Dr. Riedy's Random Thoughts

I cannot resist adding my two cents worth to the public debate surrounding protests of the American flag and national anthem. I believe the negative  impact  of the actions of these sports celebrity protesters is being underestimated.  I also believe the methods  (kneeling, sitting, etc.) used by those individuals are producing unintended consequences whose negatives at the national level substantially outweigh whatever positives the protesters hope to achieve at the local level. Like termites their impact is eating away at the foundations of American democracy. But I am getting ahead of myself. To set the stage let me make it clear I love America, the American flag, our national anthem and the right to exercise free speech, among other freedoms.  Protest is a protected tradition. I hope this is unequivocal, before I get to the "however". HOWEVER..... I wholeheartedly disagree with the way NFL, NBA and other sports celebrities are going about their protests ...

The term "media relations" historically referred to dealing with reporters and other professional interviewers, issuing press releases and holding press conferences.--everything except using social media.  The use and misuse of social media are fertile grounds for a future post, for sure, especially in light of their current popularity at the White House, but not today. Instead, there are several practical thoughts I'd like to make for those who use media relations from time to time to communicate a message to others. This post, Part 1, covers dealing with reporters and media outlets whose objectivity is questionable and about never, ever, going "off the record".  Part 2 will cover preserving your reputation and credibility, making your key points effectively, and a few do's and don'ts during interviews. When media objectivity is suspect:   I'm being polite here. The Walter Cronkite's of the media world are few and far between today, especial...

Everyone does public speaking in one way or another, whether a formal presentation to an audience of 500 industry professionals or leading a book club discussion.  If you really care about delivering a message effectively, read on. Don't get caught up in using the "right" words or phrases in a first draft.  Don't labor over following a preconceived outline of your major points.  Simply sit down and put your pen to paper--write the first thoughts that come to mind.  If you get fixated on the outline or phrasing at the start of drafting you'll never finish. Fine-tuning and revisions can come later, once you are satisfied with the core message. If something is not relevant or does not advance your message, chances are it does not belong in the draft. After completing the draft I go back to see if the core message comes through clearly and the topics flow logically.  I also read the draft aloud to eliminate words and phrases that are tongue-twisters. On a practic...

            There is a great deal of truth in the saying, “Proper preparation prevents piss poor performance”.  As a public speaker generally you control most of what happens during the presentation. If something unexpected or  uncontrollable does happen, however, react calmly and intelligently.   Keep your cool and consider your options. If you can handle the situation do so. If not, hopefully those in charge of the program will be alert and able to resolve whatever needs fixing while you pause and wait for their cue what to do next.                 What follows in this and several subsequent posts are my thoughts on the Do’s and Don’ts in situations that are controllable. Then I’ll cover what to do or not do when the uncontrollable happens.  Where you can exercise control , do so.  I practice what I preach,  Some of the most important things I believe you should...

Public speaking is an activity almost everyone engages in, whether delivering prepared remarks to a business group, addressing a board of directors, leading a homeowners' association meeting or talking to a Little League team after a particularly good (or bad) game. Because speaking in public has this universality I thought it would be a good way to launch the blog by relating what I've learned through experience in the hope you will find my insights relevant and useful. I also invite you to share your stories with me. If you are new to public speaking the first few opportunities can be daunting, but over time the experience will get to be less stressful and more fun.  Having said that, just as in golf where you might practice a lot but all you are doing is grooving a bad swing, it is possible to give lots of speeches and never get better at it.  It takes commitment and hard work to improve public speaking skills. Three quick points: First, you are speaking presumably beca...

Welcome to my new blog, a way of sharing my thoughts and opinions.  I invite your reactions.  I have a well-deserved reputation for (too) lengthy emails and messages, so living within the space constraints of a blog might make my head explode, but here goes... Thanks to our son, John, a professional photographer ( johnriedy.com ) for the beautiful photo of the Statue of Liberty, shot during August 2017 at 4:30 a.m. from the deck of the RMS Queen Mary 2.