What Happens in the Ballroom…
I want to be the first to use that headline, and to say that, unlike Las Vegas, what happened just now in the Ballroom CANNOT stay in the ballroom. If you did not attend the IABC Research Foundation Luncheon presentation by TJ Larkin, you missed the best presentation at this conference–hands down. In fact, hands weren’t down, they were pressed together in thunderous applause, culminating in a Charles Pizzo-led standing ovation to the man who electrified the audience with his professional insights and remarkable presentation style.
He now will always be known by me as “TS” Larkin–and you had to be there to understand why.
**** (four star rating)
Tom Keefe
June 28th, 2005 at 9:26 am
My reply is to the entire Coffee Press Corps. Thank you all for breathing life into the conference coverage. It’s great to be able to follow the conference in real time.
For those of us who can’t make it to Washington, this is a terrific member benefit. Charles Pizzo’s audio interviews are a great touch. I also appreciate the candid reviews of sessions. They will help in deciding which conference materials to purchase.
Many years ago we had a vision for IABC to connect members around the globe using technology. The revitalization of the chairman’s blog is a profound step forward in achieving that vision. Well done!
June 28th, 2005 at 10:21 am
Hear hear!!! I was blown away… one of the finest presenters I have ever seen (puts me to shame!!!!). I learned while I laughed. Kudos to the IABC Research Foundation for this bit of bravura programming.
Tom: please bring your camera to the AGM.
June 28th, 2005 at 11:58 am
Absolutely agree. We could all take masters level lessons in how to do phenomenal presentations from TJ (scratch that, “TS) Larkin. Best fun I’ve had in a session in ages.
June 28th, 2005 at 1:00 pm
I wasn’t able to attend. What was so dynamic about his speech? I’m sorry I missed it. Thanks.
June 28th, 2005 at 5:42 pm
For a different perspective, see my blog: http://blog.holtz.com. The post is “Deconstructing Larkin.” To say I thought his content was flawed is an understatement.
June 28th, 2005 at 8:11 pm
Shel,
I read your blog, and agree with some, but not all of what you state. Read my reply on your blog.
Tom Keefe
June 28th, 2005 at 8:40 pm
Shel’s report is beautifully crafted. Larkin, it appears from Shel’s report, actually made only one accurate point, and he did not use these words: People don’t think when they listen to nonsense.
And, apparently, then they jump up and applaud when the nonsense finishes.
Anyone who attended Larkin’s talk should visit Shel’s site.
BAK
June 29th, 2005 at 7:55 pm
I wasn’t there but I agree with Shel’s post on his blog that it’s dangerous to leap from a study to a conclusion that people like x, ergo they don’t like y. Especially in an envronment where we ares eeing so many variables and refinements to the establshed channels. Now that some CEOs have blogs, the ‘preferred source’ gets more complicated.
Will someone make Larkin’s presentation available –as a podcast, maybe?
June 30th, 2005 at 1:33 pm
Tom & Shel:
I read both your blog entries about Larkin’s presentation. Sorry I missed all the excitement (and controversy)!
Your battling blogs are a great example of the challenge we communicators will be/are facing as blogging becomes mainstream. Readers are left to pick and choose their own truth — instead of blindly trusting a single source. So much for the press releases, employee newsletter articles or other vehicles carefully crafted by Corporate Communications departments. Who knows what our audiences will pick up elsewhere — and perhaps believe to be more credible?!
Kate Rein
IABC/Cleveland
July 2nd, 2005 at 8:57 am
In a conversation with a colleague (and former IABC member/chapter president), we discussed the Larkin talk and the varying opinions that have arisen from it. My friend raised an interesting point:
The EXCEL Award is given by IABC each year to a CEO based on his or her commitment to communication and the communication in which he or she engages. If we are to accept Larkin’s premise that CEO communication has no value, should IABC dispense with the EXCEL Award? Or are we going to continue to recognize the value of CEOs whose approach to communication enhances the employee experience and, ultimately, shareholder value? (I know you can’t tell that I’m a bit biased here…)
August 26th, 2005 at 6:18 am
[...] eds to be disseminated and accepted. The first round occurred shortly after Larkin’s June 28 address during the IABC International Conference. Holtz str [...]