…a terrible blogger.
It seems silly that I’m leading the charge to launch a blog for a global multi-billion dollar organization and yet, I can’t manage to update this blog for nearly a year. I guess that’s what happens when you enjoy your everyday tasks. You tend to forget your personal branding.
It’s astounding what I’ve learned in the last year. I was a major player in getting my company’s newly redesigned (and content restructured) website up and running. It wasn’t easy, but it’s a proud feather in my cap.
I’m leading our global social media team. It’s a little daunting as we begin to dip our toe into the social media waters. But, gratifying and exciting and new at the same time. It’s a worthwhile pursuit. Social media is here to stay. Maybe not in the forms you are used to seeing, like Facebook and Twitter, but the concept of people affecting change using social channels will not go away. People are not going to move away from being such a huge part of the conversation. If you think about it, I’m not sure consumers (B2C or B2B) will be interested in going backward. Ten years ago, could you imagine a marketplace where with a simple 140 character statement, you would get customer service that comes to you?
Not always the best customer service, unfortunately. I didn’t get that coupon I asked for and when I contacted @nook_care when my Nook died, it was an extremely disappointing experience. But then you have teams at Southwest and Delta who have the sole responsibility of making sure they provide excellent service on Twitter. That’s inspiring.
… planning something.
That sounds ominous. It’s not. I promise.
Since I’ve been back in the job market, I’ve spent a lot of time thinking about the different aspects that make a great communications professional. It’s incredible, actually. There are so many things that go into managing a successful communications effort for an organization.
I’ve found that the value placed on different communication aspects varies based on the company. One company – or even one division within a company for that matter – may want to be very proactive with their communications so they can grow their business. That would involve media pitching, trade shows and a solid social media approach among other things.
Other organizations might prefer to stay off the media radar. Whatever the preference, internal communications should always be a mainstay in day-to-day operations. Newsletters, leadership messages and an intranet are some great methods of communicating important messages. It’s been proven time and time again that morale has a huge impact on productivity and the bottom line. Keeping employees informed, engaged and motivated should be a top goal for any company, no matter what the size.
... is going to have to update her resume.
Last year, I was in the job market for longer than I’d like to admit. I examined many jobs in the market and continually applied to those that made sense for my desired career path. In September, I received an email asking me to interview for the Communications Coordinator position at Smurfit-Stone Container Corporation. Five months later, here I am. Communications Coordinator for an international, multi-billion dollar corporation. It has been quite the opportunity. Tremendous growth potential and challenging work definitely fit my highest expectations for my daily work.
Unfortunately, sometimes things don’t always work out the way you planned. As announced on January 23, my company is going to be acquired by an Atlanta-based consumer packaging company. Which could possibly be fine – except a commute to Atlanta from St. Louis seems a bit out of reach.