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Five tips for managing virtual teams in the age of coronavirus

As a management consultant working constantly with virtual and geographically dispersed teams, I have experienced firsthand how, in the last few weeks, being an effective virtual team manager has become more crucial than ever. Many companies have had to accommodate and transition to become almost 100% virtual organizations overnight, having to modify processes and operations

Revelations from the daily grind of COVID-19 press conferences

Every single day during this COVID-19 pandemic, there’s another press conference to watch… often with dread. Not just because of the dramatic statistics, dire predictions and the concern and fear they cause, but also for the missed opportunities to reach people, deliver the information needed to be safe, or comfort a nation in shock. Those

An MS in Communication Becomes a Path to Self-Discovery

As the youngest of six, Chris Block ’18 appreciates the fact that his parents were able to provide financial assistance to all of their children to get them through college. With three electrical engineers, a math teacher, and a physics teacher as siblings, Block felt a little out of place since he didn’t share those

Born to Be a Marketer

It’s not often that children take time to examine advertising and marketing messages—but that’s exactly what Rebecca Selby ’18 did as a young girl. “I cut out magazine ads to look closer at the images and words they used,” she explains. “I’d turn magazine pages to the side to see if I could tell which

Making Complicated Messages Easy to Understand: The Role of Today’s Communicator

Simplifying the complex: That’s how Sonny Sultani ’11 views his role as a communicator. After earning a BA in Communication Studies from Northwestern in 2007, he began his career journey, working in engineering and sales before partnering with a family member to form SONNY+ASH, a Chicago-based augmented and virtual reality company serving the real estate

Where a Graduate Degree in Communication Can Lead

Kindred spirits: That’s what Randy Iden, faculty director for the Master of Science in Communication (MSC) program, calls the professionals who pursue an MSC at Northwestern University. Most incoming students have seen firsthand—based upon their own work experiences—how communication impacts an organization. “Externally and internally, to be part of that, is really powerful and fulfilling,”

Mission Vs. Vision Statement. How to Write a Mission Statement You Actually Use

Mission and vision statements are indeed different, and understating the difference is key to developing the most effective statements. A mission statement is basically what defines a company’s business, while a vision statement should be all about the future of the company. “Vision statement is the lodestar that you are following to plot your course.

Graduation Reflections

The MSC ’17 cohort graduated on August 11. It was an amazing day and I was delighted to introduce our keynote speaker, Rocky Wirtz! As some people have asked to see the words to the speech, I am including them below as it’s an accurate recap of my MSC experience. Since we walked into orientation

Friday Roundup – 5/12/17

Our weekly roundup highlights links to articles and talks to help you be a more effective leader. When “thank you” wears out (Smart Brief)“The words are great equalizers, and graciousness makes an excellent foundation for any relationship… Yet there is a very important principle to keep in mind when engaging employees through feedback recognition: the law of

Friday Roundup: 5/5/2017

Our weekly roundup highlights links to articles and talks to help you be a more effective leader. Reza Aslan Thinks TV Can End Bigotry (NY Times)“On your new show, “Believer,” you examine niche, sometimes extreme, global religious traditions. Do you think this is the best time for a show like this?”“It is the most perfect time