[S2 E8] No More Bullshit: The Value of Brutal Honesty

There's a lot of corporate rubbish spoken in and around the PR industry. From over-elaborate brand statements and communications jargon to pseudo-propitious CSR initiatives. Companies and brands hide behind walls of carefully constructed marketing initiatives that present a polished veneer instead of what really goes on inside those organisations. But what if we remove that veneer?

In this episode of the Digital Download podcast I talk to John Brown, founder of Don't Cry Wolf, about honesty. We talk about how transparency and authenticity are fast becoming something that clients and customers not only want but demand, and about the difficulty many brands have when faced with this change. Vulnerability is not a weakness unless you treat it as one.

Here's what we discussed in this episode:

* Why being honest and true to yourself feels good

* Why the perfect brand veneer is inauthentic

* Why brands need to stop putting pressure on people to be their 'perfect selves'

* Why vulnerability is a model for future success

* Why being committed generates greater ratings

* Why being accountable is important and how it manifests itself

* Why being vulnerable is not a weakness

* How you can transform a guarded organisation into an honest and transparent one

* Why organisations will be judged on their approach to honesty in just a few years time

* Why people want to see raw, human emotion from brands

* Why upsetting people sometimes isn't necessarily a bad thing

* Why healthy conflict can be beneficial

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts I Android Podcast Apps I Email I RSS

What to do Next

I'd love to hear from you with any comments or thoughts. I read and reply to every single email, tweet or message.

If you enjoyed today’s show, please email it to a friend and/or share it on your favourite social media channels. You might also want to check out Digital Download Membership, which is like having an army of expert mentors to turn to who keep you updated with the latest digital and social media developments and provide feedback and opinions on your ideas.

And finally, it would also be very awesome and hugely appreciated if you'd be able to take a couple of minutes to leave an honest review and rating for the podcast on iTunes, as this helps others discover Digital Download.

Thanks for listening!