My journey of self-discovery into executive growth coaching
Initially I was sceptical about the value coaching would add to me and the business. As always though, I went into it with an open mind and was receptive to change. In fact, as those I have worked with will know, I embrace change and believe that with disruption comes opportunity. Coaching has been transformational both personally and professionally…
Learning is a lifelong process
I’ve been working in public relations for 25yrs in May this year. It’s a career that I’ve loved and I still do today. PR has changed immensely since I first started out. Long gone are the days of photocopying press releases, paper filing, courier bikes and paper cuts from monthly coverage boards (more on that soon)! Public relations is a creative brand marketing discipline that has many faces and abundant opportunity. This fast-approaching anniversary got me thinking about the changes I have seen and how much I’ve learnt.
The pros and cons of living in the UK versus NZ
I came to the UK nearly thirty years ago from my native New Zealand. Initially I planned to stay for a six-month overseas experience - and I’m still here today. Why, a lot of people ask, have I stayed so long, leaving such a beautiful country behind? And NZ is a truly beautiful country, but then again so is the UK. Both countries have their pros and cons…
The 13 sins of email and easy mistakes to avoid
Email is a torrid flow and there are many simple things we can all do to make it easier to navigate. The one thing I tell my team all the time is; “ask yourself, do you need to send an email?” Maybe a call, a WhatsApp or a text will suffice. Either way, we ought to cut down on the volume of email and make the ones we do send more meaningful for the recipients. Ultimately, we will all benefit from less time consumed from our busy days in typing them and also reading them. Here are thirteen deadly sins of emails. Things that I detest. Things to think about before hitting SEND.
How to handle crisis comms in business
My mantra is simple: “solutions not problems”. For every problem, issue or crisis - there is also a workable solution to be found. It often just requires a fresh-thinking mindset to identify it. In order to deploy the best response companies and directors need to be 100% transparent and consider things from different angles and perspectives. Who are the stakeholders? What is the message we want to convey externally/internally? What is the potential impact/and on who? Establishing an open and honest two-way dialogue with clients is the best approach to putting together a viable crisis communications plan. It is always best to tackle a crisis head on. Doing nothing is never an option. The three things brands absolutely must avoid when faced with managing a crisis are; lies, manipulation and silence. True perspective is key to mitigate potential damage.
Working with your spouse - how to make it work
I jointly own and run a Public Relations consultancy with offices in London and Beaconsfield with my husband and business partner. I often get asked what it’s like working together. In all honesty it not that bad, as long as you both follow simple rules and honour those rules, working together can be fun and rewarding. For work relationships to succeed it’s important that certain boundaries are kept. Here’s my secret sauce…
Seven steps to eliminate paper from your workplace
Eight years ago we went 100% wireless and paperless. I have never looked back. I made the decision after reading a success guide from the Google CEO. I was becoming increasingly irritated with the state or our office and all the clutter that was amassing – most of which was paper-based. Not to mention the waste, cost and environmental conscious. I also found that some members of my team got into the habit of printing everything. Print, photocopy and file. Repeat. Because a printed email is clearly very useful to nobody ever. I also noticed that if you give people paper they will find a reason to use it. They will print something onto it, photocopy something onto it or write onto it. These ‘uses’ all come with hidden costs to the bottom line, the planet and the office aesthetic. Remove the paper and you remove the root cause.
Twenty top tips for a lower-stress PR career.
The media is ‘always on’ and social media is an intrinsic 24/7 part of our lives. As such, PR professionals often have to go the extra mile to maintain momentum and win. PR is no longer a nine-to-five occupation - it is a lifestyle career choice. By default, we work in a profession that is run by deadlines, long to-do lists and high expectations. Not to mention the energy, drive and emotional input needed to achieve cut through. This means that at times it can be stressful because client demands are high and the flow of media opportunities never ceases.
Age is just a number! The benefits of cross-generational teams.
This guy is learning something new every day and I love it. The explosion of generations and the fusion of different life experiences within our team creates amazing ideas and boosts creativity. This is because we all look at problems and briefs from different perspectives. It also massively helps with developing messaging and media targeting – again, due to cross-generational input. I have to admit some of the things I have learnt during team chats over lunch and drinks I find rather amusing... Little did I know that ‘Grime’ is music not dirt, and ‘Sick’ means good not vomit. There is an app for most things – ‘I have an app for that’. Oh and ‘Fast Fashion’ does not mean models running down the catwalk. Something new which I heard recently is that ‘Ghosting’ does not have anything to do with Halloween or the supernatural.
Ghosting in the public relations industry
Winston Churchill famously stated “When the eagles are silent, the parrots begin to jabber". Proof that ‘ghosting’ (basically; ignoring someone) has been around for a while. Ghosting is becoming more prevalent in business. I think this is because the behaviour is now common-place and wrongly ‘accepted’ across digital dating and social media. There is a whole tranche of people, spanning different generations, who now decide to simply ignore rather than respond. Here are some of my thoughts and experiences on this topic.
15 signs you are a purrrfectly crazy #CatDad
With an estimated 11.1 million cats currently living as pets in the UK and 25% of us owning one or more - moggies are, without doubt, here to stay. The hashtag #CatDad has now been used well-over half a million times on Instagram alone. So, how do you know if you are a crazy #CatDad?
How to make the best first impression and win in your traineeship
At MANDATE, we offer a six-month fully paid PR trainee scheme which leads to a fulltime position, with an attractive salary, benefits and bonuses. Candidates who join us on this scheme work for four days per week and have one day dedicated to external training and skills development. This approach means that a candidate will develop all of the foundation skills and core competencies needed to win as a generalist PR, content and communications consultant. After the training period we encourage people to specialise in the area of PR that they enjoy and excel in the most; editorial, media relations, social media, content creation, creative services etc.
Trust Is The Strongest Foundation For Productive Remote Working.
Long before the pandemic took hold and the majority of business shifted to a working from home set-up, we had already been embracing flexible working practices for years. We’ve also represented Polycom as a client – one of the global leaders in video collaboration solutions. So, I like to think we are well-versed and know a thing or two about remote working. Our philosophy is that if you have a laptop, a phone and access to WiFi you can do your job from anywhere – as long as the work gets done. So, how do we make flexi-working work for us? The number one component to a successful virtual set up is trust.
Common Sense In The Workplace: Six Easy Steps To Get It Right!
The dictionary definition of common sense is, ‘the basic level of practical knowledge and judgment that we all need to help us live in a reasonable and safe way’. Sounds simple enough, right? However, whilst we use common sense day-to-day, we often overlook the importance of it in our work lives. Sometimes we spend time focussing on the ‘bigger’ things at work that simple, basic things get overlooked and forgotten. By keeping common sense front of mind we can easily avoid those silly mistakes.
The Benefits Of Team Quizzes For Creative Thinking.
I recommend anyone who is missing in-person interactions with their colleagues to host a daily quiz and you’ll be pleasantly surprised at the added benefits it brings to the whole team. Whilst most of us have adapted to the ‘new normal’ and have got into the groove of the working from home set-up, one thing I’ve found that has helped keep us sane in these strange times is our morning quiz. The biggest challenge I’ve found when working from home is maintaining a relationship with my co-workers virtually. According to research, one in three of us miss our ‘work spouse’ – the person we’re closest to in the office – more than we do our actual partners.
Five ways to save time + £££ sourcing PR talent
Sourcing talent can be a real challenge. The industry is extremely competitive and constantly evolving. Finding the right candidates that have the skills and knowledge that is reflective of the industry and client demands can be hard. But, there are simple things that PR agency leadership can do to help make the search for talent easier.
Mental Health First Aid Training: How To Start The Conversation
I recently went on a mental health awareness course with Mental Health First Aid England. The half day course was conducted remotely over Zoom and was delivered as a group with a mixture of written exercises and discussions. Our instructor walked us through the various signs to spot in order to recognise mental ill health. We also learned how to start a mental health conversation. These are five key takeaways I learned about initiating a discussion with a colleague.
Paws for thought: pets in the workplace boost morale + productivity
Office pets are becoming more commonplace. Businesses in all manner of industries now realise just how valuable it is to have a pet-friendly culture. Research reveals it is good for employee wellbeing, it is an attractive staff benefit and it can even have a positive impact on your bottom line.We welcome small furries in the MANDATE office. From Ollie the Maltese terrier, Sascha the Shar Pei and even Lady Lulu and Mr Ozwald the house cats, we fully embrace animals of all ages, breeds and species. We’ve seen first-hand the positive impact it makes in the office and we would not have it any other way.
All year resolutions: the need to be more daring
As we carefully emerge from lockdown in the UK and try to find a new norm, I thought it would be interesting to consider the concept of resolutions and how we can all be more daring. Many people make these in the new year and then by mid-January they have failed. I’ve never liked the concept of new year resolutions for this very reason as they put too much pressure on people at the most depressing and grey time of the year.
Five differences between working agency VS in-house
Ask any PR professional who has worked in both an agency and in-house and they will often tell you they have a definite preference. I believe, although the nuts-and-bolts of the role are essentially the same, the two are vastly different. Your favoured one will depend on your personality and what you want from your career. Each, of course, has their pros and cons but working in both has given me a more rounded experience in my career, for which I am thankful for.