… 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.
... going to refer to herself in the third person.
But only a little bit. I struggled with coming up for a domain name for my newly updated and content management system-enabled (CMS) website. I searched for several domains. Michellesmessage.com, michellecommunicates.com, michellethinks.com…etc. I thought of this one specifically because of my blog format where I’ll refer to myself in the third person in the title and (hopefully) no where else. “Michelle is…Trying to come up with an idea that isn’t terrible!”
The goal of my new site is to help me move forward and find opportunities that will make me a better person. The concept of being “better” is very abstract. To some, it could mean taking on more philanthropic projects and to others, it might mean being nicer and friendlier in general. While I agree with both noble mindsets, my idea of making myself better in this context is taking on new tasks and seeking new opportunities to learn and contribute.