What I do.

Building Better Relationships Through Effective Communication

I help organizations to identify issues that affect their operations and reputations. I then assist in addressing those issues through effective communication. This includes research, planning, implementation and evaluation of professional communication programs.

The process starts and ends with listening, not speaking.

I work with senior executives to assess the condition of their organizations' relationships with critical internal and external audiences, by listening to those audiences with appropriate research techniques.

I use this information to plan what's needed to meet each group's expectations for the organization's performance as an employer, supplier, citizen and neighbor. I build unique communication programs to let each of these audiences know how the organization is performing in the public interest and to meet their expectations. Then I listen again to see how effectively the communication worked and how we can further shape the policies, actions and communication of the organization.

This is called effective communication. Effective communication builds better relationships.

Brief History

Menu of Services

"David Kirk is a consummate public relations professional whether your need is public opinion research, issues management, communications planning or strategies for leveraging social media.   David's wide range of experience and interdisciplinary approach to communications are uniquely suited to today's business environment.   He offers informed, results-oriented consultation."

Michele Schiavoni is senior vice president of External Affairs for the Christiana Care Health System.

“David is one of the most knowledgeable researchers and strategists I know. I'm proud to call him one of my PR gurus. "

Rick Alcantara, principal of Tara Communications, Inc. is a public relations colleage of David Kirk.

What it is.

A Relationship Check-Up© is a method for assessing the state of an organization's relationships with key internal and external constituent groups, whose expectations must be met to win their support for the goals and objectives of the organization.

How it's done.

Purchase your copy of the 20-page, color booklet How to Plan and Manage a Relationship Check-Up© at my online store.

Why should you care about your relationships with community opinion leaders?

Purchase your copy of the 37-page, color booklet Building Relationships with Community Opinion Leaders: Who, Why and How at my online store.
 

Specialized Copywriting

• Annual Reports
• Award Entry Submissions
• A/V Scripts
• Brochures and Catalogues
• E-Newsletters
• FAQs
• Feature Stories
• News Releases
• OpEds
• Questions and Answers
• RFP Responses
• Speeches and Presentations, including PowerPoint Support
• Tweets
• Web Sites

Crisis Communication

• Communication Planning
• Message and Media Management
• Spokesperson Preparation

 
Primary and Secondary Research

• Benchmark Studies
• Best Practices White Papers and Issue Briefings
• Public Opinion Polls
• Relationship Check-Ups

Workshops

• Communication Skills for Leaders and customized companion workbook, How to Plan and Implement an Effective Employee Communication Program
• Effective Media Relations
• Effective Presentation Skills
• Facilitating Study Circles
• Planning an Issue-Driven Communication Program or Campaign

Social-Media Consulting

• Plans and Strategies to Incorporate Social Media into Communication Plans
• Tactical Support (software for automation, measurement; copywriting)

Employee Engagement

• See Workshops Above
• See Research Above
• Employee Engagement Presentations for Management

What's the state of your relationships with your organization's key constituent groups? Here's how to find out.

A Relationship Check-Up™ is a method for assessing the state of an organization's relationships with key internal and external constituent groups, whose expectations must be met to win their support for the goals and objectives of the organization. It employs a proprietary combination of methodologies , depending on the specific circumstances of a given Check-Up. To discuss conducting a Check-Up for your organization, please contact me. For a more detailed look at the makings of a Check-Up, purchase your copy of the 20-page, color booklet How to Plan and Manage a Relationship Check-Up™ at my online store.

Clients Discuss the Value of the Relationship Check-Up

"This independent Check-Up assessment provided me with specific evidence to help win the support of our employees and our trustees for changes we could make to help us further our mission. This information also helped us formalize our strategies to affect community opinion."

Marion McGowan
(Formerly) Chief Executive Officer
Brandywine Hospital "My organization has benefited greatly from the two engagements David Kirk has performed on our behalf. His thoughtful approach to assessing community perceptions and then creating action plans that work have helped us to incorporate community concerns as a fundamental piece of our organizational culture."

Dennis J. Dooley,
Vice President
Planning and Development
Capitol Health System "David Kirk's perceptive and objective reports on the community's perception of Lancaster Health Alliance have been key ingredients in our overall community relations activities. David can connect with a diverse array of community leaders, learn their concerns and praises and provide those viewpoints with recommendations for improvements in a format that is understood at all levels of our organization"

John Lines
Director
Community Relations
Lancaster General Health "David Kirk has been integrally involved in developing the strategies in our public accountability communication program. He has demonstrated a unique ability to organize and move the program forward."

Michael A. Suchanick
Chief Operating Officer
The Hospital&Healthsystems

I started in the PR business when the height of communication technology was the IBM Selectric typewriter with, omigosh, correction tape built right in! I remember gathering with my colleagues around a different mechanical behemoth, agog that we were now able to send documents to clients electronically, over the telephone! It required encasing a single page in a plastic sleeve and clamping it to a rotating drum. Then in only 30 minutes of so, that whole page would someone appear magically on a matching machine anywhere in the world. My first cell phone had a 15-pound shoulder-mounted battery pack. So when the Philadelphia Chapter of the Public Relations Society of America asked me in October to join several other "seasoned" practitioners on a panel about the future of PR, I felt better prepared to discuss the past. I had to give some thought to the future regarding my assigned topic, the future of PR research. In my blog this month, I reprise my conversation with a roomful of my peers on a subject of intense concern among public relations practitioners. Summary: the past is prologue to the future.