at least we’re spinning good stuff!)
You may think that if you have a great idea or you’re doing great work, that’s enough. But without effectively communicating, your ideas and your work can’t go very far. If people have never heard of you, they aren’t going to contribute to your cause, buy your product or vote for your proposal.
It’s obvious what the Lincoln quote means for a ballot issue campaign or other public policy initiative – if you don’t get more than 50 percent of the vote, it doesn’t matter how great your proposal is. But the point is relevant for any industry, any organization, even any individual.
A recent New York Times article profiled the woman tasked with repairing Bank of America’s reputation. The “image officer,” Anne M. Finucane, wisely pointed out that communications can’t solve everything: “In order to repair reputation,” she said, “you have to repair the issues that underlie that.” But without good communications, no one will know that the underlying problems have been fixed.
Good communications can support your objectives and bad communications (or no communication) can undercut everything else you do. Hickenlooper wisely understands that if he wants to be a successful governor, he needs to understand what the public cares about and he needs the public to support whatever goals he has. The only way he can accomplish that is through effective communications.
“With public sentiment, nothing can fail; without it, nothing can succeed.”
That statement has been on SE2’s website for years (see the rotating quotes on the bottom of the page) because we feel that it so clearly describes the service we provide for our clients. We help build and shape public sentiment.
It may sound underhanded and manipulative, but it’s true. And, luckily, we get to do it for clients about whose issues we’re passionate (we may be spin doctors, but at least we’re spinning good stuff!)
You may think that if you have a great idea or you’re doing great work, that’s enough. But without effectively communicating, your ideas and your work can’t go very far. If people have never heard of you, they aren’t going to contribute to your cause, buy your product or vote for your proposal.
It’s obvious what the Lincoln quote means for a ballot issue campaign or other public policy initiative – if you don’t get more than 50 percent of the vote, it doesn’t matter how great your proposal is. But the point is relevant for any industry, any organization, even any individual.
A recent New York Times article profiled the woman tasked with repairing Bank of America’s reputation. The “image officer,” Anne M. Finucane, wisely pointed out that communications can’t solve everything: “In order to repair reputation,” she said, “you have to repair the issues that underlie that.” But without good communications, no one will know that the underlying problems have been fixed.
Good communications can support your objectives and bad communications (or no communication) can undercut everything else you do. Hickenlooper wisely understands that if he wants to be a successful governor, he needs to understand what the public cares about and he needs the public to support whatever goals he has. The only way he can accomplish that is through effective communications.
Labels: communications strategy, Media, public opinion, public persuasion
posted by Sarah Kurz at
2:45 PM
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