19 Surprising Questions to Help You Energize Employee Conversations

Thomas Clifford — Sun, 29 Nov 2009 17:05:59 -0500

“Wow” answers need “wow” questions.

If you’re hungry for new answers or different ideas from your team or employees, try changing the questions.

Here are a few questions to jump-start almost any conversation you might be a part of.

Employee Engagement Lessons from Fast Company’s “30 Second MBA” Part 2

Thomas Clifford — Sun, 15 Nov 2009 10:09:15 -0500

Here’s part two of my conversation with Ellen McGirt, Senior Writer for Fast Company magazine and Dean of Fast Company’s “30 Second MBA” website.

Part one can be found here.

Employee Engagement Lessons from Fast Company’s 30 Second MBA: Part 1

Thomas Clifford — Sun, 01 Nov 2009 10:14:40 -0500

I’m a big fan of Fast Company’s “30 Second MBA” site. The minute it launched, I felt it offered a simple yet highly effective way for organizations to integrate social media concepts into their internal communication strategies.

5 Big Ideas: What Honda’s Mini-Documentaries Can Teach Non-Filmmakers

Thomas Clifford — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 09:47:20 -0400

9 Super Simple Ways to Rock Your Company Video

Thomas Clifford — Mon, 05 Oct 2009 10:21:25 -0400

It’s the small things that can make a big difference.

Anyone can implement these ideas. And the cool part? They’re free or next to free. See if you can sneak a few of these tricks into your next project. It will help your video story feel more believable and interesting.

9 Super Simple Ways to Rock Your Company Video

7 Fascinating Filmmakers to Follow on Twitter

Thomas Clifford — Sun, 20 Sep 2009 14:43:13 -0400

Think today’s filmmakers are stuck behind the camera? Or the edit room?

Think again.

Many filmmakers are harnessing the power of the web to tell another side of the story– their story.

Readers enjoyed my earlier post, “7 Interesting Storytellers to Follow on Twitter,” so let’s continue this series with some interesting filmmakers.

Improving Team Performance: Integrating Stephen Covey’s Ideas in Video

Thomas Clifford — Mon, 07 Sep 2009 22:21:20 -0400

“Most of your team members want to make a valued contribution– to find purpose in their work.” Stephen R. Covey

I’m in the middle of reading Stephen Covey’s new book, “Predictable Results in Unpredictable Times.” Being a Covey fan for nearly 20 years, I can tell you this book is another winner. While it’s only 94 pages, this book is jam-packed with simple yet powerful ideas. It’s co-written by Bob Whitman, FranklinCovey’s CEO.

“How can I get more people to do the things we already know how to do?”

How to Create 11 Media Products in 3 Formats from 1 Video Interview

Thomas Clifford — Mon, 24 Aug 2009 09:49:52 -0400

Let’s say you’re about to bake a cake. You have a dozen eggs, 1 lb of flour, a carton of milk, etc. The recipe only calls for 2 eggs, 1 cup of milk, 2 cups of flour. What do you do with the remaining ingredients? Throw them away? Um– I hope not!

But that’s exactly what happens when most people finish their video projects.
They use what they need from the interview and throw out the rest of the conversation. What a waste! Let’s see if we can turn this situation around into something profitable.

Since When Are Employees Not Storytellers?

Thomas Clifford — Sun, 09 Aug 2009 08:52:25 -0400

You racked up meeting after meeting. The decision is in. Your team decides they need a video to help launch a new product. Now it’s movie time, right?

Wait a minute– have you thought about who is going to tell your story?
Who is going to share your message with the same amount of passion, energy and emotion as you and your teammates? Here’s a hint: your best storytellers are right under your nose: your employees. Before you jump into your video, let’s take a moment and step back to look at the “big picture.”

Can You Prevent Frozen On-Camera Interviews? Try The Defrosting Technique

Thomas Clifford — Mon, 27 Jul 2009 15:13:21 -0400

It’s bound to happen. It’s just a matter of time.

Imagine you are about to interview someone for your company’s video.
They enter the room. Your interview guest sits in their chair. You sit in yours. The camera rolls. You fire away at your first question.

Then you begin to notice something unusual.

About two minutes into your conversation, it’s clear the person you’re interviewing is visibly nervous– almost like they’re “frozen.”