Taking the time to celebrate our work
9th August 2006 by Lee Hopkins
A client of mine is in the process of relocating to a brand new building and as part of my work with them I have created a series of staff newsletters about the move — all the way from the initial announcement of the start of the final phase of the project (getting the staff ready to actually move) to the first week of being in the building.
The client has, at the entrance to their floor in their current building, a large feature wall where they have a home-made ‘journey and milestone’ display, showing their progress from initial formation just two years ago to where they are today, what major projects they have undertaken, and so on.
As part of the ‘packing up’ and getting ready to go, the ‘journey wall’ has been taken down, leaving a large space. So I took the opportunity to reprint all of the newsletters, laminate each page separately, and hang them on the wall. It is still a ‘journey’ — but this time a journey and countdown of the move to the glorious new offices.
It is also a celebration — every member of the client’s project team (and me too) is very proud of the results of this mammoth undertaking. Feedback from the 120 staff has been overwhelmingly positive about how informed they have been throughout the project, how much they love the newsletters, how helpful the project team has been in answering their questions.
So the question I ask each of us is this: do we take enough time out to celebrate the projects we handle? Do we take time out to reflect and bask in the sunlight and recharge our self-esteem batteries? Or do we plough on from one project to the next? I know that I am guilty of the latter; it is refreshing to be given the opportunity to take a breath of fresh air and receive a few pats on the back for a job well done (even if it is just from myself).
August 11th, 2006 at 9:24 am
From time to time when feeling philosophical, I employ a showbiz metaphor for much of what I do.
I/we (”we” being the real PR portion of IABC and the profession, not necessarily the dental plans brochure people) produce and direct events and shows. Some are one-time entities. Some are like an on-going series on television.
And, for the most part and with only a few exceptions, in the showbiz world, it’s the men and women on stage who get the applause and awards. Same deal, to a large extent, in PR.
Over the next few weeks, I’m going to reproduce all the ads in a campaign I just finished for a client, get them framed, and take them out to the client with a hammer and a nail. The GM will, I’m sure, put them up on the wall.
But I’m not expecting any applause. Just a renewed contract in January.
I used to work for a computer company and once upon a time I took all the photos for the Christmas party slide show — every man and woman who worked for the company, in nine provinces — and was invited to the party. After the slides were shown, to great delight by the employee, the president asked me to stand up and there was lots of applause. But, I think, that, plus a presention of a really ugly wall plaque by the Manitoba staff at Northern Telecom when I left their territory and the presentation of a giant tripod instead of a crummy plaque or vase when my term was up as president of CPRS Toronto, was it as far as public recognition in four decades in the business.
I’m curious — at IABC awards presentations, what percentge of the winning members bring clients to the awards dinners?
BAK
September 21st, 2006 at 7:16 am
Well, to look at this differently, as a corporate communicator I think it’s hugely important to, periodically, step back and recognize employees for their different accomplishments.
However, I’m not seeking recognition for myself and my work; rather, I see it as part of my responsibility in communications to facilitate the networking, understanding and recognition among employees. I get enough satisfaction looking at a room of people during an internal celebration or hearing positive remarks about an article I published and knowing I played a part in bringing people together. In fact, I often enjoy fielding criticism/suggestions from employees about my work because at least I know they’re alive and I’ve elicited a reaction to get them involved in the communications process that, ultimately, is supposed to benefit them.
There are many precise and measurable aspects of my role, but knowing I’ve helped employees receive and understand information better, or work more efficiently or comfortably is when I have a small celebration to myself.