Push A Pencil speaks not only to what we do, but also to who we are.
It’s a simple way to express a key value we bring: Effective Strategy. Persuasive Messages. Achieving a Presence. Creating channels, experiences and platforms, establishing a unique identity and remembering a message so that your target audience is responsive and motivated.

The challenges to improving business performance are many and diverse: limited resources, deadly deadlines, market competition, budget restrictions -- to name a few. Keeping your target the focus without losing out to the realities of competing priorities is often the biggest challenge.

And what works? Getting the big picture, a thorough understanding of your business, markets, products, values and culture so that you 're not driven by tactics alone. With comprehensive problem solving, the right tools, and the steady conscientious guidance of the right strategy, we deliver quality and an ROI on the money you invest in communications.

And that’s an ultimate result of the work we do at Push A Pencil. It’s a key reason why Push A Pencil is the choice of businesses for content.  Companies such as; CIBC, Molson, Toronto Dominion Bank, Harlequin Enterprises, CBC, Kids Help Phone, Canadian Cancer Society and Toronto Police Service trust us, because delivering your message to your customers, your employees, and your stakeholders is critical to delivering results.

We provide writing, editing and consulting services from front end to delivery for:
•    Corporate Communications
•    Employee Communications
•    Marketing & Customer Communications
•    Public Relations
•    Video Scripts and Production
•    Intranet & Web Content Strategies & Writing

Contact us to discuss your next project.

Contact Us

Telephone: 416-935-0707

Web: www.pushapencil.com

Email: froberts@pushapencil.com

I've developed strategic communications within three very large, complex IT implementation projects over the last 10 years.  I'd like to share some learning I've acquired about the success factors in communications planning within a large scale, complex IT implementation.

• It’s about change. Change is always in air and is the constant within all product and program areas.  Therefore, using internal communications to leverage change management that keeps employees up to date on changes and keeping them motivated and rewarded is really important.
• Manage upwards.   Keep the management team in the loop with ongoing strategic communication planning guidance and support.  This keeps everyone on message.
• Become a partner.  Have a seat at team and product meetings. Listen to their plans and client-side activities. Provide recommendations for communications to partners in the form of target messages with options for tactics and action plan for implementation.  Be prepared to give them a heads up if the strategic direction of corporate positioning changes or a particular issue has come to the forefront. 
• Avoid technical jargon.  You're working around some very smart people, so it's tempting to want to sound like a boffin, but this approach misfires with almost every stakeholder out there.  Be ready to inform and educate your stakeholders using plain language.  Emphasize value and benefits in generic terms.
• Avoid a PR headache. Orient team members on the issues commonly associated with these large scale IT implementations.  The issues are waste, mismanagement and going massively over budget – just think of the federal governments Gun Registry boondoggle! Even if the investor is the Canadian taxpayer, there’s no excuse to be made if you’re asleep at the wheel when the various advocacy groups begin to make noise.  So stay on top of it.
• Privacy is privacy is privacy.  This issue will never go away no matter how much brainpower, ingenuity and corporate messaging is thrown at it. That’s because it’s much more than a technical or public relations activity.  Privacy is an emotional issue and so it needs a patient and steady response that is like a good parent – be reasonable, consistent and honest in all your communications.
• Stop them at the pass.  With so many channels – email, web, phone, mail - open to customers and stakeholders to reach you with their questions and comments, it’s important to develop and Q & A that can be used. Be aware of the tenacity of some customers and stakeholders who will likely use more than one channel to reach you.  With a Q & A, your message will be consistent across all channels. 
• Don’t be a hero.  The temptation for going it alone by becoming a hero who “saves the day” at the last minute will only earn you a burn-out or a pink slip.  Don't ever go it alone. No matter how difficult getting your ideas across to a team may be, make that your mantra.  Find another way to be a hero with your family and children, or in your volunteer work.