Leisure World News

A18 April 2022 • Community • www.lwca.com By Diana Bridgett In this impactful era of #metoo, #timesup, and #leanin, conversation that espouse the idea of collaboration over competitions remain in the spotlight. With all of Instagram posts and tweets of solidarity for women to connect and network, the work – of showing up and supporting – can often be empty in practice. Rather than being overwhelmed with invites for mentorship lunches and leadership retreats, many female PR professionals (myself included) aren’t experiencing a shift toward more examples of colleagues reaching across industry lines for connection opportunities. The truth is that no matter the stage of your career there are always new situations to work through, and the old standbys (clients expecting miracles!), plus thousands of daily challenges that only a fellow PR professional can understand. The good news is that not everyone has the “every woman for herself mindset” or the “my network is my network” philosophy toward business. There are individuals out there who would love to give you guidance, share struggles and wins, and be a sounding board for your frustrations. If you have yet to feel that warm embrace of industry support, I want to encourage you to take the first step and lead the charge. 1. Reignite Lapsed Relationships To begin, think through any industry connections, potential mentors and colleagues that you’ve simply fallen out of touch with and reach out with a warm note inviting a catch-up conversation. Think back to your college days. Is there a professor that taught public relations that you could meet with? Was there a campus event coordinator that you could reconnect with? Spend some time combing through Linkedin connections, old emails and business cards. You are bound to discover loose connections that are just waiting to be tightened up. The good news is that not everyone has the “every woman for herself mindset” or the “my network is my network” philosophy toward business. 2. Engage With Pr Pros On Social Media We engage on behalf of brands all day long and think about our Instagram accounts as marketing channels for prospective clients. But we often forget to see social media as an opportunity to connect with our fellow industry players. Follow other agencies and agency owners and take the time to engage with their content. If an email is available, send a short note of admiration of their work. If you’re looking for a leg up in the industry, ask if there are any volunteer positions open for a project or event. If you have a complimentary skillset or like-minded clients, reach out for collaboration opportunities. You have to be willing to put yourself out there and make the first move. 3. Show Up For Your Network Everyone loves a positive, supportive person; we are attracted to genuine light in one another. Be supportive of your colleagues by showing up to their events, promoting events across your own networks, sending birthday flowers, etc. Instead of trading services or asking for free advice, pay your talented friends their going rate. When you are kind to people, and willing to go the extra mile, you show how much you value the relationship. This kindness has the added benefit of increasing the likelihood of recommendations and referrals finding their way to you, even when you aren’t around. 4. Ask To Be Mentored Mentorship isn’t only for young professionals. At all stages of professional development, we can benefit from regular check-ins with those who have been where we are before. Remember, closed mouths never get fed. If you don’t ask, you will never know what the answer will be. Be brave and reach out to someone a few steps ahead of you career-wise and ask to be mentored. Many professionals see this as an honor. Ask, ask, ask! What is the worst that could happen? They could say no, or they could say yes! 5. Include Your Network In Your Career Growth When I transitioned from being an entertainment writer into public relations, I sent an email to the publicists I had met previously about my career change and business vision. I didn’t hear back from some, but those who did reach out provided a new opportunity to solidify our relationship. Having an existing network of PR professionals helped me to stop selling myself short and build confidence around pricing and tough client conversations. When it comes down to it, you have a wealth of opportunities to create the kind of supportive network you’re craving, and it might come down to you taking the initiative and starting the outreach yourself. Working from 9-5 No one could have prepared any of us for the massive transformation of the workforce in March of 2020. Millions of people packed up their offices and were forced into remote work, practically overnight. Tasks that many employees would never consider to be accomplished from home have now become the norm without the thought of home office difficulty. In fact, for two years, employees have transformed small corners and, in some cases, entire rooms into spaces of productivity. However, as COVID-19 restrictions begin to ease and the number of cases decline, employers are asking for staff to return to the office. If you are like most people, you may find yourself caught in the emotional dilemma of wanting to return to the office but not wanting to. Let’s face it, for two years, the 30-second commute has been dreamy and convenient. The thought of commuting to the office in work-hour traffic at the height of paying obscene gas prices is less than appealing. Yet, duty calls, and you must answer. How do you make the shift without losing your mind or carry your introverted mind-set into a team-focused atmosphere? Ah, there are so many things that you must readjust but don’t worry, you are not alone. You can navigate your return without panic and anxiety. Just remember that when you return, everyone is adjusting. Your workplace will not be the same as it was two years ago. Workflows have changed. Expectations have changed. However, just as you have become fluid with remote work, you can do the same at the office… again. Be open to the learning curve. Give yourself and your co-workers grace. Everyone is trying to find their footing and become reacclimated from Zoom- calls partially dressed to in-person fully clothed meetings. Also, the team has to find its flow again or create one if your team is no longer with the same people. It is learning how to play together in the sandbox all over again. Just remember to be kind and willing to adjust. There is no such thing as “this is what we have always done in the past.” The team that you worked with will probably look different. The workplace is not going to look the same. You may see a change from communal workspaces to now independent pods. Depending on hybrid schedules and lifestyle demands, you may also see team members 1-2 times per week compared to the full 40 hours in-house five days a week. Continue to reinforce your boundaries. As everyone continues to relearn their work environment, requests and emails may come at you quickly. It is OK to say, “thank you. I’ll look at this after I complete my current task.” Don’t feel rushed to respond in depth to all emails at one time. With everything, there is a process, and this is no different. Pace yourself! Be kind. Recognize that everyone is enduring their own personal struggles and personal demands. Returning back to the office is great but not everyone will feel this at the same time. Some co-workers are juggling work and home life with children who are now homeschooled. Each life is different and comes with its own set of difficulties. Kindness goes a long way. When the thought of returning to the office brings a little anxiety, just remember, you are made for such a time as this. You have just adjusted and survived a two- year pandemic. You got this! Shifting From the 30-second Commute Back to the Office 5 Steps to Create a Supportive PR Network for Yourself