Keeping your professional and personal life in tune

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As a PR professional tethered at all times to some sort of device, it’s easy to let work take over your whole life. But our passion projects are a huge part of what make us unique communicators, bringing a diverse range of experience to our daily work.

Raise your hand if you’ve seen the movie Pitch Perfect. Keep it raised if you recognize these two crazies from the movie:

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Well, that’s me, to a certain extent. If you didn’t know, the movie Pitch Perfect is actually based loosely on a book written about the International Championship of Collegiate A Cappella, or the “ICCA” for short. This tournament has been happening for 20 years, and I’m one of the people that helps make it happen. More specifically, I coordinate the high school level of the tournament—the International Championship of High School A Cappella (ICHSA).

I’ve been working with Varsity Vocals—the organization that runs both tournaments—for more than 10 years. When I was in college, I sang with an a cappella group that competed in the tournament. I wanted to stay connected to music in some small way, so I asked the organizers of the tournament how I could help. At the time, the high school level of the tournament was very small—holding only a few shows each year. I joined to help grow the tournament.

Over the last several years, in large part thanks to the commercial success of Pitch Perfect, The Sing-Off and Pentatonix, the tournament has grown exponentially. More than 150 high school groups competed in the ICHSA this year, at 17 quarterfinal and semifinal events around the country. Even though it’s not my day job, I still manage the tournament and a team of regional producers who run each event. It never feels like an extra burden though, because it’s something I love.

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Me producing at one of the ICHSA shows.

On that note, here are a few tips for keeping your professional and personal life in tune with each other:

Learn how to say no to things that don’t make you happy or bring you some sort of personal fulfillment. Your spare time is precious, and it’s easy to get pulled into a million extracurricular things, from serving on boards, to attending networking events that seem to be happening every night. It’s absolutely beneficial to do some of those things, but you also have to commit to carving out time for the things that you truly love.

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Marry your passion projects with your professional skills. Did you play soccer in high school and miss the game? Volunteer for a local children’s soccer league as a coach, or see if your area has a semi-professional league that you can help run social media or offer your PR services pro-bono. Working with Varsity Vocals started off as a way for me to stay connected to the a cappella world, but it’s also taught me about event planning, people management, public speaking and public relations.

Last, and most important:

Share what you love in your professional life. Not only does it make you more human, it might help you connect with your coworkers and clients on a more personal level. I brought in my old college a cappella group to sing at a company function last year and found the head of a local association sings in a semi-professional a cappella group! A couple coworkers have also come to shows to support me—one even flew to New York City for the Finals!

And, for those of you on the east coast, tickets are still available for ICHSA Finals at the Town Hall in New York City on Friday, April 29. It’ll be an aca-awesome show, I promise!

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Andie Poole is a member of the Central Michigan PRSA chapter and a senior account executive at Martin Waymire, a Lansing, Michigan-based public relations and marketing firm. She’s also the director of high school programming for Varsity Vocals. Andie and her husband Andrew live in East Lansing with their human child, daughter Elliot (1) and dog child, Einstein (5) and love cheering on the Michigan State Spartans with a good craft beer in hand. Follow her on Twitter at @andiepoole.

Three Things You Need To Know About Diversity

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Editor’s Note: The following post is part of the ongoing “What does diversity mean to you?” series on The Edge. This series provides insights into diversity and inclusion topics of value to new professionals. To help us champion diversity in PR and to write for the series, email our diversity liaison Henry Cervera Nique.

In a few months, I will have lived in Silicon Valley for a year. Although this tech hub is home to numerous startups and some of the most innovative minds, that doesn’t mean that it doesn’t have its fair share of problems. For years, companies across the nation – both big and small – are at a loss when it comes to hiring and retaining diverse talent. Don’t believe me? Just read this article, this article, this article and countless others. They do a good job at explaining the issue.

Whether you live here in the valley like I do, or out in the Midwest, here are three things you need to know about the diversity conversation:

1. Diversity is about more than just race

When individuals think of diversity, you may be quick to think white, black, native American and Hispanic/Latino and other race groups. Although our physical makeup is a part of what makes us unique, it is not the only thing that makes us diverse. In fact, Merriam Webster defines diversity as, “the condition of having or being composed of differing elements.”

Key takeaway: Look for opportunities to surround yourselves with others who may be different than you are. They may be a different race, from a different country, or are a part of different political party than you. Even though they may not share the same views, you will become better versed in a wide variety of topics, and may even make a friend or two in the process.

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2. Diversity will continue to sit at the C-suite table

Although by no means a new trend, chief diversity officer and other similar titles are appearing more on senior leadership benches. Within the first few months of the year even, we have already seen Pinterest welcome Candice Morgan as head of diversity and Twitter name Jeffrey Siminoff as vice president of diversity and inclusion.

Key takeaway: If your company is making diversity a priority, it would be in your best interest to make it as a priority as well. Know your company’s goals and initiatives as they pertain to diversity. You may not be directly involved in the hiring of talent, but make an effort to befriend as many colleagues as you can. Who knows? You may someday be their manager.

3. Want to stand out? Learn more about other cultures.

For two years, I served a volunteer mission for my church in Barcelona, Spain. As soon as I stepped foot on Spanish ground, I knew the experiences that I would have would leave a lasting impact on my life. They did. I have also been very fortunate to visit the University of San Martin de Porres in Lima, Peru before finishing my term as PRSSA National vice president of public relations last year. I had the opportunity to give several different presentations on topics such as personal branding, my top ten tips for new PR professionals and of course, why they should join PRSA.

Key takeway: Do you need to travel in order to learn about another culture? No. Does it help? Yes, but it is not the be all end all. Paula Caligiuri, professor of international business and strategy at Northeastern University, said, “Culturally agile professionals are not necessarily those with the greatest number of frequent fly miles or passport stamps. Developing culturally agility is more of an active process requiring learning in a novel context with opportunities to practice new culturally appropriate behaviors, make some mistakes, receive feedback and question one’s own assumptions.”

Diversity isn’t just an issue here in Silicon Valley. I encourage all to take the time to understand what diversity truly means, notice how companies are making it a priority and make the effort to be more culturally minded.

Ethan Parry is an account coordinator at Eastwick Communications. He served as the 2014–2015 PRSSA National vice president of public relations. He is a member of the PRSA Silicon Valley Chapter and PRSA National New Professionals Section. He currently serves as the public relations chair for the Social Media Club San Francisco Chapter. Connect with Ethan on Twitter, through his LinkedIn page or by emailing him.

Work-Life Balance: Life Outside of PR

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“Work hard. Play hard.” This is every PR pro’s mantra, but let’s be real—emails can be relentless and sometimes there is zero time or energy left for ourselves or our families. I consider myself a lucky guy, I have an awesome wife and we just welcomed our second child. Balancing a great career while raising a family is arguably the best “problem” one could ask for, though that’s not to say it’s anything short of challenging.  While we all have different aspects of our lives outside of work we are juggling, I’ll let you in on some secrets for balancing those demanding work weeks with a “work hard, play hard” lifestyle.

1.) Communication: Of course communication is my number-one! Communication is the foundation for any complex system and balancing work and family life is no different. Maintaining an open line of communication with your team is key, especially when accommodating a commitment that may call for some wiggle room in your schedule. Communication can also be equally important when it comes to keeping in touch with your family throughout a work day. Oftentimes, I like to take a break at work and squeeze in a quick FaceTime call with my family. This helps me stay in the loop at home, and lets them know that while I am busy, they are still a priority.

2.) Organization: Balancing work and family demands can get hectic, which makes organization crucial – especially when expectations and responsibilities at work may seem tenfold at home. We’re all human. Forgetting things is inevitable. Take notes and stay organized.  Personally, keeping a calendar of important dates and tasks somewhere easily accessible is key to helping me stay on top of the things that need to get done.

3.) Equity: For me, this is where I have another cup of coffee and gear-up to handle business at home.  Attempting to devote equal efforts to a work and home life may seem near impossible, but setting a goal that reflects this is a great step toward being successful at work, and having a peaceful, happy home life.  To start, consider taking stock of the things you find yourself devoting the most time to at work, and make sure you have the resources and training in place to be successful.  Sometimes, learning a new skill or simply asking for a little help can be the ticket to achieving greater stability in both areas. You need enough in the tank to be alert and effective after work too.

4.) Gratitude: Positivity is important and optimism is infectious. No matter how stressful the days may get, making an effort to maintain a thankful, positive mindset is crucial. A good attitude at work goes a long way toward building relationships with your colleagues and supervisor, which ultimately paves the way for a less stressful work environment overall.  In the end, a positive outlook is the first step to perseverance and success.

Find something you enjoy and commit a portion of your week to it.5.) Balance: Find something you enjoy and commit a portion of your week to it. Often, we fail to make this a priority due to an already tight schedule, but creating a window of time for yourself, and sticking to it, can create a more balanced you.  For me, I enjoy riding my skateboard a few times a week, as it is the perfect solution to creating that balance we all strive for. Plus, it allows me to be outside and relax. How do you balance your hectic life? If you have any of your own tips for balancing work and family life, we’d love to hear!

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Ronald Barnes is a member of Sacramento’s PRSA chapter and an account coordinator at Prosio Communications, a California certified small business, and woman/minority owned public relations and marketing firm in Roseville, which specializes in media relations, crisis communication and community outreach.  Ronald earned a public relations degree from California State University, Sacramento, where he successfully passed the Principles of Public Relations beta-examination. Connect with Ronald on LinkedIn and Twitter.

Pros and Cons of the “Always On” PR Culture

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Although public relations is exciting and engaging, it ranks as one of the most stressful professions. This unfortunate ranking may be due to the idea (or reality) that public relations is a fast-paced industry where professionals have to be ready to manage a crisis at any hour, with lots to know and learn at all times. To be frank, we’re always on — but is the “always on” culture necessarily a bad thing?

The answer varies. An eager new professional may love being immersed in their work, thinking that the commitment and long hours is what it takes to climb the corporate ladder. From an executive’s point of view, they may deem the long hours inhibiting from personal activities like spending time with loved ones or taking care of their health.

There’s the saying, “When you love what you do, it’ll never feel like work.” Most aspects of public relations are exciting for those who truly love it. When there is passion for the work, it is natural to always be on — in many sectors of public relations, key events happen after “office hours.” Passionate professionals genuinely want to keep up with the latest trends and build relationships with influencers and journalists who cover niche subject matters.

On the opposite end of the spectrum, always being on means there is no clear distinction between work and play. Because public relations professionals often choose to work in a niche industry they enjoy, things that were pleasurable before starting a career can now be incorporated into work projects and as a hook when pitching journalists. But at the end of the day, where is the balance?

For those who find the always on culture to be taxing, there is a solution for more work/life balance. Professionals can limit their working hours to a set amount of hours per week, including the time spent returning emails, working on press releases, and managing budgets. During designated free time, turn on your out of office, do an activity that will help clear your head, attend community events, and spend time with those who mean most to you.

Are there any other work/life balance tips that you practice in the “always on” public relations industry?

i-zthGPGn-XL-230x300 Jasmine L. Kent, a member of PRSA-LA, is a fan of all things food and beverage, pop culture, and media. Combining all three passions, Jasmine builds community through engaging online marketing and dynamic events as a communications professional in Los Angeles, CA. Keep up with her on Twitter at @LoveJasPR or visit LoveJasPR.com.