Lee Caraher is a CEO and acclaimed communication strategist known for her practical solutions to big problems. She started Double Forte as a new kind of communications firm designed to work with good people, doing good work for good companies doing great things in their categories. So far so good. This is not her first rodeo, and she’s learned a lot along the way that she shares with others in the hopes that everyone can reduce drama and conflict in the workplace and create careers that matter.
Lee Caraher has a reputation for building cohesive, high producing teams who get a lot done well and have fun at the same time. A sought-after coach and confidant to her clients, Lee regularly helps organizations navigate complex, sensitive and critical situations. She is a straight talker who doesn’t hold too many punches, although she does her best to pleasant about it. An experience speaker and facilitator, Lee blends immediately applicable insights with inspiration and humor for engaging and entertaining sessions for audiences large and small.
Her first book “Millennials & Management: The Essential Guide To Making It Work At Work” was published by Bibliomotion in October 2014. The book is based on her own work building a successful intergenerational workplace, as well as the insight from more than 250 managers, leaders and employees of all ages in different industries across the country. For Millennials, management, and senior leaders, the book is a practical and entertaining guide to breaking down the misconceptions between Gen Y, GenX and the Baby Boomer generations, and details how to build a constructive, productive work environment that builds business, loyalty and strategic advantage.
Lee Caraher started a public relations and communication strategy firm with a partner almost 15 years ago. Before that, she was employed with many other large communication firms.
“My whole career has been in this function of figuring out what to say and who to say it to so they can hear it”
She says her journey to entrepreneurship came out of necessity when she needed the flexibility in her schedule to help her mother who was diagnosed with cancer.
Lee believes that the customer experience is the lifeblood of any company.
“The brand that you have is only half of whatever is in that package (of what you sell). The other half is in the experience that people have with your brand.”
The experience your customers have is going to be the indicator for company sustainability.
Her agency is very focused on service, and Lee says that if you deliver good results but a great experience you will keep that client forever.
You have to recognize that each client will have a different culture.
“We have to shift to each culture. Really understanding who your customer is is important.”
She notes that communication is a big issue in companies all over the country, and can be a challenge as most businesses have three generations in them. Millennials tend to prefer communication by text, whereas baby boomers are more likely to pick up the phone.
“Don’t assume people have the same communication preferences as you do”
Your business is only as good as your relevancy is. For this reason, staying up-to-date is the most important thing you can do in your day.
Lee Caraher says that companies need to have a plan in place for the worst-case scenario.
“In today’s world that’s moving so quickly, there’s no longer 24 hours to figure it out”
Companies that receive negative feedback on social media should respond immediately and direct the person to a private email address to get the conversation off of the public forum.
She shares that if team moral is bad, you have to address the issues right away. However, going through challenging times as a team can create a stronger bond with employees.
“People come to work with all of their baggage. How do you help them focus, be productive and be happy?”
Employees want to do work that matters. When they don’t understand how they are making a difference, this is when you get the negative impact.
“My experience is the best leaders are the ones who basically love the people around them. They’re very motivated by other people’s success.”
Lee explains that if you don’t intertwine your work and your life responsibilities, it’s very challenging to do either very well.
When she is well physically, her company too is well, and healthy companies are the ones that people stay at.
Two quotes Lee lives by are, “Focus is your friend”, and “Family first.”
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INTERVIEW LINKS:
“Primal Leadership” by Daniel Goleman
“Are You Fully Charged” by Tom Rath
