What to wear to work?
What you wear to work speaks volumes. One of my standard interview questions is “How did you decide what to wear today?” This isn’t a question about fashion, taste or style - it’s about confidence, forward thinking, analysis and mindset. Many people have a ‘go-to’ look for business and don’t actually think about what they wear. Other than what’s clean and ironed. The weather may play a small part in that decision too. Attire is a very clever way to present oneself in different workplace situations. To me, as an employer, it conveys many personality traits and can give an insight into attitude.
Time to say Goodbye: how to end client relationships positively
Every PR consultancy will have had at least one account on the books that was not working out for whatever reason. Before deciding to call time, it is important and prudent to look for solutions. Perhaps a change of strategy, refresh the team, address concerns or issues in an open two-way forum. However, through no fault of either party sometimes the chemistry is just not there, expectations are not set, or met, and it’s simply a case of ‘time to say goodbye’. The negative impact of retaining such clients when the magic has gone is detrimental to overall business performance, mental wellbeing, productivity, motivation and ultimately the business’s longer-term successes.
Five important things my first job taught me
Like many young people growing up, I had a part-time job at the weekend. At fifteen years old this was my first ever job. I worked as a shop assistant and my role was split between working on the tills, stacking shelves and being responsible for the in-store baked goods. Every Saturday morning when I clocked in at 10.00am I had to make sure there were freshly baked baguettes ready for the lunchtime rush. Fast forward fifteen years later I am now client director in a boutique PR agency. Whilst the two roles seem wildly different, there are actually some key skills that I picked up as a young spritely shop assistant which have served me well to this day. These lessons I learned early on have made me a better manager and showed me the importance of client satisfaction.
Successfully on-boarding new team players.
Fail to plan, plan to fail. This is a mantra we often hear at We Are MANDATE. Inducting new starters is crucial to making sure they have the best possible chance of success. Preparing onboarding materials for new employees can be time-consuming and seem like another dull admin job which often ends up at the bottom of your to-do. A positive onboarding experience helps settle new people in and avoids issues in the future. Investing time to thoroughly induct your new employee makes for happier and more successful teammates. Over the years I have tried numerous formats and ways of doing inductions - these are just some tips I have picked up along the way.
How to keep team morale on a high in the ‘new normal’
One of the biggest challenges businesses are currently facing, including the PR sector, is uncertainty. The pandemic situation is developing rapidly with changes to legislation, rules and protocols being introduced every week. Confusion is rife and this is unsettling. Business leaders need to navigate these changeable times with caution and consider how to effectively motivate their teams remotely as they adapt to the ‘new normal’.
The best of both worlds. London and the Chilterns
I have worked in central London for most of my PR career – including London Bridge, Soho and Mayfair. But I have always loved living in Buckinghamshire. I grew up here, I went to school in Beaconsfield and all my friends and family are nearby. I also enjoy the fantastic restaurants and sense of community that we have here in beautiful Bucks. Being out of Zone One has many perks for the PR professional, the PR consultancy and ultimately their clients.