Avoid Work Overload and Negotiate Your Expectations In Advance
Earlier this month, Fred Jacobs of Jacobs Media published a blog post talking about the importance of DJs and station staffers stepping it up to provide more value to their stations...reinforcing the idea of individual “indispensability,” a concept popularized by Seth Godin in Linchpin. Labels: Jacobs Media, John Parikhal, Joint Communications, Negotiate, Overload, Self-management
This post also attracted a lot of responses and retweets, including comments submitted by Joint Communications' President and founder John Parikhal.
The Jointblog agrees it was also worthy to post. Here it is complete...our thanks to Jacobs Media:
Like many of us, John is adapting and evolving, forming a partnership with renowned business expert Philippe Denichaud. As John notes, “Peter Drucker and Philippe are my biggest management influences. From them, I learned how to apply practical strategies to help businesses survive and grow.”
Today, we get a great lesson from John:
Great article, Fred. It’s a good list for any hardworking employee to think about.
The tough thing for a lot of people is that they will work harder, show up earlier and do all the extra crap jobs – and still get fired.
Here’s how to avoid this fate (or at least reduce the likelihood):
For example, how much does the station value a speech at a local high school or business? How much is it worth to the sales department? How much are your time and speech skills worth personally to you? What about all the other things you do?
If you are doing a lot of “extra” work for the station, it’s a good idea to get an estimate of its value.
So, ask your boss.
When you go to your “boss,” be polite and frame intent … “I’m a hard worker. I want to help the station. I seem to be picking up a lot of work that wasn’t in my original job description. I’m just wondering if what I’m doing has value. And, if it does have value, I’m curious about how you value it?”
If the “boss” is evasive or doesn’t want to talk about it or says “We’ll figure something out later,” ask them when they would feel comfortable talking about it.
After they tell you how much time they need to figure out the “value,” schedule a meeting for that day to discuss it.
They know how much more you are worth than before.
You may think it’s risky to raise the issue of what “extra” work is worth (very few of us like “confrontation” with someone else and you might think of this as confrontation even though it’s simply a professional business question).
However, it’s more risky not to raise the issue.
Here’s why … if you get known as a jack-of-all-trades, you may survive in the short run but in the long run the company has no job description called “jack-of-all-trades,” which means that it’s always going to be a subjective call and few people survive more than a couple of those.
Now, I’m not saying we shouldn’t step in and pick a few extra things up when they have to be done. We all need to do that from time to time. No need to negotiate that.
Here’s what you need to watch out for…
When you do something 3 times, it becomes a “recognized” pattern of behavior and when you do it 4-6 times, it becomes “expected.” By that point, you might want to “negotiate” your expectations of what you’ll get for the extra work.
Or, at least ask someone you trust to tell you what it’s worth … to you … and the company you work for.
Thanks, John. And as always, we welcome your comments.
posted by Unknown @ Saturday, September 15, 2012,
,
Transitions in Media Trend Watching
Labels: Being digital, Business, Chris Kennedy, Digital, Digital life, Joint Communications, Jointblog, Media Trend Watching, Parikhal, Radio, Transitions, trends
Recently, the Jointblog passed 500,000 total page views to our site – and we are less than 3 years old. It’s hard to believe that our site is older than YouTube.
This blog was started and developed by Chris Kennedy as a way to focus on Media Trend Watching – a core competency at Joint Communications.
It surfs the wave between pop culture and business insight, a world of instant fame or shame where old media power is challenged by new media behaviors. There’s never a dull moment.
After working with me for over 15 years, Chris decided to return to his first love -- radio -- joining Corus Entertainment, a multi-media leader in old and new media, as Program Director of Montreal's Q92.
Chris has kindly agreed to continue the Jointblog so that we can keep an eye on media trends – big or small - from NBC’s rearguard action against Apple (refusing them content) to YouTube’s unpredictable effect on the upcoming Presidential elections.
And, the most significant trend we’re watching right now is the digital divide – the gap between those who are online (especially with high speed connections) and those who aren’t. America's lagging behind many developed countries in broadband per capita, including South Korea and Iceland.
The beauty of today's digital world means Chris and I will maintain our high-speed association with one another -- efficiently transitioning us from the Joint connection to a new digital connection.
posted by John Parikhal @ Wednesday, September 05, 2007,
,
Media Trending: Spending Up, Usage Slightly Declining
Labels: 2007, Consumers, Future of Radio, Joint Communications, Media, Media trending, Predictions, Radio, Revenue, Usage, VSS
Has media reached a new usage plateau? A new level of consumer saturation? What's a new view of the future for media?
Private equity firm Veronis Suhler Stevenson (VSS) has released a new study forecasting spending in the media industry into 2011. The study found that while communications spending increased in 2006, consumer media usage actually dropped after multiple years of growth.
Total communications spending grew 6.8 percent to $885.2 billion in 2006. VSS predicts that in the first half of 2007, the industry will grow by 6.4 percent, making it among the fastest growing sectors of the U.S. economy.
VSS also predicts that Internet advertising will replace newspapers as the largest ad medium by 2011.
Meanwhile, media usage per person declined last year by 0.5 percent, according to their data, due to changing consumer behavior and the efficiency of digital media. VSS found that digital alternatives for news and entertainment require less time investment than traditional media. VSS predicts consumer media usage to stabilize this year and slightly increase through 2011.
Consumers are also moving away from ad-supported media, such as broadcast TV and newspapers. VSS labels options such as video games and cable TV "consumer-supported platforms," and says their usage is increasing as time with ad-supported media decreases.
"We are in the midst of a major shift in the media landscape that is being fueled by changes in technology, end-user behaviors and the response by brand marketers and communications companies," said James Rutherfurd, EVP and Managing Director for VSS. "We expect these shifts to continue over the next five years, as time and place shifting accelerate while consumers and businesses utilize more digital media alternatives, strengthening the new media pull model at the expense of the traditional media push model."
If we have reached a new plateau of media consumption, it is worthwhile to take a look around the media landscape right now. Who has survived? Which platforms are still thriving? Still hanging on?
More specifically, take a look at radio. Good news...radio still operates with strength. It is simple, reliable, cost-effective and still is used weekly by 94% of the population. Radio has gone through tremendous industry change and competitive challenge from new media options...and radio still survives.
Is radio ready to rev it back up and go after the demographic it has nearly lost (teens) or the demographic it has turned away from (Boomers)?
posted by Unknown @ Saturday, August 18, 2007,
,
New Adventures in Media Trend Watching
Labels: Chris Kennedy, Future, Future of Radio, John Parikhal, Joint Communications, Jointblog, Media, Media Trend Watching, Radio, Strategy
"Move forward, young man...while you are still young."
Not sure who said that but I do know a consulting associate from Joint Communications -- Bob Elliot -- who was once asked how he defined growth.
He said, "Well, if you are not growing, you're dead."
Perhaps a little blunt but there is truth in those words, both personally and professionally.
We all seek growth in various forms through our relationships, our businesses and careers, our learning, our finances...the list goes on and on.
As Peter Drucker has said (loosely paraphrased), an important key in growing successful long-term management is for executives, directors and managers to periodically return to day-to-day operations and get away from the "boardroom". It allows for managers to understand what has changed and what needs to happen for future growth.
In the rush-rush of decision making and strategic guidance throughout fiscal years following the pressures of meeting budget and performance expectations, managers can easily shift away from the realities out on the floor before they realize it.
Consultants are no different.
We fly in, work our magic, stir up the team toward growth and fly back home, following up to help make sure decisions stick into on-going action.
This ability to lend an outside perspective to operations allows consultants to see competitive challenges partner clients may not be able to see for themselves. It is a major strength for the consulting role, one that the rapidly-evolving media industry still needs for both the mature sectors of "traditional" media like radio, TV, the music industry, magazines and newspapers...as well as for "new" media, such as cable, modern telephony, wireless, satellite, and all-things related to the Internet.
But, over time, this outside role has its limitation, for the consultant remains on the "outside" of everyday operations. With so many constant and fast changes happening in media, getting back periodically into the daily functions of media business keeps the consultant up-to-date with industry realities.
Which is why I have made a new step forward.
For the last 15 years, I have worked and partnered with John Parikhal at Joint Communications consulting our international roster of media clients. An amazing thrill for me, allowing for constant learning, unique situational decision making, and cross-pollination experience throughout the media industry's up-phases, downturns, IPOs, mergers & acquistions and new tech advancements.
For the past couple months, I've been getting operational again, serving as Program Director for Montreal's Q92fm -- a heritage mainstream AC radio station and one of Corus Radio's many great stations across Canada. It's a new adventure for me, allowing me to pursue growth on a whole new level for a long-time client.
Of personal and professional importance, it also allows me to "get operational again" doing what I love to do: programming radio, coaching talent, building cooperation and communication between station departments, getting deeply involved with the community, building new station events and promotions, managing brand building efforts, and, ultimately, entertaining our audience in the best way possible while also serving as an effective advertising media choice among our station clients.
It's media trend watching on the street level. And I'm having a blast.
What better way to understand the "future of radio" than following Peter Drucker's advice and getting operational again?
I'm proud of what has been accomplished with Joint Communications and our clients. The Jointblog is the #1 destination online for people interested in media trend watching (according to all the search engine results and traffic meters)...these changes will offer a new new level of perspective for future Jointblog posts.
We encourage you to keep sharing your thoughts.
And keep Jointblogging!
We will.
I'm off now for our street festival concert event...literally getting back to street level...
posted by Unknown @ Sunday, July 15, 2007,
,
Media Trend Watching: Radio Right Now
Labels: cellphone, FMQB, Google, HD Radio, Internet, John Parikhal, Joint Communications, Jointblog, Karmazin, Media, Media Trend Watching, MySpace, PPM, Radio, Sirius, XM
Joint Communications marks 30 years this month advising the radio industry through format programming, consulting, market research, marketing development and media strategy services.
The month of April also means it's time for John Parikhal's annual spring check-up as this week's featured FMQB cover story to discuss radio and the evolving mediaspace challenges radio faces in the immediate future.
Among the discussed topics:
> The proposed XM/Sirius merger -- including the financial and competitive implications as well as Mel Karmazin's catalyst role (puzzling; Stern probably helped save Sirius; Mel sees opportunities)
> The trend led by Clear Channel and other big groups toward privatization (more squeeze and bleed? And Clear Channel gets rewarded?)
> HD Radio (just another local spectrum)
> PPM ratings measurements (consistency of measurement will help)
> The cellphone (risky for electronic ratings measurement)
> Blink spots and other "Less is More" initiatives (applaud the experimentation; spare listener energy; don't invade the consumer)
> Radio's needed presence on the Internet and its mishandling of opportunities that went to MySpace instead (getting better...but still behind due to insufficient support staffing and streaming fee penalties)
> Google's new deal selling radio ads ("It's nonsense")
> The lucrative potential of selling and targeting the 30-59 year old demographic (so much money radio could grab)
> An updated look at radio's emerging trends (demographics!)
FMQB's chief editor Fred Deane gets it all started by saying:As the radio industry evolves at a rapid pace, critical decisions about the medium’s future become increasingly more urgent. Technology issues have enveloped the industry to such a challenging extent, that the call for radio leaders to be actionable has never resonated so loudly. John Parikhal has never met a challenge he didn’t like, he relishes the very concept. While Parikhal’s client list continues to remain firmly entrenched in radio, the macro version finds him involved with a variety of media and marketing companies. His latest foray with strategic Internet initiatives with some large clients has him thinking about the future 24/7. It’s spring and time for our annual check-up with one of our industry’s deep thinkers.
Thanks, Fred. All that and more...just click here for some great reading. Then come back and add your thoughts here on the Jointblog.
Additional reading: Thinking Through The Decision Making Process
posted by Unknown @ Friday, April 27, 2007,
,
Media Trend Suggestion Box
Labels: Joint Communications, Jointblog, Media Trend Watching, Suggestion Box
Do you have a suggestion for the Jointblog or a topic tip to help us media trend watch? Here's a great place to participate. You can always make comments to posts or contact us with new suggestions by clicking here to comment or here to email! And you'll get the credit for the tip with a link to your own site (unless you'd like to remain anonymous).
Thanks for media trend watching!
posted by Unknown @ Thursday, March 15, 2007,
,
John Parikhal on What if XM and Sirius do merge?
Labels: gadgets, Joint Communications, Jointblog, Karmazin, merger, New Media, Pinero, Radio, Satellite, Sirius, XM
The merger speculative talk about a possible XM and Sirius merger continues to stay red-hot.
There are many pros (reduced operating and competitive costs, larger OEM relationship network, etc.) and cons (FCC opposition, less competition no longer contraining subscriber fees, incompatible technologies, etc.). The Street.com's Jim Cramer loves the idea -- while Wall Street continues to speculate.
If it happens, the deal will have to happen soon (within the next 6-8 weeks, and approved by company stakeholders by this summer) if it is to pass through all the regulatory hurdles before the 2008 elections.
Bridge Ratings just released their updated subscriber projections (assuming the two companies don't merge), anticipating a total of 35 million subscribers by 2020. Here's their provided chart:
Both XM Radio's CEO Hugh Pinero and Sirius Radio's CEO Mel Karmazin publically say they are not exploring combining the satellite radio into one company. Of course, that doesn't cover any possible private conversations.
If the merge did happen, who would win?
Joint Communications' CEO John Parikhal shares his thoughts on a possible XM and Sirius merger:
XM and Sirius have different programming philosophies. Sirius has more technical problems than XM. In a perfect world, XM would win.
But ... Mel Karmazin is a smart cookie. He's pushing for a merger to deflect the fact that Sirius is far behind XM. My bet is (I could be wrong) that he figures Wall Street will crown him to run any merged entity ... so he beats the merger drum.
Because ... XM has fumbled the marketing ball more than once. They have not created enough need. Which is what gives Mel his bully pulpit.
XM had a huge opportunity to grow during the early years of consolidation when the arrogant roll-up artists were bragging about how they could run 16 minutes of spots an hour on music radio. Where was XM with a "commercial free" ad campaign? Instead we got stupid TV ads with David Bowie crashing through the roof.
XM still shies away from "commercial free" music with lots of choice, choosing to promote second tier programming that has big names but little that is fresh or new. And ... much of the "talk" and news programming has commercials!! How many people are going to pony up $14 a month for Oprah's sidekick (Oprah is not really Oprah) or to listen to a golf match.
XM lost the chance to cripple if not kill Sirius when it raised its price to $14 a month from $10. They could have clobbered Sirius (before they hired Stern) by focusing on what a deal $10 a month was compared to Sirius $14.
Having said all this ... there's still a good business in satellite radio. There is a real market of between 20 and 25 million people for the product. It will coexist with terrestrial radio just as cable coexists with network.
Both companies need to focus on marketing, not personality stunting, if they are going to get the respect they deserve. They might take a page from the old Rolls Royce advertising strategy - who focused on those who already bought a Rolls - "reminded" them of how great their car was - tried to make others envious - used "emotion" to create the need.
posted by Unknown @ Saturday, January 27, 2007,
,
2006: A Year in Media Trend Watching
Labels: 2006, Joint Communications, Jointblog, Media Trend Watching, Radio
2006 was the year user-generated viral video content became a trendsetter for pop culture.
It's an On Demand digital world and we're living in it with gusto. This "crazy" year was about small audiences creating massive buzz.
All year long, the Jointblog has been tracking and watching media trends as they happened. What did we see?
Among the top themes:
Radio was everywhere but not on your typical device. Old radio, new radio...it created a lot of pondering and overall listening. Yet radio seemed to grow tired of being so public (or serving Wall Street demands).
Howard Stern's move to Sirius drove millions to search for him online once he disappeared from traditional radio, messing up morning radio listening habits. He pimped on Letterman while getting finger wagged by CBS Radio, Rolling Stone and analysts.
Stern's first traditional radio replacement sucked, creating car wreck radio. Former outcasts replaced the replacement.
Air America said it was "business as usual". It wasn't.
The White House also said they were making progress in Iraq. 3,000 U.S. soldiers and 158 journalists covering the war might disagree...if they could. But they can't...since they're dead.
The World Wide Web turned 15...but the net's neutrality was endangered as Congress debated it.
The definition of TV permanently changed. User-generated content was often better to watch. So was Lazy Sunday on YouTube.
Not all viral videos worked...just ask Chevy about their Tahoe effort.
Yes, YouTube became America's favorite water cooler place online to watch Zidane's World Cup head butt, the Hoff's latest music video or Michael J. Fox's political message.
This got Google's attention...so they bought YouTube.
Of course, Faith Hill probably didn't like YouTube's honesty. And Michael Richards wished cellphones didn't have cameras while Britney wished she remembered her panties.
"Truthiness": Word of the Year plus A Vote For Word of the Decade as fake news was the buzz. Update your dictionaries.
In a related ColbertNation story, Stephen Colbert made George Bush frown.
Bill Clinton gave FoxNews a few choice words, helping turn election momentum and reminding Democrats how to get it done in front of a camera.
A tipping point was reached with "The Long Tail".
Women drove social networking website growth due to their Internet preference to form communities (men just like the experience -- watch porn). Meanwhile, MySpace became more than just a teen hangout; Baby Boomers liked it, too. Or they just formed their own version.
You don't piss off Oprah.
But you do idolize American Idol.
Google went on a buying spree, aiming to Googlize old media advertising. And search marketing remained a hot media trend all year.
Big Media was scared as it kept losing control.
Ringtone sales were off the hook.
Scarlett Johansson made HDTV look real good on The Tonight Show while Borat gave high fives everywhere.
The world's top brand name -- Apple -- made some great TV ads and was the key starting the viral video engine...while, at the same time iTunes reaching its one billionth download (Coldplay's "Speed of Sound") (now at 2 billion and still growing strong, contrary to false reports elsewhere). On-going Apple success spurred mainstream media attempts at podcasting.
But so can you.
Snarky humor was the rule if you wanted a blog hit. However, 50% of blogs die within 3 months. Still, the blogosphere doubles in size every 6 months.
MTV turned 25. How'd they celebrate? By firing one of its founders.
Traditional radio tried to ward off iPod (more popular than beer, by the way) and Internet radio users with HD Radio...with very slow results and few listeners. At the same time, radio did try to fight back against the FCC's indecency movement.
Google denied the government's request for search data...while AOL got in trouble for accidently releasing user's search data.
Identify fraud rose...while hypocrites like Mark Foley and other got caught as teens put themselves at risk online.
Product placement advertising made a serious move online as strong content mattered. Meanwhile, old media complained online search engines steal content.
Radio still couldn't find consensus for electronic people-metered ratings. Cellphone, Apollo Project, Arbitron or Other? Or ever?
Oh, a Desperate Housewife was visible from space, thanks to Google Earth.
The Jointblog's #1 article drawing in readers from organic search results? "Katie Couric's legs are apparently searchable and newsworthy"...and they were, even if she didn't like it. At least she broke a glass ceiling anchoring the CBS evening news.
You are the Person of the Year. Keep the net neutral.
Goodbye 2006, it was nuckin' futs. Hello 2 double oh 7.
posted by Unknown @ Sunday, December 31, 2006,
,
