Welcome to the Smart Talk Series, hosted by Melissa Vela-Williamson -- an accredited public relations expert, entrepreneur and national columnist.

Each week, Melissa will dive into communication strategies, tips, and principles using her 360-degree approach.

After a year as turbulent as 2020, there is one word Melissa has in mind: Restoration. In the inaugural Smart Talk Series episode, Melissa reflects on the lessons learned in 2020 and how communicating during tough times challenges professionals.

Topics covered:

- Silver linings from 2020

- How to communicate with your audience - Adaptable crisis management

- Evaluating your processes to create meaningful change

- Next steps for restoration throughout 2021

Actions to take:

- Establish a one-word theme for 2021

- Don't forget to remember the "why" when you lay out the "how"

- Embrace our new hybrid world

- Plan with pencils

- Diversify your approach

Resources mentioned:

- My Intent Project: https://myintent.org/

- Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs: https://www.simplypsychology.org/maslow.html - -

-Meals on Wheels San Antonio: https://www.mowsatx.org/

This week, Melissa is joined by seasoned PR professional and leader of Talley Communication Strategies, Chris Talley. His PR experience comes from working at USAA, Lockheed Martin, AT&T, and FleishmanHillard, one of the world’s most prestigious public relations agencies. Today he volunteers in the community and devotes time to speaking at colleges across the country.

Topics covered:

- The difference between a crisis, an issue, and a situation
- How to be proactive in crisis planning
- How to "read the room"
- Learning from challenging situations
- The difference between brand and reputation
- How to manage stressful situations

Actions to take:

- Think like an investigative journalist
- Act, don't decide
- Praise in public, criticize in private
- Declare your communication timing
- Be intentional about the routines that you want to maintain as nonnegotiable
- Exercise, take a moment to breathe, and take a pause

Resources mentioned:

- Talley Communication Strategies: https://www.talleypr.com/
- Chris' LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/christalley1
- Accreditation in Public Relations: https://www.prsa.org/professional-development/accreditation-in-public-relations-(apr)
- The Muppets Take Manhattan: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0087755/