We're making waves

Developing habits allow you to be more efficient, effective and strategic about your time and actions. Here are 6 ways to make 2021 about you.

With the vaccine rollout underway, employees are already pondering when a return to the office may happen. For some, it is already happening and for others, the plans have just begun. There is a lot to consider, so here are some key do’s and don’ts to consider.

Going into the New Year, we all have our eye on the prize – your big goal for the year. But how often do we really dig in and determine how to achieve it at a granular level? Read how you can set big goals in 2021 and actually reach them.

Congratulations are in order! Our founder, Stacia Nelson, along with Virginia Clay-Chism and Karin Petty have been selected as 2020 Notable Women in Technology by Twin Cities Business.

The power of gratitude is often underestimated. Many of us were taught to think of gratitude as a synonym for optimism. We treat it as a luxury to indulge in on special occasions like Thanksgiving or during the holidays.

In a time when so much is out of our control, gratitude is often our best source of joy. This holiday season, we want to express our gratitude for a few phenomenal non-profits that we are proud to support.

Stacia and Wil sit down to have an open conversation around race and steps we can all take for personal growth.

Conversations around race can be intimidating, but to enact change we encourage everyone to start asking questions, influencing those closest to you and challenging things that don’t seem right.

In times like these, it’s evermore important to reflect on the ‘why’ of our actions. For companies working on DEI initiatives, is it something that we are just doing, or is it something we are truly incorporating into the framework of our company? Are you hiring new talent to help guide this progress, or you relying on team members of color to shoulder the responsibility? “To assume that every Black person has the skills and desire and knowledge for this work is tokenization,” said Michelle Kim, chief executive of Awaken, a company that provides diversity training and workshops to empower leaders and teams in Oakland, California.

When looking to include people of color on your team in your DEI look to these four themes to help guide you.

On September 22, Pivot’s Huddle featured panelists from Cargill, Abbott Laboratories and Ameriprise Financial. Based on the conversation, we have compiled the key takeaways into a one page, Return to Office Guide for you to use within your own company.

We’ve all heard — and probably identified with — being an introvert (someone who recharges from being alone) or an extrovert (someone who recharges from being around others) and COVID has amplified the feelings associated with these personality types. As remote work continues, learn more about how to be a great leader to both ‘verts.

As a mom and employer, Stacia shares three things we’re focused on to support our team, clients and ourselves this fall.

Are you really a risk-taker? Reflecting on his childhood playground, Matt explores the fascinating relationship between risk, pain and personal growth.

Okay that might be a bit dramatic, they are not literally drowning, but they are likely overworked. Working in corporate communications at four different large companies, one theme remains the same, communications teams are exhausted and overworked.

Join us on Zoom Tuesday, July 14 from 1:00 – 4:00 p.m. CST to listen, learn and discuss what it takes to take the next step when it’s not the easy move to make.

How does a leader navigate constant change?

Awareness of the change management process is the first step.

While communication is a solid foundation upon which a change plan can be built, communications plans are not a substitute for a robust, long-term change plan.

Why do we love Fridays so much? At face value, it seems like Saturday or Sunday should be people’s favorite day of the week. Generally, Saturday and Sunday are the days we get to take work off, sleep in, and spend time with our families.

Join us on Zoom Tuesday, July 14 from 1:00 – 4:00 p.m. CST to listen, learn and discuss what it takes to take the next step when it’s not the easy move to make.

Communications, Authenticity & Corporate Social Responsibility: Or – How to talk about social issues in a responsible way.

What change management theory can tell us about changing hearts and minds.

Where have the last five years gone? Since 2015, Pivot Strategies has focused on keeping pace with rapid change, growing and overcoming challenges. Those values got us through the last five years, and they are guiding us now as we face an uncertain future.

A few tips from the Global Leadership Network on leading during a global pandemic.

“Zoom fatigue” has swept across the working world. Thankfully, there are tools to fight it.

The intersection of communications and change management is robust – check out our Huddle recap for some helpful insights.

Flexibility has always been central to Pivot’s culture. Our adaptability has enabled us to thrive even when our team members are oceans apart. So, you can imagine my surprise to discover how deeply my team and I have been impacted by COVID-19.

Have you ever had the desire to try freelancing? I certainly did. The variety of the work and companies with the opportunity to continually learn, develop, gain new perspectives and apply those new skills were all very appealing aspects.

For all of us, this is a time like we have never experienced. It is challenging, filled with worry, fear and uncertainty. All parts of our lives have been impacted – our daily routines, social life, work – everything is different. The change can feel overwhelming, and as if it’s all beyond our control.

These are unprecedented times. The rapid changes in our world are upending our norms and making us rethink how we function under new constraints. My hope is that we will come out of this pandemic with new abilities, new solutions and new ideas that make us better.

In this issue, we are featuring additional tips from communications leaders who presented at the January Huddle.

For those who missed this session, we want to share some of our favorite take-aways from the evening.

Join us Tuesday, March 10 from 4:00 – 6:00 p.m. Located at 1330 Lagoon Ave, Minneapolis, MN 55408. Listen and interact with our expert panel from Fairview Health Services, Medtronic, Coloplast and Pivot Strategies as they talk about the connection, partnership and differences between communications and change management. Where do these roles overlap? Learn about when each is needed, how to divvy up roles and the sweet spot for working together.

What makes goals achievable? Setting small daily priorities to make progress each day. Recently, at our very first Huddle, we discussed setting and protecting priorities. One of our panelists, Beth McGuire, vice president of provider marketing and communications at United Healthcare, provided some incredible insights on how she sets well-rounded priorities. 

Training can be one of those overlooked parts of a project. But, if the project requires people to do their job differently in order to capture the value, then it is an essential part of your project. Training helps foster the change and allows users to strengthen their skills to succeed in their role.

In January, Pivot Strategies had the privilege of hosting our first Huddle. The Huddle is an opportunity for Internal Communications practitioners to come together to share best practices and network. 

As a consultant, I’ve been asked to share tips from working with our various clients. What has worked well or what are the challenges? I often find that the challenges are the same and so I thought – what if we all got together and started to share, discuss and grow together? What if there was a place for corporate communicators to connect with each other, to share their strategies for creating magic or mitigating crises?

These conversations have inspired us to start The Huddle – a unique venue for corporate communicators to gather and discuss the questions and challenges that are keeping us up at night. We will bring together curated topics and speakers that will help us all feel re-ignited with new ideas to put into practice. 

Generation Z and Generation Alpha (the children of Millennials) are poised to make the biggest impact on your organization’s future. Are you prepared to meet the communications needs of these next generations? 

Clear, consistent messaging and effective organizational change management are integral to the success of any large-scale transformation. 

With the majority of the world’s largest public companies, the Forbes Global 2000, using SAP in some capacity, organizational change leaders have likely fostered groups throughout an implementation. Companies may be centralizing their finance department, improving supply chain productivity, or SAP may be the system of choice as part of a merger or acquisition. There are many SAP applications, and the solution can be highly complex.

With any enterprise-wide change effort, it can be challenging to share a consistent message with all global stakeholders. As change managers know well, engaging leaders, facilitating site-level communications and engaging employees throughout the project are critical to its success. 

We are starting The Huddle – a place for corporate communicators to gather and discuss the topics that matter most in an intimate setting. Since starting Pivot four and a half years ago, we have heard a lot from clients and colleagues about common trends, questions and needs. We will have curated topics and speakers that will ignite new ideas and spark shared learning as you connect with others in similar roles.

We Donated 22.5% of our Profits to in 2019. Read more about the organizations our donations went to.

The upcoming new year is a great time to reflect on 2019, and plan for the year ahead. It’s amazing how each year brings new lessons and discoveries. Taking the time to reflect is important – we cannot really learn without pausing to recognize these lessons and let them sink in. With a new year (and a new decade) on the horizon, I thought I would share three learnings I had this year. 

In a recent episode of the New York Times Daily podcast, I’m reminded of the importance of clear and concise communications and the courage to ask the introductory questions that everyone wants to know but may be too afraid to ask.

Communications and change happen everywhere. Here at Pivot, we work with clients that take us all over the world. We have had the opportunity to work on a global SAP deployment where our efforts in change management, communications, and training are being leveraged in the U.S., Canada, Puerto Rico and Japan. I have had the chance to be part of the team facilitating the Japan deployment.

Fall is my favorite season. More than any other time of year, we are encouraged to take a breath and think about all the things we’re most grateful for ­– friends, family and everything else that make life worth living. 

The idea of visual storytelling is not a new concept. Long ago, royal scribes used imagery to tell the story of their monarchy, documenting their histories on cave walls and scrolls. Today, everyone has the power to be a storyteller with the tools at your fingertips.

Clear and effective communications are critical to helping people through a change. As we manage change, we should not expect people to do things differently if they did not know about the new expectation.

Simone Biles is unstoppable! Here at Pivot, we’ve been following her success stories in the world of international gymnastics for years. We’re continually inspired by her discipline, performance under pressure, and determination. This is a woman bringing her A-game. What a rock star! 

When our team’s not drafting strategic communications plans, we’re curling up with good books — and not just business-related titles. From seasonally-appropriate mysteries to wine and war history, our interests prove as diverse as our clients. Here are some of the page-turners keeping us engaged this fall.

Want to launch your brand or a new product/service and need advice on communications? Come to this free event – …

If you asked most people where Tunisia is, they probably couldn’t find it on a map. A few months ago, I raised my hand when presented with the opportunity to venture there to help with an economic development project. At Pivot, we believe in helping others. It’s a part of who we are.

Tunisia is a predominantly Muslim country located in the very northern part of Africa, tucked between Libya and Algeria. Relatively new to democracy, transitioning from a dictatorship nine years ago, the country has been focused on growing its economy. I traveled to Tunisia to support that effort by helping 18 business centers improve communications and with a goal of supporting entrepreneurs, helping them find funding, and sustaining growth over time.

It’s that time of year – whether it’s because we’re watching the weather forecasts and bracing for the worst or digging into budgets and annual planning – many of our clients are dusting off their crisis management plans and are looking to upgrade or start fresh. 

There’s been no shortage of high-profile corporate incidents and executive mishaps this year (I won’t name names). Crises happen to even the most prepared and well-meaning organizations. However, it’s still surprising to see the number of Fortune 500 companies that experience a crisis and respond in a less than favorable way. When a highly public crisis hits, it becomes easy to spot which companies were caught completely unprepared. Whether it’s an inability to identify what happened, talk about the crisis or take quick actions to make things right, or simply a misguided or flubbed media response (cringe!).

As school begins, it’s a good reminder for all of us grown-up kids to get back to the basics. Clear and effective communications are critical to helping people through a change. As we manage change, we should not expect people to do things differently if they were not aware of new expectations in the first place. I know I’m stating the obvious here, but sometimes we need a reminder of the immense importance of communications in managing change. We do everything we can to deliver the best communications possible to our stakeholders, though at times, we miss the mark.

What does it mean to work in Organizational Change Management (OCM)? It is a question that comes up weekly if not daily for those in our field. The easy answer: we help with the people side of change. Navigating through changes successfully happens when we are able to help individuals make a personal transition from a current to a future state.

Like many change professionals, I practiced organizational change management before I knew that it was a profession in itself. After leading change initiatives in the education industry, I began looking for tools that would help me more effectively plan these messy, large-scale organizational change efforts. Through connections, I learned of the Minnesota Change Management Network and subsequently, the well-regarded Prosci certification.

Hi, my name is Stacia Nelson, Founder and CEO of Pivot Strategies. In 2015, my husband Dan had just quit his communications job to pursue a career in nursing. With an 11-month old daughter, our plan was for me to hold down the fort with my corporate communications job until Dan finished school. Much to our surprise, a month later I was included in the major layoffs at Target. I shared the news on social media, and was fortunate to receive interest from past coworkers to consult on a couple of projects with them. At first I was apprehensive…but opted to try it. I lucked out with three amazing first clients: Nike, American Express and Cargill. I found that I LOVE consulting. And, it was mutual, because the clients were happy with the work.

MINNEAPOLIS – Dec. 13, 2017 – Pivot Strategies LLC, a Minneapolis-based agency specializing in strategic communications, received national certification as a Women’s Business Enterprise by the Women’s Business Enterprise National Council (WBENC).

WBENC’s national standard of certification is a meticulous process, including an in-depth review of the business. The certification process is designed to confirm the business is at least 51 percent owned, operated, and controlled by a woman or women. Pivot Strategies is 100 percent woman owned by founder and CEO Stacia Nelson.