Authored by - Anand Prakash, Reputation Management ConsultantJust a few years back, we experienced the biggest public health crisis in the 21st century, with far-reaching consequences for our economy, health, international relations, and sociocultural environment. The COVID-19 pandemic was the first-of-its-kind disruptive crisis experienced by mankind. The situation was new and unprecedented. There was much learning involved in navigating the crisis, especially while communicating with various stakeholders. Since then, we have displayed tremendous resilience and have scripted a strong recovery emerging from the shadows of the pandemic. Since Hon’ble Indian Prime Minister ushered the nation into the age of Amrit Kaal, the country has embodied a spirit of relentless positivity. It was then the vision of India@100 was shared with us to work towards a new dawn for the country, which will bring with it the chance to fulfil the nation’s aspirations. Today, India finds itself in a unique position to be making history. From a world perspective, developed countries like UK, Japan, and Ireland have entered into a technical recession, and around 14 more are standing on the edge. Around 70 countries are facing debt distress, around half of them are in the high-risk zone, and 4 to 5 have defaulted since 2020. Other developing economies are showing a sluggish growth trend, even as the global GDP is expected to slip from an estimated 2.7% (FY2023) to 2.4% (FY2024). Even China is experiencing an economic slowdown having recently experienced back-to-back crises in its real estate sector.  Contrarily, India stands strong with a 7.3% GDP growth going past the International projections. India has done so amidst strong global headwinds, such as climate change, international conflicts and hostile geopolitics, energy market and supply chain disruptions, and many more.  Multiple factors, including prudent policy making, aggressive developmental initiatives, increased capital expenditure, fostering international relations, and so on have contributed to our economic growth. However, one factor stands out. For the first time ever in the history of independent India, we have a vision and a roadmap for the next 25 years, offering much clarity to the citizens on what we need to work towards as a nation. The year 2024 will be critical for India, as the nation will go on to exercise its democratic right. Irrespective of the outcome, the period of Amrit Kaal is unique and special. In my interactions with over 40 CXOs in recent times, I have observed how brands have adopted to be a part of the Amrit Kaal narrative, absorbing the spirit of positivity, by not only bringing a transformation in organizational mindset but also adopting it in their communication strategies to reflect upon the brand image. However, even at the times of high positivity, there is a need to be cautious and thought oriented. Amrit Kaal is also new and unprecedented. While it presents us with tremendous opportunities to share our stories, a blind approach may lead to unforeseen fallouts. All organizations want to continue building a stronger brand image. However, just as success cannot be guaranteed even if market conditions are right. One has to take the right steps and not take conditions for granted.As communication and reputation consultants, we are committed to helping brands across sectors, automotive, real estate, technology, finance, start-ups, energy, media, new economy, and many more to get the organizational alignment right and leverage the power of storytelling to build compelling Amrit Kaal brand stories. I am leaving you with four questions that might trigger some thought: ·      How or in what ways is your brand in Amrit Kaal? ·      While aligning your story with Amrit Kaal, what is that is unique that you are telling? ·      Other than positivity, what key emotions, say empathy, courage, pride, hope, inspiring, are central to your story? ·      How can the Amrit Kaal narrative become a part of the organization’s change management communication? Your organization is contributing to nation-building, and in doing so, it has many stories to tell. Building brand reputation needs the right stories to be told to the right people at the right time using the right platform and tools. While stepping into the new financial year, as we collectively work in the times of Rising Bharat, the first step would be to find the right communication partner to tell your Amrit Kaal narrative to the world and help shine spotlight on your contribution to the nation’s goal of Viksit Bharat@2047. 

Authored by Anand Prakash, Reputation Consultant.The alliance between a Reputation Consultant and his client is sacred, marked by a commitment to build understanding, foster genuine care, and drive effective communication. It serves as a stronghold for safeguarding and promoting their reputation at its zenith. I bear a profound sense of responsibility and nostalgia for those who trust us and bestow upon us the most invaluable asset in the world – their REPUTATION.A turn of a day brings us to a New Year. I cannot help but wonder why the turn of a calendar year becomes so important to us, although nothing much changes as the four digits at the end of your date line increases by one. The turn of financial year comprises a spirit of fiscal pragmatism. Our cultural New Year, although celebrated around the same period but on different dates, has an extremely strong community relevance. However, it is the Calendar New Year, the becoming of 2023 to 2024, which has an all-pervading unifying character. The beginning of a new calendar year brings with itself a certain closure as well as a period of reflection and future planning.    For years as a communications consultant, the new year has been an occasion to not only make customary exchanges with the clients we have serviced, but to engage and discuss the road that we travelled together and the way ahead that needs to be paved. Over the years, the entire exercise evolved naturally and seamlessly, so much so it has become an integral part of our lives.It has become like friends catching up to recapitulate the year gone by and making plans for the adventures yet to come. It is during these occasions that often have I and my team been touched with the realization of the trust and faith that we have been entrusted with. There have been few consistent reminders year after year, every new year, from these heart-to-heart exchanges.In the intricate world of business, where success is often measured in numbers and bottom lines, there exists an intangible yet invaluable currency that flows beneath the surface - the currency of trust. For communications professionals, brand reputation management is not merely a job; it’s becoming an extension to the brand. The trust reposed upon us is the lifeblood that courses through the veins of the relationship between a communications consultant and its clients, making the consultant not just a strategic advisor but the banker of client and brand reputation.As communication consultants, our every exchange is not just a transaction of services but an investment in a sacred covenant. Our entire evolution needs to evolve as a custodian of reputation and trust, a keeper of promises, and a custodian of the intangible assets that define a brand. This position, howsoever attractive, cannot be achieved overnight. We often advise to our clients, the process of brand building is not so much an outcome of doing something big, but more of doing significant things consistently. Similarly, building credibility comes over time though consistent, concerted efforts. Trust and faith between the consultant and the client builds over time. It is a meticulous construction, a blend of competence, transparency, and delivery.In this process, there will be rooms you will walk into where the mere reception of yours will tell you that you have earned is the reputation of being an able advisor and a harbinger of solutions to key challenges faced by your clients. Then there will be rooms when the reception will tell you that there is a bridge to be built, a chasm to be crossed. In the case of the former, it is important to safeguard against complacency and not take your clients for granted. In the case of the latter, you would know there’s a work that’s cut out for you. Depending upon how wide the chasm is, thinking on your feet, quick action, and delivery might be the need of the hour.Irrespective of how far along one has progressed in career, a communication consultant remains a frontline soldier for a brand, especially considering the dynamic times we live in. Communication has become easier; it has also become chaotic. With information travelling at the speed of light and stakeholder opinion may swell any moment, miscommunication has become lethal. The role of a communications consultant has evolved from being a mere messenger to being a sentinel, ever watchful, anticipating and assessing every possible ripple impacting the client. It is in this role that it becomes important for us to assess the waves our brands need to ride and the ones that need to be averted. A question arises – do we just walk into a conversation to discuss the recent past and the near future? The answer is in negative. There’s a need to be prepared. Being flamboyant or confident are great qualities to have, but there’s no replacement for good preparation. Knowing your clients, the work that has happened, the challenges or concerns them may have voiced – being abreast with all these aspects is important. However, differentiate this from any review meeting. The conversation needs to reflect that you are aware.While holding the conversation, two things play a key role. The first is to listen, which is of course important. The second is to educate and advise. It has been a common observation that communication consultants become so engrossed in the execution that we forget on being an advisor. The discussion that advising ensues brings clarity to plans and messaging and helps in charting the right course of action. It will make a significant difference in going all out for the brand when the time is right.The journey to become the guardians of the brand reputation begins from the first day of calendar year. The role of communications consultant needs to evolve as that of an investment banker. Not only we help the brand safeguard its reputation and assets, we have the onus of becoming the growth drivers for brand reputation. In the end, it is not just about managing communication; it is about fostering a relationship of trust that transcends the transactional and becomes a legacy over time.