For more, http://info.concordlawschool.edu/Pages/LLM_Concord_Law_School.aspx

Remember, e-learning is an experience that must be coupled with making a real connection, which is product of information exchange and relationship building. Be ready to ASK: accept sharing knowledge.

When does e-learning offer you breakthrough interpersonal moments?

Learn new skills to pave the way for a brighter tomorrow.

“More than half of the United States’ 100 largest cities relied on Hispanics and Asians to grow and would have seen their populations decline without them over the past decade, a Washington Post analysis shows…”read more.

As more employees use blogs, Facebook or Twitter, firms and companies need to consider two important questions: do policies consider the potential uses of social media? and should firms retrain employees on outbound digital media communications?

Social media communications policies should be short: prohibits releasing firm’s or company’s proprietary and confidential information; prohibits using employee’s firm e-mail address to identify author; reminds employees of their duty of loyalty to the firm applies to social media; and requires employees to say “these are my personal views, not necessarily the firm’s views,” if employees write or say anything about the firm or its services.

For your client, a crisis is anything that can potentially negatively reflect on her, as a person or as a business. The question is not what if a crisis happens? but what does one do when a crisis happens?

Small businesses are particularly vulnerable dealing with crises and communications. Within minutes, your client and her business may be in local media. The news may go viral from blogs to online news services throughout the United States. Within hours, the chief of police may be calling the incident “vigilante justice” and order an emergency business closing for 72 hours. One of the business partners may get in front of it. Unfortunately, the business partner may not have skills in crisis communications.

When you deal with your client, remember these important points in crisis communications.

No business is too small to have a crisis management team that can be mobilized to deal with the situation. As legal advisor, you are a key member of that team. Help your client prepare a crisis checklist for action items, what needs to be said and what needs to be done. Encourage your client to get some training in dealing with media. Suggest practicing scenarios: there are plenty students a local schools learning journalism whom your client might engage in asking questions, videotaping and critiquing. The local business association or chamber of commerce may offer seminars. Perhaps there is someone in the business who is interested in press and media and can have the right demeanor to serve as media liaison.

Since the news cycle is continuous, the crisis management team will have to convene quickly since the media will look for information quickly. Without information, the media might start making it up. Will a national newspaper print photos of a blood-stained sidewalk that had nothing to do with the incident or with your client’s business?

No matter how small, every employee of a business has a responsibility to notify management when something happens. Yet not every employee should be speaking to the media. If your small business client in going to manage a problem, your client has to know about it.

Your small business client should learn the real story before making comments and be able to reply to questions within 24 hours, preferably sooner. If the client has a website or uses social networks for business purposes, content must be clear and consistent. If employees use social networks, they must respect the proprietary relationship with the employeer and be careful and sensitive about what they are posting. If a press conference is called to make a statement, the speaker must maintain composure and be gracious even when the questions get tough.

Although it pays to be prudent, it’s never a good idea to reply “no comment” to the media.

There may be expressions of anxiety, feeling trapped, purposelessness, hopelessness and anger. Watch. Other clues may be non-verbal and may include changes in eating and sleeping habits, withdrawal from family or simple things, inappropriate guilt, recklessness, constant fatigue, bad hygiene, missing work and decreased productivity.

It only takes one person to make a difference in another’s life. If you are concerned about a colleague or friend, ask questions and listen. As a lawyer, you are trained to ask questions, listen carefully and to suggest solutions. You can ask, “Are you thinking about hurting yourself?” Talking through feelings may help reduce anxiety and stress. It can also indicate a will to live.

If you remain concerned, you can help your colleague or friend find a mental health professional through the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at (800) 273-8255.

Use a simple theme and stick with only a few specific genres.

Post regularly, but do not post if you have nothing worth posting.

Use “subscribe” and “vote me” links judiciously.

Comment on other peoples’ blogs as they may visit your blog.

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