Christina Rytter | Page 3 | Scandinavian Communications

Reboot Strategy: Rediscover your purpose

03/04/2021By scandinaviancomChange Communications, Christina Rytter, Content Marketing, Crisis Communications, Management Communications, PR, PR Tips & Trends, Scandinavian Communications, Social Media, SoMe Tips & Trends, Strategic Communications

By Christina Rytter, Founder & Trusted Communications Advisor

Do you know, why you go to work in the morning? I mean really. When you ask yourself from deep down inside. What’s the answer then? What’s your purpose? Why are you here?

In Crisis, we fight to survive. Change, adapt – or die. Is it pleasant? Not really! Because humans, in the way we are wired, most are reluctant to changes. But if you are in a Crisis – you need to Reboot your commercial and even personal strategy very quickly to adapt. So, you can execute successfully within the new normal. Reboot and shoot!

Communicate what matters

BUT before you hit the ground running with an adapted strategy. Crisis gives you a beautiful opportunity to take a deeper look at what truly matters to you: Your purpose – also called your WHY. Crisis equals development! Both on the business side – as a leader and as a human being.

To get aligned with your inner purpose will raise your feeling of happiness overnight. AND it will also be your launchpad for strong, authentic, and crystal-clear communication – both as a leader, an organization, and a brand striving for commercial success. As a business owner and/or part of Top-Management we are fortunate that our purpose can become the company’s as well. As an employee you can get clearer on, what values you seek in the organizations, you work for.

What did the crisis make you discover?

Maybe the crisis got you to realize that your purpose is still aligned? Then you just need to reboot your strategy. OR maybe the crisis gave you a new perspective? If so, you need to take a deeper look at your purpose before you reboot your business and commercial strategy.

A real purpose is feeling driven. It’s your values, passions, drivers and what gives you and the organisation motivation. This is why your purpose becomes such a strong lever in communications. Because humans relate to and react to feelings. This is not an opinion. Its biology!

If you need help to rediscover your purpose to Reboot Strategy – don’t hesitate to contact us!

PS. In case your wonder what my purpose is – and thereby also Scandinavian Communications; “We help leaders and organizations that do good in the world to get personal and commercial success – so their positive impact on people and planet gets as strong as possible”.

So, if you see yourself and your organization in that – don’t be a stranger!😉

Read more Tips to Reboot your Strategy:

Tip 2: Evaluate your target group
Tip 3: Adapt your key messaging
Tip 4: Tweak your MarCom Channels
Tip 5: Reboot MarCom Goals & KPIs
Tip 6: Create your MarCom Plan

Learn more about Strategic Communications

Top 5 steps for your Crisis Communications Readiness

18/02/2021By scandinaviancomChange Communications, Christina Rytter, Crisis Communications, Management Communications, PR

By Christina Rytter, Founder & Crisis Communications Advisor

As I’m sure everyone has seen by now a crisis can happen at any time – and when you least expect it. Therefore every organization should be ready to manage every possible crisis. From my 20 years as Crisis Communications Advisor, I have learned that successful handling of a crisis is 70 percent preparation and 30 percent execution.

To best handle the first part of the equation, here are my Top 5 Steps that you need to take right now if you have not done so already:

1. Identify potential scenarios for crises.

Study what has happened to other companies, both inside and outside your industry. Then, ask key people in your organization to identify the most vulnerable areas or processes. In this process you also should analyze your company’s state of readiness by asking these types of questions; Do we have a crisis plan? Is it up to date and relevant, or is it just boilerplate? Who are in our PR crisis-management team? (Read more about PR crisis-management team in my article posted just before this one).

2. Check the readiness of your PR crisis-management team.

Do they know their potential roles? Are they familiar with the company’s crisis response resources, policies and procedures? Are your key leaders and other spokespersons comfortable and effective in front of the media? Do they have experience in crisis situations or crisis simulations?

3. Research records & review Social Media status

Take a research of your company’s record. What previous crises has it faced and what were the outcomes? Such information always comes out in a crisis, so you need to be ready to deal with those issues when this happens. Also, review your social media status. Consider the following: Do you have the tools and people in place to monitor LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, etc.? Can you respond quickly to misinformation, accusations and distortions? Is your management aware of the impact and can respond to these media?

4. Build key leader image & strengthen key relations

It’s a cleaver crisis readiness strategy to work with PR and build a positive image of key leaders. Any company in a crisis starts with an advantage if people know and respect both the company and its leaders. The CEO and other top management should appear occasionally in business media and at “good-news events”. Also, examine and strengthen key relationships. This includes local and national media, government officials, employees, people in potentially affected communities and other stakeholders and influencers your company might have.

5. Schedule training & simulations.

Set-up media- and messages training sessions with key leaders and other spokespersons. Anyone who could end up in the spotlight should know the essentials of successful media interviews. Those who have not participated in media training should consider a session at the earliest opportunity. Those who have not recently participated in media training should take a refresher training.

It is also highly effective for your crisis readiness to stage crisis simulations. These programs are beneficial in many ways beyond just producing a higher state of readiness. They help discover flaws in current crisis plans, identify leadership qualities and raise everyone’s awareness.

Learn more about Crisis Communications

How to handle your Corona Crisis Communications in Scandinavia?

13/03/2020By scandinaviancomChange Communications, Christina Rytter, Crisis Communications, Management Communications, PR, Scandinavian Communications, Social Media, Strategic Communications

By Christina Rytter, Founder & Crisis Communications Advisor

The Scandinavian countries have not been spared the coronavirus pandemic. As of this Friday morning Denmark reports 674 cases of the coronavirus. Norway reports 734 cases and the first fatality. Both countries now shut down schools and universities for the coming two weeks. Denmark furthermore encouraged companies to let people work from home – and bars, restaurant and clubs to stay closed. Danish indoor events with +100 participants are banned.

Sweden reports 667 cases of coronavirus as of today with every region in the country affected and had the first fatality linked to the virus in Scandinavia. Sweden now bans large public events for +500 people. Finland does the same with today’s reported number of 59 cases of the coronavirus.

The time is now

You need to take charge of your communications before rumours, panic, fear or anger does. Most humans don’t like sudden change – and they will fill in the blanks of missing information with their own interpretation of, what might happen next. Everyone carries their personal backstory and life experience, that will be the starting point to fill in the blanks if their leader doesn’t. Often peoples own guess of what happens next in crisis and change is their worst-case scenario – driven by strong emotions like fear or anger. Starting rumours or impulsive negative reactions.

Therefore, a quick response is key in a critical situation, because it gives you the chance to handle and control the communications around the situation and thereby the outcome proactively with a higher possibility for success. BUT the quick response must be flanked by carefully thought out communications – especially what key messages you need to deliver in the conversation with your different stakeholders.

Create order in your own house first

As a first step, you need to prepare for information and conversation. And as with the situation of the coronavirus in every case that has or can have an effect on your employees it is vital to create order in your own house first. Clear internal communications must be your first step. Over the years I have seen many examples of how a crisis or change suddenly turned MUCH worth do to internal rumours and unforeseen actions from employees driven by fear or anger because management and boards were too busy focusing on external communications as their first step. To let employees, learn about for example their potential job loss for the first time via the news, is not the way to do it! Always unintended of cause, but still this can happen if you don’t start with and steer internal communications quite firm in a crisis and change.

Get ready for Corona conversation

In your crisis communication around the coronavirus, the most effective way is to draw up and work with different realistic crisis or change scenarios and plan, what to do and say in each imaginary scenario – and which communications channels will suit your messages and conversations with different internal and external stakeholders best.

Scandinavians are very critical and direct – and we don’t hold back with the questions. This apply to both employees, journalists, clients, business partners and competitors. So, you really need to prepare.

Create your Q&A:

What is your overall intention with this information?
What is your key message? Your communication is clearer, when you only focus on one or few key messages.
Who are you talking to? (Your key target group/stakeholders)
Which information do the person/stakeholders need?
Which situation are they in? Communicate the messages relevant to them, not to you.
Choose your role based on the person/target group. Are you formal or informal? How do you dress? What language and body language do you use? BUT be yourself!
Prepare, prepare and prepare. Train, train and train.

Take the opportunity to show your values

In a crisis case like the coronavirus pandemic, suddenly we as companies as well as humans get a higher common purpose to stick together and help each other. It must be people before profit. So as a company or organization, you need to find out how you can do your best – and at the same time, it is an opportunity to show the world your values and corporate social responsibility.

Corona Communications Kudos and Fail of the week

A great positive example that deserves Corona Communication Kudos from Denmark this week is a joint press release from leading retail companies AND competitors Coop, Salling Group, Dagrofa and Rema 1000. The release informs Danes that there will be plenty of convenience goods in the stores in the coming weeks. In this way taking proactive social responsibility to secure that people are not stockpiling food driven by fear and uncertainty. In this way, the companies as suppliers and industry experts fill in the Danes communications blanks with clear and trustworthy information to create security. At the same time show their corporate values and leave us as consumers with positive feelings and stronger awareness around their brands. Even a feeling of pride that we have such companies in Denmark.

The Corona Communications Fail of the week I must assign to Airbnb that refuses scores of refunds if you cancel your trip. This is also a way of communication the company values very clear. But I’m sure in the light of the coronavirus setting profit over people at this time, is very shortsighted and will damage the brand and not been taken lightly by the clients. The stakes are even higher for Airbnb, because this is the company wants to debut on the stock market – so their reputation has never mattered more.

Remember all in all in crisis and change when your response quickly and are well prepared, you can turn the difficult situation into an opportunity to show authentic positive values – if you have them 😉. By working out a carefully thought out message platform with key messages as a first step. And train through the different scenarios with message- and media training, you can navigate successfully through. Get your Corona Crisis Communications Action Plan in order; Whom do you need to communicate to as a first step? When and how? If you handle crisis and change like this, people will understand you much better – and even get on your side. When you keep calm and friendly – and communicate in a clear and authentic way you be at the forefront of things. And as always, the most important thing is to prepare – and train, train, train!

Get free advice for your Corona Crisis Communications

Don’t hesitate to contact directly if you need help. We offer a free 20-min call with personal advice for your Corona Crisis Communications – book at the webpage formula.

Book your free call and learn more about Crisis Communications

Scandinavian Communications wins Global Business Award

15/01/2020By scandinaviancomChange Communications, Christina Rytter, Content Marketing, Crisis Communications, Management Communications, PR, Public Relations Global Network, Scandinavian Communications, Social Media, Strategic Communications

Just arrived from Chile – 1st Place The PRGN Business Power Awards! We are very thankful for The Public Relations Global Network recognizing our work in Scandinavia this year 🙏

If you also like to leverage your business in Scandinavia, don’t hesitate to contact our CEO Christina Rytter at email: cr@scandcomm.com or mobile +4523967733. We are here to help.

Top 5 tips for Crisis Communications in Scandinavia

21/12/2019By scandinaviancomChange Communications, Christina Rytter, Crisis Communications, Management Communications, PR Tips & Trends, Scandinavian Communications, Social Media, SoMe Tips & Trends, Strategic Communications

By Christina Rytter, Founder & Crisis Communications Advisor

When crisis or change hits like a bolt from the blue it’s normal for even the most experienced executive to feel concerned. Especially when you want to be at the forefront of things. Here are my Top 5 tips on how you navigate successfully through the storm when a crisis or change hits you in the Scandinavian market:

1. Response quick – but well thought out

A quick response is key in a critical situation, because it gives you the chance to handle and control the situation and thereby the outcome proactively with a higher possibility for success. BUT the quick response must be flanked by carefully thought out communications – especially what key messages you need to deliver in the conversation with your different stakeholders.

Scandinavians are very critical and direct – and we don’t hold back with the questions. This apply to both employees, journalists, clients, business partners and competitors. So, you really need to prepare. I find that one of the most effective ways in crisis and change communications in Scandinavia is to draw up and work with different realistic crisis or change scenarios and plan, what to do and say in each imaginary scenario – and which communications channels will suit your messages and conversations with different internal and external stakeholders best.

2. Get ready for conversation

What is your key message? Your communication is clearer, when you only focus on one or few key messages.
Who are you talking to? (Your key target group/stakeholders)
Which information do the person/stakeholders need?
Which situation are they in? Communicate the messages relevant to them, not to you.
Choose your role based on the person/target group. Are you formal or informal? How do you dress? What language and body language do you use? BUT be yourself!
Prepare, prepare and prepare.
Train, train and train.

3. Take control over your body language

Your body language is your greatest asset, when you know how to control and use it. When you learn to use your body language proactively combined with clear messages, you can be a brilliant and authentic leader and communicator. BUT if you don’t have your body language under control – and that is quite normal in a crisis or change situation, when you might get nervous – then it can work so much against you, that nobody hears what you say. Well-known international studies show, that up to 80 % of people’s perception of you will be from your body language. That is if you fail to control it. Otherwise people listen. Scandinavian will mostly listen – if it’s not to boring. And if you serve beer (or something stronger for the Finns) they will really listen. 😉.

Control what we see:

Posture: Straight back and raised head express security, authority and energy.
Choose a suitable grimace for the occasion; Seriousness, enthusiasm or joy?
Use gestures that support the message.
Firm eye contact exudes security and credibility.
If you avoid eye contact it signals insecurity, uncertainty – and thus untrustworthiness.
Pay attention to your bad habits and patterns – they especially come out when you are nervous under pressure.
Look fresh and well-rested (of cause sometimes that might be a little difficult in a crisis).

Control what we hear:

Deep and calm voicing creates trust and credibility.
Variation in voice creates dynamism and awareness of the recipient.
Talk slowly – without getting boring. It exudes heaviness and credibility.
Breath deep and use (rhetorical) pauses.

4. Keep calm
Even the most experienced executive can get nervous under pressure in a difficult crisis or change situation. That is just human nature.

What happens when you get nervous?

You protect your body with your arms, turn your back, avoid eye contact, smile stiffly and stave off.
You sweat, get pale, get ticks, mess with your hair or perform other unconscious bad habits. What are your bad habits under pressure?
You move uneasily; rocks or turns on the chair. Tilting back and forth on your feet.
You breathe quickly and superficially.
You speak faster and get a sharper and lighter voice.

Then what to do?

Breathe deeply and plant both feet into the floor.
Lower your talk rate and use (rhetorical) pauses.
Open your arms, straighten your back and look up and out.
Make and maintain eye contact – possibly look between the eyes if real eye contact is unpleasant.
Only smile when it suits the occasion.
Sit and stand still.
Choose a chair that stands firm. Otherwise you will quite easy start rocking or turn it.
If at a presentation: Go consciously among the audience.
Avoid carbonated water – so you don’t burp (when you breathe quick and superficially).

5. Use the crisis to your advantage

When your response quickly and are well prepared, you can turn the difficult situation into your advantage. By working out a carefully thought out message platform with key messages as a first step. And train through the different scenarios with message- and media training, you can navigate successfully through. Get your Crisis Communications Action Plan in order; Who do you need to communicate to as a first step? When and how? If you handle crisis and change like this, people will understand you much better – and even get on your side. When you keep calm and friendly – and communicate in a clear and authentic way you be at the forefront of things. And as always, the most important thing is to prepare – and train, train, train!

Get free crisis advise and learn more about Crisis Communications

Need help with Crisis Communications in Scandinavia?

Visit from our Singapore partners

06/10/2019By scandinaviancomChristina Rytter, PR, Public Relations Global Network, Scandinavian Communications

This weekend our CEO had an exciting meeting and Lunch in Copenhagen with our Public Relations Global Network (PRGN) partners and friends from Mileage Communications in Singapore and New Delhi, India

The World’s Local Agency
PRGN is The World’s Local Public Relations Agency. We are a connected network of 50 hand-selected agencies working within PR, Strategic Communications and Digital/Social Marketing servicing key markets around the world. As leaders in our respective regions, PRGN agencies offer the “boots-on-the-ground” savvy of a local Public Relations agency, yet on a global scale. Our model allows us to deliver a unique level of flexibility – scaling up or down across multiple markets to meet your business needs. Each PR agency knows its local community and it knows how to help clients connect with their audiences in those regions.

Don’t hesitate to contact us if you need help in Scandinavia – or beyond with single-point-of-contact.

Visit from our international partners in Poland & Brazil

13/09/2019By scandinaviancomChange Communications, Christina Rytter, Content Marketing, Crisis Communications, Management Communications, PR, Public Relations Global Network, Scandinavian Communications, Social Media, Strategic Communications

Today we had a wonderful visit and Friday Lunch in Copenhagen with our Public Relations Global Network (PRGN) partners and friends from OneMulti in Poland and SMARTPR in Brazil.

Don’t hesitate to contact us if you need help in Scandinavia – or beyond with single-point-of-contact.

Read more about PRGN.

10 tips to PR success in Scandinavian media

05/08/2019By scandinaviancomChristina Rytter, PR, PR Tips & Trends, Scandinavian Communications

By Christina Rytter, Founder & Trusted Communications Advisor

These focus points are key to create positive PR coverage in Scandinavia:

1. Think through and create a real journalistic story from scratch for the Scandinavian markets – and then get your corporate or product messages to fit with a downplayed balance.

2. Write a local angled story for each Scandinavian market. Your PR core story for Scandinavia can be the same – but to really get it right, you then need to work out a local PR angle for each market; Denmark, Sweden, Norway, Finland etc. Understanding and acting on the small cultural differences between each Scandinavian market give you much greater PR results.

3. Work out a tailored media list for each Scandinavian country with key journalist from Tier 1 media depending on your target group.

4. Pick a broader range of media to get more volume, when you send out your press release – Scandinavia has a very narrow media structure with only few media in each category.

5. Work with exclusive sell-in of your press release / PR story. This means that you only talk in person with one leading key media at the time. It’s key for most Scandinavian journalists to get their own story with a unique angle. When you succeed with you PR sell-in. Wait for the agreed publication – and then go for at wide distribution of the press release to create a 2-waved PR effect. This can be very effectful!

6. Always work with a journalistic approach in your PR Press kit for Scandinavian media. A Marketing approach towards Scandinavian Tier 1 media is a sure dead end – and you press release will easily end up in the garbage can at the newsdesk.

7. Don’t expect to get any control over the final journalistic content in articles. Scandinavian journalists are very Independent – it’s just part of their DNA. You can approve you own quotes – and offer journalist a quality check of facts. Nothing more. Otherwise you could offend the journalist. This independence also means that your PR adviser rarely is present at face-to-face interviews with Scandinavian journalist.

8. Offer Media professional PR photos to strengthen the possibility of media coverage. This could be PR headshots of your company spokesperson or of your Product/Services. This must preferably be PR photos take for media in a journalistic context supporting the journalistic angle of your story – instead of traditional marketing photos.

9. Follow up on journalists in person on phone and email to secure sell-in of the story and final media coverage. In Scandinavia this is a very delicate balance between being proactive without being annoying for journalists, who have a very busy and tight work schedule and a lot of people approaching them every day.

10. Take into your planning that different Scandinavian media work with very different timing. If you go for a business daily, you might only need to approach the editor a couple of weeks before you like to see some media coverage. But if it’s a high-end lifestyle Magazine on print, you might need to talk to the editor 3-4 month ahead.

Need help with PR in Scandinavia?
Don’t hesitate to contact Scandinavian Communications if you need help. We are passioned with heart and mind to help you communicate with impact and leverage your business in the Scandinavian markets.

50th meeting with our Public Relations Global Network

16/05/2019By scandinaviancomChristina Rytter, PR, Public Relations Global Network, Scandinavian Communications

This week Scandinavian Communications meet with our business partners and friends from around the globe in our Public Relations Global Network (PRGN).

Two times a year all of our 50 member agencies meet for three days somewhere around the globe to share knowledge, connect and have fun. This time in beautiful Amersfoort in Holland hosted by our partner Evident P.R.

So don’t forget, where ever you want to go in the world to leverage your business: We are here to help you :-).

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Theme: Scandinavians – similar, but not the same.