(Editor’s Note: Alex Buss has been our content specialist for the past year, although she’s been involved in pretty much every project we’ve taken on in that time. She is taking a job with the state of Florida and will be missed immensely, although we have a sneaking suspicion she’ll visit from time to time!)

During the summer of 2017, I was volunteering at the Leon County Humane Society with Sandi when I found out she owned her own PR Company named Bulldog Strategy Group. Soon after the dog wash, Sandi offered me some contract work I just couldn’t pass up. It wasn’t long before I knew this was the workplace for me.

At the time, one of our clients involved working with Florida law enforcement. I did a lot of research on fallen law enforcement officers and the sacrifices they made for our communities. My favorite part was writing social media posts to honor their memories.

We also worked with Lauren’s Kids, an official 501(c)(3). Working with nonprofits is important to me because I know that the intended outcome is for the good of others. My favorite part about Lauren’s Kids was having the opportunity to educate adults and children about sexual abuse prevention through a statewide awareness campaign. My colleagues and I worked very hard to make sure that the message was clear and that everyone in the state was aware of the walk.

My favorite memory at BSG was when we took a trip to the Ocheesee Creamery. One of our amazing clients, Nic Stoltzfus, and his family took us on a tour of the dairy farm. We had a blast petting the calves, picking mulberries and eating fresh homemade ice cream.

The wide variety of clients we have worked with has profoundly diversified my work skills, which I will likely use for the rest of my life. I am grateful for my time and experience with the BSG team!

Last month, Elam and Nic Stoltzfus – our friends from Live Oak Production Group – invited us at Bulldog Strategy Group to explore their corner of the Florida panhandle: farms, rolling hills, pastures, cattle and the nearby Ocheesee Creamery. After getting a glimpse of their home, it’s clear where they get their passion for projects like the PBS film Great Florida Cattle Drive: Unbroken Circles.

Our first stop was the Ocheesee Creamery, a beautiful and delicious product of three generations of Nic’s mother’s family, the Wesselhoefts. Located in Calhoun County, Florida, its purpose is to bring back the healthy benefits of dairy products that come from “grass-happy cows.” This means that rather than raising cows in unhealthy factory conditions, Ocheesee cows have the freedom to graze on a pasture. This allows the cows to take in natural sunlight and fresh air and keep a fresh grass diet, which studies have proven increases the quality of milk produced.

After just minutes of being on site, we were greeted by almost the whole Wesselhoeft family. All of them (kids included) had a part to play in operating the Ocheesee Creamery. They took us behind the scenes in their facilities and showed us the ins and outs of producing various types of milk, ice cream, yogurt and butter.

We were treated to the full Ocheesee experience, from meeting a newborn calf and picking (and eating!) mulberries from the trees to finally getting to taste their world-class ice cream. We didn’t leave empty handed either; we walked away with a cooler FULL of Ocheesee dairy products.

Our second destination was the Stoltzfus home, AKA Live Oak Production Group headquarters. We enjoyed an amazing, home-cooked meal and talked business for a bit before taking tour #2: the garden and livestock edition. No one knows Florida flora and fauna like the Stoltzfus family. Just outside the backdoor were several gardens, each featuring a wide array of colors and smells sure to make even the most seasoned gardener envious. Birds and butterflies were plentiful and several ingredients for our lunch were sourced just feet away from the kitchen.

One especially lucky member of the BSG family – Todd the rescue bulldog puppy – had the experience of a lifetime meeting all the Stoltzfus animals, including several indifferent chickens, a curious but cautious cat, several cows, and his best friend of the day, Lefty the horse (who stars in the Great Florida Cattle Drive!).

After a long day touring the beautiful countryside of Florida, we all headed back to Tallahassee with stories to tell. Big thanks to the Stoltzfuses for hosting us on this adventure!

UPDATED – ADOPTED INTO A LOVING HOME!

Fisher is three years old, neutered and chipped, loves belly rubs and people. He is (mostly) housebroken but needs a reminder when he is outside to use the bathroom; otherwise, he will get wrapped up in his doggy activities. By the looks of those eyes, it’s clear he just needs somebody to love!

If you’re interested in fostering this sweet boy, please contact the Leon County Humane Society and tell them you want to #FosterFisher!

UPDATE – ADOPTED INTO A LOVING HOME!

Aside from being a model, Thea loves attention, exercise and would be happiest in a one-dog home so she can be the star. She is in need of a family who will give her all the love she wants and a little training. She is housebroken, crate-trained, spayed and up to date on her shots.

Thea is loyal and will never want to leave your side! You can always find her a few steps behind you waiting to slip into your arms.

For adoption information, visit www.TallahasseePetsAlive.org.

From a high-level perspective, the entire legal profession is based on conflict. Attorneys deal with various forms of conflict on a regular basis; it’s negotiating a settlement, arguing for your client in court, going point for point with opposing counsel in a brief. But unnecessary conflict can take a heavy toll on lawyers, and conflict resolution is a valuable skill to possess.

Good communication may not be the cure-all for conflict, but it is a critical component for conflict resolution. The key is understanding two elements: how you communicate and how the other person communicates.

Communication Styles

The good news is that there are five main communication styles, so with a little practice, you can hone your own skills and better identify the styles around you. While many of us may use different styles in different situations, most will fall back on one particular style, so it’s good to know your default.

• The Assertive Style: This communication style is founded in confidence; assertive communicators are able to clearly express themselves without being overbearing or overly submissive. Assertive communication is the most effective style as well as the healthiest.
  The Aggressive Style: Aggressive communicators value their needs above others; people often miss the message because they are turned off by the delivery.
• The Passive Aggressive Style: These communicators often leave people feeling confused or misdirected because while they may seem supportive, they are subtly undermining or acting out their aggression behind the scenes.
• The Submissive Style: People who communicate with a submissive style put others needs above theirs to avoid conflict, but may end up deeply resentful. This is a highly ineffective form of communication in many circumstances.
• The Manipulative Style: This communication style is destructive. Manipulative communicators often have their own agenda and control situations to achieve it, sometimes without the other person knowing.

Good communication skills require a high level of self-awareness. Once you understand your own communication style, you’ll be able to practice more assertive communication.

Communication is a Two-Way Street

Understanding the communication styles of those around you is also beneficial. It’s like having a cheat sheet; you’ll be able to quickly recognize how a difficult person is communicating and you’ll know how to respond to diffuse further conflict.

Ultimately, the person communicating is responsible for how his or her audience receives the message. Different communications styles can impede or even block messages altogether, which is why learning to communicate effectively can stop unnecessary conflict even before it starts.

Need help practicing effective communication? Bulldog Strategy Group can help. Talk to us today to get started.

If politics really is going to the dogs, why not use it to the dogs’ advantage?

The Second Annual Red Dog Blue Dog Benefit raised nearly $4,000 by pitting Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Shalimar) and Rep. Evan Jenne (D-Hollywood) against each other in a battle of the bartenders at Madison Social. Drinks were poured and the tips poured in to benefit the Leon County Humane Society, the Animal Shelter Foundation and Last Hope Rescue.

Not only did we get to sponsor the event, we brought Fisher, our very own foster dog from the Leon County Humane Society. Fisher is a three-year old sweet pitt mix with sad eyes, a goofy smile and an uncompromising love of belly rubs. Rescued from Tampa, he’ll need a loving permanent home once he completes his heartworm treatment. Fisher is neutered, microchipped and housebroken. If you are interested in meeting Fisher or would like more information on how to adopt, email Sandi.

Red Dog Blue Dog financially supports community-wide efforts to help more homeless animals find loving homes, reunite lost pets with their owners and promote responsible pet ownership. We’ll be back next year!

Too often, lawyers and reporters are like oil and water. “No comment” has become the phrase du jour when a microphone is in your face on the steps of the courthouse. But it doesn’t have to be like this. With a good foundation for professional relationships and some basic media relations practice, you can work with the media instead of avoiding them like the plague.

Let’s start with the basic premise that people treat each other better if they have an existing relationship. The worst time to make friends is when you really need them, so make a proactive effort to get to know the reporters who are likely to cover issues related to your clients and your practice areas. This can be as simple as inviting them out for a cup of coffee to introduce yourself. You both have jobs to do, but if you can look for a way to support each other, the relationships may provide you with long-term benefits. Just remember, you’re never really off the record, so be professional.

If a member of the media does ask you for an interview, there are some basic principles you can follow to manage the interview as best you can. Remember – you are never guaranteed full control or positive coverage; however, with good message management, you can dramatically improve how you are portrayed.

First, figure out in advance what your purpose is for the interview. Who are you trying to reach and what do you need to communicate? Having a clear goal will keep you focused, and key messages can improve the probability that your audience will receive clear, consistent and compelling information.

Develop three key messages to serve as the foundation for all communications and to weave into each interview. They should fit on one page: each as two or three sentences in length or 15 to 30 seconds when spoken. Your goal is to introduce and reinforce key messages through supporting information, such as:

– Facts: Use simple and descriptive statements.
– Statistics or figures: Put information into easy-to-understand or quantifiable terms.
– Authorities: Quote credible, relevant third-party experts.
– Stories: Share a case study, personal experience, anecdote or analogy.

Questions can be the scariest part of an interview, but if you know your subject matter well, you should be able to figure out what you’re likely to be asked. After identifying potential queries, including what you’re afraid of being asked, you can arm yourself with key message-laden responses and practice delivering those answers so you can provide them smoothly when asked by the interviewer.

Practice really is key to delivering a good interview. If you know in advance what you’re likely to be asked, what you want to communicate and how effectively you can communicate, you can prep for any interview just like you would prep for opening or closing statements in the courtroom. Ask someone to evaluate how clearly you speak, whether certain words are difficult for you to enunciate and whether you have any nervous behaviors, such as excessive blinking, strange hand gestures or swaying back and forth. If you’re aware of these behaviors ahead of time, you can practice correcting them.

For TV interviews, projecting confidence is especially critical. When asked a question, pause and think quietly about your next thought. Finish your sentence and wait for the reporter to ask another question – don’t talk just to fill a silence. Be aware of your non-verbal messages, including facial expressions, posture, gestures, etc. And talk to the interviewer, not the camera. Maintain good eye contact, listen and speak with conviction

You may be in a situation where you can’t necessarily plan out when or where you’re asked for an interview, such as on the courthouse steps. However, the preparation method is the same. Think critically about what a reporter might want to cover (or ask your new reporter friends) and plan out the key messages you need to communicate and how you might answer difficult questions. Remember, “No comment” is NOT AN OPTION. At worst, let the reporter know that you can’t address that question at this time. It’s also ok to calmly walk away if a reporter is being unprofessional. What you DON’T want to do is let a reporter provoke you into making reactive or emotional response.

Sometimes, a good media interview can be extremely beneficial to you or your client, and at the very least, minimizing potentially negative coverage is always a good idea. Use this combination of proactive relationship building and practical preparation to begin taking the terror (or distaste) out of your interactions with the media.