Thank you to everyone who responded to my first blog. It was really encouraging to know that people are reading some of my thoughts – also quite a daunting prospect to realise in truth.
A number of people asked about my involvement with Communicators in Business (CiB), my role as Chair for Scotland and more generically the value in professional associations.
I have already touched on the subject before, saying that my main motivation for getting involved in CiB in particular is to work with like-minded people and make a difference through communications, so I just wanted to expand on this a little more.
I originally joined the CiB by default, as my previous employer had a group membership. The reason I then got further involved is down to a few individuals who inspired and motivated me – people who I had initially met through networking and more formal events.
We would often get together to put the world to rights, usually in the bar as you can imagine, and I was asked by the national Chair at the time to get more involved with the organisation. In my head the conversation went along the lines of ‘we need more passionate people like you – why don’t you come on board and help out?’ In reality I think it was more like ‘ok, stop talking and do something about it!’
Once I put my name forward for the regional committee things progressed from there until I was elected as Chair for Scotland earlier this year – something that I am very proud of as it was recognition from my peer group.
The role involves organising regional events, training courses, networking opportunities etc. and the flagship event of the year is always the annual awards ceremony - a chance to celebrate achievements across the internal comms industry. But before this turns into a sales pitch (not my intention, I promise) it think it is worth sharing with you some of the benefits of joining a professional association, at whatever level.
My wife often says to me, usually in a despairing tone, “Why is it always you?” (Apologies if this sounds like a Les Dawson sketch). Well the answer is if not me, then who? I am not trying to be arrogant, or saying that I am better placed than anyone else, as that is far from the truth. It is just that if we all wait for someone else to do it, then things will never get done. I recently read a book by Michael Heppell entitled ‘Be Brilliant’. The book genuinely inspired me, and far from the usual self-help books written by so-called gurus, was full of practical advice and helpful tips. One of the things that stuck with me from the book is ‘massive action gets massive results’ and that is something I now try and work by. Anyway, I digress, just go buy the book!
For me the value of professional organisations depends on what you are willing to put into them – I am prompted to say beauty is in the eye of the beholder - but from my own experience there are some excellent reasons for getting involved. Aside from the more obvious ones like networking, sharing of ideas and best practice, continuous professional development, job opportunities and so on, there is also something to be said for individual confidence and competitor benchmarking – not necessarily in a competitive sense either.
Coming from a corporate background, in my team we always thought of professional organisations as a good way of benchmarking our own activity – whether through awards entries or more informal opportunities. Awards successes often gave us the third-party endorsement and support that was often amiss within our own organisation. It was a good way to show that we were respected within our own profession. Rightly or wrongly, it made people internally sit up and take notice of the team, and more importantly get us involved.
In a similar vein, professional organisations are also a good way to build confidence in the work that you are doing individually. It can be a way of confirming that you are focusing on the right things – and heh, well if not then there is a support network you can call on for help and support. Despite what we may often be feeling, our work problems are not always unique and discussing them with others can help.
I’ll stop now before this turns into a therapy session, but before I do, no organisation is perfect and all will come within their own unique brand of politics. But the benefits for me far out-weigh any of this. Through professional organisations I have developed a network of contacts that now extends to long-lasting friendships.
Must go, it is less than two weeks until Christmas and eBay awaits…
Darren
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