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Four Questions to Ask Your Mentors About Their Ethics & Values

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A situation stands out in my mind from 20 years ago. At my agency, one of our senior leaders had misreported the marketing campaign results in his presentation to the client. When the error was discovered, there were other leaders at the firm who made excuses for him. I heard everything from “oh, he’s a good guy” and “what’s one little white lie” to “a tiny exaggeration doesn’t hurt anyone.”
 
There was a time when I looked at the leaders around me and just thought they were all honest, transparent, and spoke from a place of “Do Well by Doing Good.” Whether the leader I remember from 20 years ago was lying, or as his peers stated, simply exaggerated the numbers, it made me step back to think about the situation, and what it meant to have shared ethics and values. 
 
To this day, each and every one of us should take the time to step back and reflect, especially when our ethics and values are challenged. Of course, ethics and values are a personal choice and a business practice. Personal is just that … it’s personal and may differ from the professionals around you. However, it’s important to see eye-to-eye with the people who are in your inner circle and who are your trusted advisors.
 
You must trust your mentor as you trust your urologist who writes you a prescription for erectile dysfunction pills.
Here’s when your mentors’ ethics and values really matter. As I mentioned in my book, Answers For Ethical Marketers,” early in my career, I thought my ethics and values were naturally baked into the professionals around me. However, it’s important to ask questions and to make sure your mentor’s values and ethical conduct are aligned with yours, as it creates a stronger bond and a long-lasting relationship.
 
What questions can you ask when selecting a mentor to make sure you’re both on the same ethics and values page? My video shares four of these questions. Please share the questions you would ask too!
 
PRStudChat blog post

#PRStudChat November Announcement: PD, Mentoring & Collaboration for Communication Confidence

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PRSTUDCHATThe #PRStudChat community gathers on Wednesday, November 29th at 12:00 p.m. ET to focus on communication confidence in a continuously changing landscape through professional development, mentoring and collaboration. Our goal is to prepare students, educators and professionals with the tips, best practices and tools they need to thrive in 2018.

Joining us, as our special guest and co-host, is Stephen Waddington, Chief Engagement Officer and Partner at Ketchum in London. Stephen is a veteran of PR and has earned a reputation as a public relations modernizer through the different roles he has held over the last twenty years. You can learn more about Stephen here.

With Stephen co-hosting the Twitter chat discussion, the #PRStudChat community will answer several questions including the following:

Q1: What are the characteristics of a good communicator?

Q2: How should you prepare for a career in PR today? What are the most important steps in 2018?

Q3: How important is blogging for anyone aspiring to a career in PR?

Q4: Let’s talk social media and personal branding. Do you need it to succeed in PR?

Q5: What role do PR professional associations have in shaping a career in PR?

Q6. What are some of the best ways to collaborate inside of an organization and to innovate together?

Q7. What are some of the successful programs that you’ve launched that invite collaboration & innovation?

Q8: How important is learning to measure PR results?

Q9: How can you invest in a career in PR? If so, how?

Q10: What advice can you offer on how to become more proactive about your career growth?

We hope you’ll join us for a dynamic and informative #PRStudChat discussion with special guest, Stephen Waddington, on the 29th.  Your questions are always welcomed before or during the chat. See you on the 29th at 12 PM ET!

About #PRStudChat

It began with a simple question asked by Angela Hernandez, then President of PRSSA at Central Michigan University (CMU). “Is PR Right for me?” A follow-up blog post by PR 2.0 expert Deirdre Breakenridge inspired a series of direct messages on Twitter between Breakenridge and fellow PR industry pro, Valerie Simon. This was an important question and one that should be explored beyond one student or one blog post. Why not build a community to help students across the country, and even the globe, learn from the experience and perspective of industry professionals … A community where everyone can learn and grow together.

About Spin Sucks

Started in September 2006 by Gini Dietrich, the founder and CEO of Arment Dietrich, an integrated marketing communications firm, Spin Sucks mission is to change the perception people have of the PR industry.

What started as a simple blog, soon became a movement. Spin Sucks is the number one PR blog in the world, the go-to resource for PR professionals to learn new strategies and tactics, to share and receive expert advice. It’s also the place where people have fun discussions, brainstorm, ask for help, and make new friends.

 

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Lessons Learned Experimenting With a Structured Sabbatical

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A guest post by Jacqueline Jensen, author of Travel Isn’t the Answer: Live With a Sense of Curiosity, Passion, and Awe Anywhere and Everywhere. Jacqueline is currently on a structured sabbatical in Europe.

Americans are infamously terrible at using the paid time off they get from their jobs. Over the past fifteen years, American workers have been taking less and less vacation. Project: Time Off, an initiative to promote taking time off, found the American worker’s vacation usage had fallen to 16 — nearly a full week less than the average between 1978 and 2000.

Project: Time Off calls this time America’s Lost Week.

Our focus on demanding work and career chasing doesn’t leave much room for time off to focus on other things, much less a balanced everyday lifestyle where values like curiosity, passion, and awe are at the top of the list.

What if the best way to advance your career is to take some structured time off? Welcome to the rise of the early-career gap year. The idea of taking a sabbatical to pursue personal and professional priorities on your own time is gaining steam.

Here’s what the modern-day sabbatical looks like: Talented professionals are choosing to take a structured sabbatical in between gigs and leveraging their job security to work on passion projects full-time.

I first heard about this idea when I visited Recess Labs, an experimental entrepreneur-in-residence program in New York City for talented people working full-time on unconventional projects. Unlike a startup incubator or studio, the program doesn’t take equity from participants. Recess Fellows are provided a structured work day, demo days, collaboration sessions, and a strong culture that supports the curiosity and experimentation of its members to build their passion project, even if it isn’t a venture-backed startup.

“One of the most unique features of Recess, relative to similar entities in the startup ecosystem, is that it’s open to a wide variety of side projects,” said Sib Mahapatra, founding fellow at Recess Labs. “Some of our fellows are working on ideas in retail, cryptocurrency and logistics with the potential to be major businesses – but we also have fellows who are writing novels about tech. The point of the program is to encourage people to work on things they personally want.”

Inspired after visiting Recess Labs, I made the decision to embark on my own structured sabbatical while living in Europe. My structured sabbatical centered around three focus projects:

  1. Writing my first book and launching a pre-order campaign.
  2. Taking my interest in learning to code to the next level with a 5-month online Intro to Programming course.
  3. Creating more space in my daily life for growth in my mental and physical health.

Initially, the idea of taking a structured sabbatical uncovered some doubts and fears:

What if I failed in my focus areas? When I returned to full-time work, would employers be ok with my time off? Would those around me think I was being lazy? Would I be able to stay on track with my goals during my structured sabbatical?

At the same time, I felt growing excitement and momentum build around trying out this idea. Leaving behind my day job to invest in myself stirred up feelings of power, innovation, and joy. How will I know if these passion projects gathering dust might be something incredible if I don’t dedicate time to try them out?

“It’s important to understand that doing your own thing doesn’t mean you’re aimlessly jumping into the ether, though ’taking a breather’ can be part of your motivation,” explained Sib. “If you have a plan, discipline, and runway to execute on it, you can custom design time to meet your goals and collect the information you need to make better long-term career decisions – and that’s a really powerful thing.”

I use three tools to keep on track and celebrate wins along the way:

  1. Accountability check-ins. I have a handful of communities online that I utilize for meaningful goal-setting each week. One is a public Slack community where I post goals alongside other community members. I also have designated “accountability buddies” for more private 1-on-1 check-ins. The more accountable I am, the more progress I see in my goals and the more support I feel from those around me.
  2. In-person meetings. As a digital nomad, I often find myself in a brand new city. I kicked off my structured sabbatical in Berlin, which ended up being the perfect place to connect with like-minded and creative individuals. Putting in-person meetings in my calendar each week has helped to keep me talking through my sabbatical even on days I have doubts about what I am doing. These meetings are also a key way to accelerate serendipity. I write more about that here.
  3. Journaling. I started to embrace journaling a couple years ago, but I find that during my structured sabbatical, it’s one of my most powerful tools. In addition to a twice daily check-in using a 5 Minute Journal, I free-write, mind-map, and doodle in a Baron Fig Work/Play notebook.

While I think it’s a great idea for a sabbatical to have structure, I’m also finding a key for my own growth is not being so reliant on structure. I want to feel content satisfaction as often as I can, not like I have successfully checked off a to-do list. It was a big adjustment for me to leave a full-time job where I was seeing success often and decide instead to venture a bit more into the unknown by working on projects where I may fail.

“Being daring is all about trusting yourself to handle the results,” writes the team at First Round Capital. “A shocking number of people in tech know they’re brilliant, know they’re capable, but don’t trust themselves to know what to do if they get fired, fail spectacularly or just want to switch gears towards a more fulfilling path. Shifting your confidence from one area of your life to another gives you the safety net you need to take more chances.”

I am in the first weeks of my structured sabbatical. So far, I can see a lot of growth in myself and I am proud of the work on each of my projects. I still have room to go further in shedding my attachment to traditional career growth for validation. It’s a process and I am allowing myself to try out new ways of thinking.

If you aren’t in a place to spend months on a structured sabbatical, how can you reclaim more of the time you have now for passion projects? How can you get connected to a space of experimentation, play, and even welcomed failure? I’d love to hear from you!

Jacqueline Jensen, Author ofLive With a Sense of Curiosity, Passion, & Awe Anywhere and Everywhere.

Jacqueline Jensen is a digital nomad, former venture-backed startup founder, speaker, and recognized community builder. Jacqueline’s next ambitious project is publishing her first book. Watch her TEDx talk “Playing nicely with fellow entrepreneurs pays off.” Jacqueline’s interests include travel, yoga, entrepreneurism, startups, and learning to code. You can connect with her at @JackieMJensen or on LinkedIn.

PRSTUDCHAT

Reflect and Project: How has Your #PR education Prepared You for Your Career?

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A Guest Post Announcement by Ai Zhang, Professor, Stockton University

Spring semester has ended. Graduates have begun a new chapter in their lives. During times of transition, I love to reflect on the past and project into the future. As an educator, I’m constantly asking myself how teachers can better prepare students to excel in their careers; and more importantly, how can they create an impact in our society? Education and learning, they are critical to life success.  

Please join the #PRStudChat community on June 27, at 8:30 P.M., ET, for a dynamic discussion about learning and education. The theme for this month’s chat is “reflecting and projecting.” We will reflect on the current status of undergraduate public relations education and project into the future by discussing ways that we can educate and prepare qualified students to succeed in today’s digital workplace. I will be the special host for this month’s chat. I am an Associate Professor of Public Relations at Stockton University. I founded my University’s PRSSA Chapter as well as a student-run PR firm.

Here are some of the questions and topics that we will answer and discuss.

Q1. How has your education played a role in your career?

Q2. What was the course that is the most helpful for you during your career/internship?

Q3. Describe your best PR professor. What made him/her so effective?

Q4  What are some extracurricular or volunteer activities that have been beneficial to your career?

Q5. Knowing what you know today, what advice would you give to young PR students?

Q6. Being a lifelong student is crucial to succeeding in PR. What are your top resources and tools to stay updated with the field?

Q7. What is the biggest trend in PR that you think schools need to prepare their students for?

Q8. What are your recommendations for improving PR education?

Q9. Do you have a mentor? Describe the importance of mentorship in your career & tag your mentor(s).  

Q10. What excites you about the future of PR?

And much more.

Please come join the #PRStudChat community for a dynamic discussion on learning and education. The team always welcomes your questions before or during the chat session. You can tweet at  @PRStudChat, @ValerieSimon, @dbreakenridge, and @AiAddysonZhang with your questions. Be sure to also visit our LinkedIn Group to share your ideas.

“See” you on the 27!

About Ai Zhang

AiZhangAi Zhang received her M.A. in Communication from Syracuse University, and her Ph.D. in Communication/Public Relations from University of Maryland. She graduated in 2009 and then started teaching at Stockton University in New Jersey. She started the PR track at the school and developed most of its PR courses. Professor Zhang is also the faculty advisor for her school’s PRSSA Chapter and its newly launched student-run PR firm.

 

 

 

More About PRStudChat

It began with a simple question asked by Angela Hernandez, then President of PRSSA at Central Michigan University (CMU). “Is PR Right for me?” A follow-up blog post by PR 2.0 expert Deirdre Breakenridge inspired a series of direct messages on Twitter between Breakenridge and fellow PR industry pro, Valerie Simon. This was an important question and one that should be explored beyond one student or one blog post. Why not build a community to help students across the country, and even the globe, learn from the experience and perspective of industry professionals … A community where everyone can learn and grow together.

 

PR Thanks At Thanksgiving

Five Quick and Easy Ways to Show #PR Thanks

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screen-shot-2016-11-22-at-8-14-17-pmThanksgiving is a time to give thanks. You should let the people around you, who mean the most, know that your journey would not be the same if they were not a part of your work or your life. At the same time, you can take your thankfulness to a whole new level, by going one step further. You can show your appreciation. If you’re in PR and communications, here are five quick and easy ways to show your colleagues, peers and industry professionals that you’re thankful. You can let them know you want to make a difference for them and because of everything they’ve done to help you.

  1. Mentoring. Of course, mentoring is at the top of my list. After 28 years, I know my time will be well spent giving back. Even just a little time each week to share thoughts with a student via Twitter or to schedule a Skype “coffee” chat is a fantastic way to show thanks. You’re investing in the future of your industry. At the same time one of the best parts of mentoring, whether you realize it or not, is the reverse mentoring that takes place. Younger professionals have so much to share with you. I remember sitting with a college student at a local Starbucks. She was asking me about different careers in PR … what type of PR would suit  her best and whether she should pursue agency or in-house communications work. As we began to chat about brands being immersed in tech and attracting the best talent, I found myself jotting down some notes. She was sharing an interesting perspective on the brands getting it right on Snapchat and which ones were not. Mentoring is a two-way street and win-win for everyone involved.
  2. Industry Associations. To show thanks to your industry, don’t just join an Industry association, be more active in their local, regional and national events. When you do, you can fully tap into industry updates and learning, as well as take advantage of the great networking opportunities with your peers. I look forward to the PRSA International Conference every year for so many reasons. I’m able to catch up on what’s new in technology by walking through the exhibit hall. I’ll sit in on keynotes and sessions to get the updates on pressing topics including measurement, diversity in communications, data and creative storytelling, etc. But, my favorite part is meeting up with friends to find out what’s going on in their world. I learn more about their work and we help each other achieve our career goals. There are so many ways to get involved in associations from events to the networking and the sharing that advances all of our career interests. Regardless of which path you take, being involved on any level is a great way to show thanks.
  3. Book Reviews / Journal Research. I know there is only so much time in a day, but some of your best time can be spent helping your colleagues who write books or do research for the PR industry. For example, new books on PR, social media, strategic planning, influencers, etc., are published every year by your peers. Spend some time reviewing the work of industry authors. Let them know how their books are making a difference (or not) and pose additional questions to further their work. I use my blog, PR Expanded, for video book reviews. At the same time, your professor friends pursue their research goals with new projects that often uncover interesting findings. Reading about their findings in peer-reviewed journals and offering your thoughts helps to continue the conversation. Maybe, you’ll choose to review one or two books and / or discuss a few research studies in your social media communities. However, it’s not the number of times you share; it’s the knowledge you’re furthering each time you share to help your peers and to benefit your industry.
  4. The Shout-Out. Taking the time to recognize someone else’s efforts is a great way to show thanks and to also create a stronger bond with industry peers. As much as you want to share exciting initiatives and new opportunities of your own (hey, we’re all in PR, and that means we know how to promote), take the time to create some awareness for the people who inspire or motivate you. Show thanks to the folks who work tirelessly to collaborate to benefit others and give their time selflessly. Granted, there are far too many great professionals to mention in one blog post or to give a #FF shout out on Twitter. However, your shout outs can also be in your own storytelling. You can weave your friends and the people you appreciate into your work. Make them a part of your blog posts, FB Live video streaming, podcasting interviews, and the many different ways that you tell a story today. As you do, this subtle shout out is an excellent way to share a friend’s cause and also help those peers to achieve their goals.
  5. Get involved. Sitting back doesn’t help to steer the direction of the industry, and it doesn’t provide a guiding compass. It’s time to get active. There are some very simple ways to get more involved. How about completing those industry association surveys or the magazine’s questionnaires on pressing industry topics that land in your inbox? You can also carve out time to interview for industry research studies, participating in informal one-on-one interviews with peers, or you can even volunteer your time on research committees. I recently participated on a tech committee to help construct a survey for educators. Or, who knows, maybe you’re going to rally your tribe to drive the next big tech and communication movement. No matter which activity looks interesting to you, the key is to become an “active participant. Being idle doesn’t move the needle. Your involvement on any level is a great way to show you care and helps to motivate others in PR to do the same.

There are so many ways to give and more importantly show your thanks. These are just a few. How are you going to show your thanks on Thanksgiving and during the holiday season?

I want to give thanks to all of my friends, colleagues, and, of course, my family. I will continue to show my gratitude in 2017 and beyond!

 

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Book Review: Leave Your Mark by Aliza Licht

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I’m into my summer reading list, and my second book is another excellent read. Leave Your Mark: Land Your Dream Job, Kill it in Your Career, Rock Social Media by Aliza Licht, SVP of Global Communications at Donna Karan International, is a book that mentors and shares deep insights into how to excel in your career, even when you start in an industry where you have no experience. From Aliza’s personal career steps and stories to her very helpful tips, you’ll want to put this book on your bookshelf. Here’s my book review … enjoy!

 

Whether You’re Giving or Receiving Feedback, it’s a Gift

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I remember first learning about the “gift” of feedback in grad school. Up until that point, I had looked at feedback differently. I wasn’t thinking about the “gift” part, which means it’s just as much of a privilege to offer helpful feedback, as it is to receive it. The keyword here is “privilege.” Because it’s such a special gift, focusing on the delivery of feedback is critical. You have to know how to give feedback in a manner that allows people to appreciate it and make them want to move the needle forward by acting upon your counsel.

Feedback has always been an important part of my career. With years of practice behind me, the feedback I offer today is for senior level executives. However, whether you are first starting out in your “gift” giving or you are 20 years in, here are a few quick tips for you to consider:

– Point out the positive first when you deliver your gift. This tip should always come first because it sets the stage for successful feedback. By pointing out the positive, you can then segue into what needs work. It’s important to have a good balance between the positive performance and the areas needing improvement. Let’s face it, we’re all human and we prefer to hear the good with the bad.

– Be specific and use examples so your gift can be fully visualized. I’m frequently asked to watch / listen to my clients present, whether it’s a conference setting, media interview or analyst briefing. When I’m reviewing an executive’s speaking performance, I have to give specific examples of what needs an adjustment. Pinpointing examples and when they occur, from the habitual “um” to important company messaging that’s inadvertently omitted, is the only way to let someone know exactly what needs to be corrected.

– Deliver feedback in private and with full attention. Important feedback should not be on the fly and it shouldn’t really be in a group setting, unless, of course, it’s a part of a team building exercise. You want your executive, co-worker, employee, etc., to be fully focused and prepared to receive a gift. Sharing information that affects performance deserves attention and should not get lost in the daily workday shuffle.

– Along with the feedback, offer ideas / solutions that are not too complicated. Busy professionals at every level of the organization need laser focused counsel with actionable solutions. If you can break the solution down and provide a clear approach, then you’re making the follow through much easier for them. Lengthy feedback, filled with complicated suggestions may get pushed into the parking lot quickly. It’s the streamlined approach and targeted actions that will get implemented.

– Realize not all of your feedback will be set into action. Remember, whatever your critique, it’s not about you or the ideas you present, even if they are all very good.  As a counselor, your role is to offer the honest assessment with a high level of certainty. However, it’s always up to the receiver if your gift is put to good use.

From executive communications and programs to media interviews and analyst meetings, in my experience, the more you can perfect your gift giving technique, the more likely your gift will be accepted with open arms. How do you give the gift of feedback?

 

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Interns … The Present and the Future of Public Relations

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A Guest Post By Kirk Hazlett, APR, Fellow PRSA

Hazlett_KirkcA recent article in the Boston Globe Magazine caught my attention for a combination of right and wrong reasons. Sporting the title “The Revolt of the Unpaid Intern,” the piece struck me as a somewhat “breathless” condemnation of internship programs in general. The front-page photo of a hapless “intern” schlepping coffee and an armful of papers for filing didn’t help.

I was motivated to fire off a letter to the editor presenting my own opinion of (a) the article itself and (b) the internship concept from my perspective as faculty supervisor for a half-dozen or so Public Relations interns at Curry College each semester. Whether the Globe sees fit to publish my protestation remains to be seen.

All my snarking aside, this commentary did serve a purpose, I believe. It definitely reminded me and, hopefully others, of the potential that interns represent and of our responsibilities as their professional guides.

They are often a welcome addition to a busy office. They are willing and eager to take on the seemingly mundane but oh-so-important-to-our-efforts tasks of curating news clips and updating media lists among other chores. And, as they demonstrate their budding abilities as writers and editors, they pound out first drafts of releases and other materials that can then be fine-tuned by other, more experienced, staffers.

Not every experience with an intern works as planned…I’ve had a couple derail over the years. But that’s life … not every permanent hire works out as planned either.

However…and this, to me, is the important part…when things do work out and the intern shows his or her potential to become a contributing member of a team, it’s a “win-win” for all. The intern gets that valued extra step up in the job search rat race; the employer gets a new professional primed and ready to dive productively into the pool.

The article did raise one significant and perceptually negative issue…that of interns working for “free” and doing jobs that other…permanent…employees would be paid to do.

There are arguments on both sides of this matter…some say that interns should receive at least minimum wage for the work they are doing; others contend that academic credit and “free” job training are payment enough. The Public Relations Society of America has issued its own guidance to help clear the air.

I fall into a third camp…I support and encourage the concept of payment for services rendered (my own internship back in the Dark Ages with the US Army was paid), but I will not discourage one of my students from applying for an unpaid internship if the skills and knowledge that he or she would be gaining mean a better chance of securing full-time employment after graduation based on those skills and that knowledge.

The bottom line for me is just this … our colleges are doing a decent job of teaching future PR practitioners the basics of the profession … the history, the theory, the rudimentary tactics and techniques.

But real-time, real-life experience in the workplace is vital. “The book says…” doesn’t cut it.

So the present when it comes to interns is that today they are dipping their toes tentatively into the churning waters of our profession and deserve our wholehearted support. What are you doing to ensure that the future will pass into well-trained, capable hands?

Kirk Hazlett, APR, Fellow PRSA, is Associate Professor of Communication (Undergraduate) at Curry College in Milton, MA. He also is Visiting Lecturer, Organizational and Professional Communication (Graduate), at Regis College in Weston, MA. Prior to his move into academia, Kirk practiced nonprofit and government public relations and marketing for more than 35 years in the US as well as Asia. Accredited by the Public Relations Society of America (PRSA), Kirk is a Member of PRSA’s national Board of Directors and has held leadership positions with PRSA Educators Academy and PRSA Northeast District as well as with the Boston and Hawaii PRSA chapters.

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