PR

Treating Your Boss Like Your Client

Jess Noonan Leave a comment

You know something that’s strange? Oh, come on—take a guess.  Here are a few clues…

I’m not talking about any world records, pickles accompanied by mustard (yuck) or the way Shakira’s hips don’t lie (anyone else addicted to the Voice this season?).

Pat Blog

Source: www.notwillsmith.com

All out of guesses?  I’ll tell you.  It’s strange how closely the relationships we have with our clients and our supervisors mimic each other.  Shocker when you actually think about it, right? If your relationship with your boss is not like the one you have with your client, start making steps to morph it.

Your boss is your client.  She/he holds a certain power over your career, much like a client has a certain power in your agency’s ability to sign your paychecks. If you’re performing at the highest level, always achieving your professional goals and you communicate it to your boss, she/he will advocate for you.  In the same fashion as your boss, if you’re surpassing the goals you set with your client, you’ll continue to see positive results such as business growth and new business referrals.

Treating your boss (and colleagues) like a client shows that you respect them— if you show the same level of detail and care towards your boss as your client, she/he is bound to have a strengthened level of trust and respect for you as well. From my first internship to my current career, I follow a few simple rules when working with teams and/or clients: ask smart questions, always know your key messages before you begin presenting an analysis, and have back up ammunition such as supporting details, resources or next steps for those who questions.  Not only will the above rules show your boss you mean business, it will make you look ready for the next step in your career.

As young professionals, we have to embrace treating our teams like clients.  The continuous effort to treat your teams like clients will force you to perform at the highest level at all times (you won’t even need a Starbucks run).  Over time, you’ll begin to realize that your “default” internal mode will turn into your “client” external mode, and you’ll begin to see a natural upwards progression in your performance.

Source: Monster.com

Source: Monster.com

As I’m been jabbering away about treating your boss and teams like your client, I bet you’re wondering, ‘how am I supposed to act when your boss acts like the client from you-know-where?’ Simple. Treat them like a client.

Every moment is a learning moment.  If you have an extremely difficult manager—embrace it and still treat her/him like the client! You’ll be more prepared in the future to deal with harsh criticisms and the infamous indirect feedback. Practice makes perfect, start by having an open conversation with your boss by stating your expectations and goals you want to meet, and more importantly, learn how you can make their lives easier. Is she/he difficult because they’re terrible at responding to emails?  Try giving your boss a call. Is it because she/he will tell you everything she/he doesn’t want, but not what they actually want? Think two steps ahead.  Always be cognizant of what she/he already provided feedback on, and anticipate the next piece of feedback.  Go ahead and make the adjustments and provide reasoning to why you made the adjustments.

Now tell me about your experiences! Have you ever considered your boss as a client? How do you handle a difficult boss vs. a difficult client?

Pat MessengerPat Messenger is a Client Staff Assistant at Burson-Marsteller in Chicago. Pat is a member of PRSA Chicago and the Young Professional Network. Tweet at him @PatMessenger, or email him Patrick.Messenger@BM.com.

 

 

Joining your local PRSA Chapter: Consider the benefits

Lauren Gray Leave a comment

Is it just me, or is the term “new pro” often synonymous with “person in transition”?

306214_10150791409076513_1976218223_nMany reading this post are soon-to-be graduates, preparing to leave their college comforts and launch their careers. Others may be nearing their first or second work anniversary, trying to master the ins and outs of post-grad life. Some may be transitioning from entry-level positions to mid-level ones, seeking guidance in their new roles.

It’s difficult to believe nearly four years passed since I transitioned from college student to new professional. Although I was an active PRSSA member throughout college, I chose to postpone PRSA involvement. I waited one year to join PRSA on a local and national level, and looking back, I truly wish I joined sooner. I missed out on so many opportunities to network and gain the support I desperately needed as a budding new pro in an unfamiliar city.

If you’re a soon-to-be grad or new professional considering whether to join your local PRSA Chapter, please consider the benefits local membership provides.

Finding mentors

Think of your local PRSA Chapter as a trusted support group that wants to see you succeed. It’s laden with seasoned professionals who can offer guidance as you begin your career.

My local PRSA Chapter connected me with peers and seasoned pros who helped me navigate the post-grad waters. Throughout my career, I’ve met several mentors via social media: but in the end, there’s nothing better than chatting with professionals face to face. Local mentors offer so many opportunities to engage, whether it’s discussing topics over coffee or connecting at a PRSA event.

Seeking new opportunities

Considering a new gig? Trying to land your first post-grad career opportunity? Your local PRSA Chapter is an amazing place to start. In addition to career tools (such a job boards,) your Chapter offers endless chances to build relationships vital to your success. Networking is all about cultivating relationships, and your local Chapter is a valuable resource.

Continuing education

College students often take learning for granted. Once the coursework is complete and you receive your diploma, it’s up to you to gain new skills and pursue higher education.

PRSA offers programs that help sharpen your skills and expand your public relations toolkit. Considering earning your APR? Wondering if an MBA is right for you? Your local Chapter can offer support as you shape your career path.

Cultivating friendships

When I moved to Columbus, Ohio in May 2010, I could count the Columbus residents I knew with my two hands.

When I graduated, no one warned me how difficult it can be to foster new friendships after college. Making new friends demands a little extra effort and a proactive approach.

My local PRSA Chapter gave me so much more than opportunities to learn and network: It gave me a chance to turn professional acquaintances into friends. Many of my local Chapter peers initially bonded over common career goals and interests, but our professional relationships eventually grew into friendships.

PRSA Chapter members: What’s your favorite local PRSA Chapter benefit?

 

f84bd73ce090253a0d12b7e23f8ddd65Rebecca Odell manages marketing and communications at Big Red Rooster: a multidimensional brand experience firm. She’s an active Central Ohio PRSA member and co-chairs the Chapter’s New Professionals Section. You can reach her via email, Twitter or LinkedIn. 

April Twitter Chat Highlights: Influencer Marketing

Lauren Gray Leave a comment

We’d like to thank everyone who participated in the April #NPPRSA Twitter chat as we discussed influencer marketing and how it can be included in public relations strategies to activate influencers and build a brand.

PRSA Twitter ChatSpecifically, we’d like to thank Mark Fidelman, CEO of Raynforest and author of Socialized!

Mark is also a regular contributor to Forbes — covering social, mobile and marketing trends.

Join us again on May 1 for the next #NPPRSA chat and stay up-to-date with PRSA New Professionals on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and Google+.

Review highlights of the chat below. What did you learn from the April chat? What can you do to make sure the partnership benefits both the influencer and your brand? How can you incorporate influencers into your strategies?

 

 

headshot2Lauren Rosenbaum is the PRSA New Professionals Social Media Co-Chair and Co-Founder of Soversity, a public relations and digital marketing company. You can connect with her on Google+, LinkedIn or Twitter.

 

 

 

Tips for Professional Spring Cleaning!

Lauren Gray Leave a comment

The first day of Spring is here! The birds are chirping, and the sun is shining for an extra hour now! Everyone suddenly remembers all of the New Year’s Resolutions they’ve neglected and are back on the fast track to success. However, in your feverish pursuit to self improve, don’t forget to dust off areas of your professional life as well!

spring-clean

Here’s a list of habits to break this season:

1)   Always working overtime

This one is my kryptonite. I am one of those overly-caffeinated people who prefer to be busy (which is probably why PR was so appealing), and I often volunteer for extra projects around the office. Yet, if you are like me, be conscious of how much time you spend working after hours. Showing initiative and passion for your work is admirable, but a rested state of mind is more important. Burnout is a very real thing, which like jetlag, won’t materialize until it is too late to stop it. Preserve your free time.

2)   Ignoring the “age issue”

Many of us new pros are ambitious twenty-something grads who have only recently suited up for the big leagues. While most of the people we work for admit they hire new pros to stay current and add a fresh perspective to the company dialog, they generally shy away from giving our opinions equal weight because we lack years of experience. The problem occurs when new pros try to ignore or overcompensate for their greener resumes… I say, embrace this stage in your career! Be a sponge. Ask questions. Get advice from more “enlightened” colleagues and learn from their mistakes. There is a lot of knowledge and wisdom to be gained when you can admit that you don’t know everything.

3)   Clinging to a routine

A routine is defined as: a regular, unvarying, habitual or unimaginative procedure.

Unimaginative?! Yikes!

Our daily routines are great for saving time and adding stability to our busy schedules, but make sure to spice things up every so often. New ideas generally grow on trees found just off of the beaten path.

4)   Accepting digital pollution

I don’t know about you, but on a daily (sometimes hourly) basis, my email is cluttered with unwanted advertisements, company newsletters, seminar invites and those spammers who think they’re sly by adding “Re:” in the subject line (we ALL see through your antics, buddy). Take a stand and don’t let yourself be annoyed unnecessarily! Depending on how long it has been since your last “unsubscribe” purge this may take a while; just trust the clean inbox WILL be worth it. And this digital spring-cleaning includes social media as well. A recent study by UCSD found that feelings shared on Facebook (both negative and positive) are contagious among online friends. (You can find the study findings here: Detecting Emotional Contagion in Massive Social Networks.) Keep in touch with people who encourage and inspire you, and maybe consider hiding those Debbie Downers from your newsfeed.

Good luck in your spring-cleaning endeavors; and remember, it only takes 21 days to break a habit!

megan linkedinMegan O’Neal graduated from UCLA in 2011 with a Bachelor of Arts in Communication Studies, emphasizing in mass communications. She currently works as  the Marketing and Communications Coordinator for SDA and volunteers with the National MS Society, freelancing for the PR Department. Connect with her on Twitter @megannenicole.

A New Pro’s Guide to To Starting Your Own Blog

Jess Noonan 4 Comments

By now, you’ve probably heard all of the reasons why you should start a blog. Maintaining your own website and blog helps you further develop your personal brand, improves your writing skills and can even lead to new career opportunities and freelance gigs.blogging-blog2 But what you might not know is how to start a blog.

Here are six steps to help you launch your own blog:

1. Select a topic (or don’t pick one at all). Before you begin blogging, you should have a general idea of what you want to blog about. Many pro bloggers advise new bloggers to select a niche for the best chance at getting noticed in a sea of other blogs. I personally ignore this advice. When I started my blog almost two years ago, I knew I wanted to blog about many topics: PR, writing, running, yoga, personal branding. Instead of picking a niche, I selected a more general theme (Get Gutsy) and have been blogging successfully under that umbrella topic ever since. Don’t feel pressured to pigeonhole yourself into a niche you may lose interest in a couple years down the line. Think long-term.

2. Choose a platform. WordPress, Blogger, Tumblr…the options for choosing a blogging platform are endless. However, if you ask me, the choice is simple. If you have any interest in using your blog to make money at any point or simply want a more professional presence, go with WordPress. WordPress.com is completely free and even allows you the opportunity to buy your own domain (i.e. JessicaLawlor.com instead of JessicaLawlor.Wordpress.com). When you’re ready, you can upgrade to WordPress.org, which allows you to self-host and gives you access to many more design and plug-in options. Still not sure? This The Next Web piece can help you select a platform.

3. Make it pretty. Of course, your blog’s content should shine, but aesthetic is important, too. When someone stumbles onto your blog, a visually-pleasing and easy on the eye design will help them stick around to consume your content. WordPress.com offers many free themes with limited customization. That’s a great place to start. When you decide to get more serious about blogging, you may consider hiring a web designer for a more advanced and professional presence.

4. Help readers find and get to know you better. Before your blog launches, there are a few very important things you should have in place to allow your readers the opportunity to get to know you and your blog.

  • About page: Develop an “About” page where readers can learn more about who you are and what they can expect from your blog. Down the line, you may also use this page to direct new readers to some of your most popular posts.

  • Portfolio: If you’d like to use your blog to attract potential career or freelance opportunities, be sure to showcase your resume or links to guest blog posts or other writing and work samples.

  • Contact: Be sure to make it easy for readers to contact you! I personally have a tab on my site called “Contact” with a form

  • Social media buttons: Help your readers connect with you on other platforms by including social media buttons on the main page of your site.

5. Pick a frequency. Many people don’t start a blog because they think if they don’t have the time to blog every day, it won’t be worth their while. This is completely false! There are many, many successful blogs out there that don’t post as often as you might think you need to post to make a splash. Pick a frequency you can commit to; maybe that’s once a week, maybe it’s just twice a month. Whatever your frequency, stick with it, so your readers know when to expect you!

6. Get started! What are you waiting for? Many people wait for the *perfect* time to launch their blogs, but in reality, there is no perfect time. It’s challenging (especially for us Type A PR pros) to start something without a solid plan in place, but know that your blog will always be a work in progress. My site has been live for almost two years and every day, I make tiny tweaks to it to continue improving my reader’s experience. If you start now, you will reap the benefits much faster.

Have other tips for starting a blog? Share them in the comments below!

Jessica-44Jessica Lawlor is the marketing and communications coordinator for Visit Bucks County, the official tourism promotion agency for Bucks County, PA. She serves on the PRSA New Pros executive committee as a PRSSA liaison. In her free time, Jessica is a freelance writer and blogs at JessicaLawlor.com about getting gutsy-stepping outside your comfort zone to reach your goals. You can connect with her on Twitter or LinkedIn.

Interested in freelance writing and personal branding? Jessica Lawlor is teaching a session on personal branding for freelance writers in an online course called Launch A Freelance Writing Career. Click here for more details.