Alexandra Shaposhnikova is a Marketing and Communications professional.
Starting a career in Comms can be an adventure. It involves quite a bit of learning and development of your skills as a professional. However, it also comes with its challenges which can be difficult to navigate.
It has been more than ten years since I started my Corporate Communications journey. Along the way, I have gained valuable insights and experiences that have shaped my expertise. Today, I’m here to share five things newcomers entering Corporate Communications or any corporate role should pay attention to:
- Don’t wait for the onboarding fairy to help you on your journey.
Embarking on a journey is a whole lot smoother when you’ve got a handy map or some step-by-step guides to light your way. Yet, this isn’t always true in the corporate environment. The teams often have their hands full with tasks, making it challenging for them to create or carry out a well-structured onboarding process. Keep calm, carry on and take the initiative.
Get ready to chat not just with your team or your manager but also with colleagues from other teams or departments! Strike up a conversation about their projects or work, even if it’s not on your daily to-do list!
This can provide you with a clearer understanding of how this organisation operates, where to find additional information, and the reasons behind certain established processes. Prepare to network with new people, expand your contacts, and discover valuable insights into your industry!
- Do not blindly take on challenges or dive into extra tasks thrown your way.
It’s always exciting to start something new. If you’re like me, then you also feel motivated to show all of your superpowers and the level of resilience. You’ll try to be a great team player from day one and support everyone who asks you for help.
Let’s not forget, that we’re all just humans with a battery life – there’s only so much energy to go around at any given moment! Afterwards, we all need some time to unwind and recharge.
Before you commit to a task outside your scope or assist a colleague in need, consider your priorities. Don’t forget to secure your oxygen mask first before playing superhero to others! You may end up feeling overwhelmed when you take on too much, realising there are only 24 hours in a day.
- Do not move forward with a new fabulous plan not yet shared with your team.
I love generating ideas. They always sound fantastic in your mind. But hey, those ideas might flop unless you give them a spin with your team or put them to the test.
Before launching anything new, ensure you have thoroughly researched your audience, understand the purpose behind your initiative, and have clear objectives for what you aim to achieve.
It could be an appealing concept that takes up a significant amount of time but might not align with your main priorities and goals. It’s worth writing your idea down or even conceptualising it and then sharing it with your team for quick feedback. Concepts become stronger when they receive the backing of others.
- Don’t just nod along to the boss.
This is a tough one. It’s common to have doubts when we need to disagree with our boss, especially at the start of your career when you may feel inexperienced and undervalued. At least that’s what happened to me.
I’m sorry, this time I don’t have the magical solution for you. As you progress in your career, you accumulate more experience and grow more comfortable expressing your views in front of your superiors. Yet, I wish I could have shared my ideas and suggested solutions more frequently than I did.
I had ideas swirling in my mind, knowing the ways to enhance things, but it took me quite a while to voice them out. Surprisingly, the leadership could genuinely pay attention to your ideas when you say them aloud. Their main focus is on your expertise.
They are looking for effective solutions that can alleviate their workload or enhance communication with employees, depending on their goals. Believe in yourself. Feel free to voice your thoughts. Just remember to sprinkle some kindness and respect around, recognising that everyone has their unique perspective.
- Do not get lost in the details and miss the awe-inspiring view!
Whenever I began a new role, starting from the first week, various colleagues would approach me with urgent requests for the Communications department. Every single time! Of course, you want to consider their request and offer assistance. However, it is impossible to please everyone; and that’s ok.
Based on my experience, most requests were related to individuals’ personal goals rather than the Communications function. I received different requests, ranging from featuring the head of another department in a local newspaper to registering on bidding platforms.
Certain requests can be delayed for later consideration, while others may be within the responsibility of different departments. Prioritising takes some time too, as you know.
Finally, if you are facing challenges, refer to your department or organisation’s strategic goals and check if any of the requests align with the annual objectives. Alternatively, it’s simpler to approach your manager and inquire about how to handle these tasks.
