the ever curious PR guy

On the meaning of "gravitas" in thought leadership communications

"We need somebody with GRAVITAS," I am often told by conference organizers and others who are interested in hosting a business leader from my company as speaker. But they never really define what they mean by "gravitas," and so they make the word useless as a clear expectation of the kind of leader they really want. Typically they use the word to mean that they want someone high-level and with a fancy title to get the audience interested in attending.

Recently I found myself reading a biography of the old Roman emperor and leader Augustus and, there it was. A definition of "gravitas," which was covered as one of several qualities of good Roman leaders:

Gravitas: A serious (sometimes oversolemn) approach to the challenges of life.

So, if you use the word gravitas to describe a leader you want to engage, you better know what precise kind of challenge you know this leader to have approached in an "over solemn" way (which I suppose means in a very, very, very serious and focused way). I don't think the challenge has to be just about life, but can be about business and the challenges of purposeful leadership, innovation and achieving objectives.

You also better know exactly why an audience would be interested in learning about the leader's approach to the challenge at hand, and how the approach can or should be applied in a variety of different situations (different audiences have different needs).

And lastly, I would hope you can be ready to challenge this leader with new assumptions and new ways of thinking just to make things even more interesting.

 

Smart grid and entire energy mix in need of smart, fresh talent

Great article HERE from NY Times reminding us of the serious need to get young kids interested in careers in energy. Every aspect of the energy mix (renewables, oil and gas, electricity generation and smart grid, efficiency, commercialization and finance, sustainable development) is in bad need of a good foundation of emerging talent that is going to move things forward and help meet energy demand while reducing impacts to the environment.

We need basic energy fundamentals taught in elementary and middle schools, so that we can help citizens have a smart conversation about energy choices when they're adults and not have them rely on opportunistic, miseducated and short-termistic (is that a word?) politicians and cable news talking heads.

We also need to help colleges and universities with more resource to supplement their research work and teach on the applied areas that will further inspire students to be part of this endeavor through their careers. This applies to both conventional oil and gas as well as new and renewable energy technologies.

We also need some good smarts at the business education level to help with ideas on speeding up commercialization of new renewable technologies. This area requires some fresh thinking about business, value and leverage.

And while we're at it, it also wouldn't hurt to promote education about Asian cultures and languages. As China, India and other Asian countries continue to grow dramatically in energy consumption and take a leading role in technology and energy security diplomacy, we'll need people versed in these cultures to facilitate transfer of knowledge and bring more credibility to the emissions control conversation. Probably should add Africa to this mix.

If you're a thought leader in energy and haven't thought about the education equation, well think again.