Comments on: Former CEO of Kellogg tells PR how to get the seat at the table http://www.fortexgroup.com/blog/2009/04/08/former-ceo-of-kellogg-tells-pr-how-to-get-the-seat-at-the-table/ C-Level PR Counsel Thu, 12 Nov 2009 15:52:17 -0600 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.6 hourly 1 By: Michele Nix http://www.fortexgroup.com/blog/2009/04/08/former-ceo-of-kellogg-tells-pr-how-to-get-the-seat-at-the-table/comment-page-1/#comment-14189 Michele Nix Fri, 10 Apr 2009 13:32:30 +0000 http://www.fortexgroup.com/blog/2009/04/08/former-ceo-of-kellogg-tells-pr-how-to-get-the-seat-at-the-table/#comment-14189 Hi Ephraim, Saw the post by Richard, too, and had the same reaction. It's interesting: the perception some people have of PR advisors in biz and government. Agree with you; PR counselors who have that grasp of both the reputational value and consequence of business endeavors are able to convey their own value to the CEO and will do so from the outset as a condition of employment. Sadly, there are many CEOs who do fail to see the PR counselor’s true role and value. But that's where true leadership shows itself. In the midst of recent financial fallouts, it's been apparent that many leaders didn't have their PR advisors at the table from the outset. Witness the blunders: slow to the podium, defensiveness once they got there, misuse of bailout funds -- all of which fanned public mistrust and ire. Then they got it; PR was called in, but the damage was done and the work of reputational recovery was made more difficult. My view is that many execs do see PR only as a tactical function, but that most would gladly pull up a chair for the PR counselor early on, if only they better understood the “counselor” role and value. This is where our industry has to step in, and every advisor has to step up, and better explain the value of strategic, pro-active communications and the full spectrum of a PR counselor’s expertise. Appreciate your highlighting this important issue; thanks for the post. Hi Ephraim, Saw the post by Richard, too, and had the same reaction. It’s interesting: the perception some people have of PR advisors in biz and government. Agree with you; PR counselors who have that grasp of both the reputational value and consequence of business endeavors are able to convey their own value to the CEO and will do so from the outset as a condition of employment.

Sadly, there are many CEOs who do fail to see the PR counselor’s true role and value. But that’s where true leadership shows itself. In the midst of recent financial fallouts, it’s been apparent that many leaders didn’t have their PR advisors at the table from the outset. Witness the blunders: slow to the podium, defensiveness once they got there, misuse of bailout funds — all of which fanned public mistrust and ire. Then they got it; PR was called in, but the damage was done and the work of reputational recovery was made more difficult.

My view is that many execs do see PR only as a tactical function, but that most would gladly pull up a chair for the PR counselor early on, if only they better understood the “counselor” role and value. This is where our industry has to step in, and every advisor has to step up, and better explain the value of strategic, pro-active communications and the full spectrum of a PR counselor’s expertise. Appreciate your highlighting this important issue; thanks for the post.

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