Whether you need to do more – or do it over
Vol. 1, Edition 3, January 2024
Hi friend,
I hope your 2024 started strong right out of the gate.
But maybe the year began with illnesses on the team, a surprise company announcement or a family issue or three. The firm intentions you set a month ago might be wavering just a tad.
Either way, it’s okay. You’re okay. Really.
We have a few ideas in this newsletter that can help supercharge plans that are going well — or hit an early reset button if you need it.
Learn how to quickly focus a communications effort, effectively onboard more help, and respond to signs of burnout.
There’s still plenty of time to make 2024 everything you want it to be.
All the best,
Mary Pat Nimon
President
idea one
Cut through the noise
We’ve collaborated with major players in internal communications to help drive some amazing cultural and behavioral changes.
And each one of these initiatives began with a strategic campaign line.
There’s no better way to quickly focus your communications and ensure employees hear you.
idea two
Do you talk like you don’t want help?
If you’re overwhelmed by demands on your comms team, you might be getting in your own way.
Here’s the reality: If you don’t overcome your own objections to getting outside help, you’ll still be on Planet Overwhelm this time next year. And the year after that.
If any of these statements have crossed your lips, read on.
1) “No outside person can understand how our business works.”
Even you were new to the business once. The key is using a partner who knows how to set themselves up for success.
At WordsFresh, we often conduct a communications audit with new clients and produce what we call a FreshReport.
The FreshReport is our team’s onboarding, an organized way to get the essential information we know will make our work go smoothly. It’s also much more. It provides our client with a valuable summary of current practices, insights from stakeholders and fresh ideas. It allows us to quickly get others up to speed if we need to scale up the client’s support.
Ask your potential partner how they plan to learn about your business and whether that plan can be customized for your unique circumstances.
2) “I’m too busy to get someone else up to speed. That would slow us down.”
It’s true there will be some time investment. Consider it a down payment on your future ability to wow your stakeholders and still log off at a reasonable hour.
First, your partner should be able to minimize the time required of you and do much of their own onboarding.
Then, you should expect your comms partner to take the first project to at least 80% of the goal. You or your team may need to contribute roughly 20% to take it over the finish line. That’s a reasonable expectation when the partner is still learning. If the partner is contributing less than that, you may want to re-evaluate your decision.
But after just a few projects, the gap between those numbers will shrink. You’ll likely be relishing the extra hours you’ve discovered. And your impact will be expanding exponentially.
3) “If I hire help, I’ll be seen as ineffective.”
A leader knows the real game is expanding reach, influence and impact. A great comms partner enables you to take on more mission-critical initiatives without becoming overextended. You can choose to focus your partner on your most important priorities or assign them the projects that distract your team.
How does this work? Your partner should understand your priorities and represent you and your interests, even in meetings where you aren’t present. They should be able to take the lead, stay true to your direction and be your eyes and ears. They should play well with others, especially your team.
Most importantly, you can hold them accountable for delivering results. Those results will speak volumes about your true effectiveness.
4) “Our budget is too tight. Plus, we could hire someone for what we’d pay a vendor.”
Even if you got approval to increase your head count, it’s doubtful you could hire a single person with the deep expertise and strategic skills of a well-vetted comms partner. And here’s a tip: Tap into the budgets of the departments you serve. For example, if the IT department is rolling out new software, comms should be part of their budget.
5) “I’ve tried using outside help and it didn’t work.”
Was it the right person? The right agency? Did you set them up to succeed?
Try again, and this time hire a partner who has a proven process for setting themselves up for success.
It is possible to find help, even for the most complex comms challenges. It’s time to prove it to yourself.
idea three
Burnout signs? Use your superpower.
In the world of marketing and communications, burnout has a way of looking normal. It’s just how we work, how we see the world and how we get sh** done. Right?
Wrong. Use those communication skills you’ve mastered to find another way forward in 2024.
Whether you need to do more – or do it over
Vol. 1, Edition 3, January 2024
Hi friend,
I hope your 2024 started strong right out of the gate.
But maybe the year began with illnesses on the team, a surprise company announcement or a family issue or three. The firm intentions you set a month ago might be wavering just a tad.
Either way, it’s okay. You’re okay. Really.
We have a few ideas in this newsletter that can help supercharge plans that are going well — or hit an early reset button if you need it.
Learn how to quickly focus a communications effort, effectively onboard more help, and respond to signs of burnout.
There’s still plenty of time to make 2024 everything you want it to be.
All the best,
Mary Pat Nimon
President
idea one
Cut through the noise
We’ve collaborated with major players in internal communications to help drive some amazing cultural and behavioral changes.
And each one of these initiatives began with a strategic campaign line.
There’s no better way to quickly focus your communications and ensure employees hear you.
idea two
Do you talk like you don’t want help?
If you’re overwhelmed by demands on your comms team, you might be getting in your own way.
Here’s the reality: If you don’t overcome your own objections to getting outside help, you’ll still be on Planet Overwhelm this time next year. And the year after that.
If any of these statements have crossed your lips, read on.
1) “No outside person can understand how our business works.”
Even you were new to the business once. The key is using a partner who knows how to set themselves up for success.
At WordsFresh, we often conduct a communications audit with new clients and produce what we call a FreshReport.
The FreshReport is our team’s onboarding, an organized way to get the essential information we know will make our work go smoothly. It’s also much more. It provides our client with a valuable summary of current practices, insights from stakeholders and fresh ideas. It allows us to quickly get others up to speed if we need to scale up the client’s support.
Ask your potential partner how they plan to learn about your business and whether that plan can be customized for your unique circumstances.
2) “I’m too busy to get someone else up to speed. That would slow us down.”
It’s true there will be some time investment. Consider it a down payment on your future ability to wow your stakeholders and still log off at a reasonable hour.
First, your partner should be able to minimize the time required of you and do much of their own onboarding.
Then, you should expect your comms partner to take the first project to at least 80% of the goal. You or your team may need to contribute roughly 20% to take it over the finish line. That’s a reasonable expectation when the partner is still learning. If the partner is contributing less than that, you may want to re-evaluate your decision.
But after just a few projects, the gap between those numbers will shrink. You’ll likely be relishing the extra hours you’ve discovered. And your impact will be expanding exponentially.
3) “If I hire help, I’ll be seen as ineffective.”
A leader knows the real game is expanding reach, influence and impact. A great comms partner enables you to take on more mission-critical initiatives without becoming overextended. You can choose to focus your partner on your most important priorities or assign them the projects that distract your team.
How does this work? Your partner should understand your priorities and represent you and your interests, even in meetings where you aren’t present. They should be able to take the lead, stay true to your direction and be your eyes and ears. They should play well with others, especially your team.
Most importantly, you can hold them accountable for delivering results. Those results will speak volumes about your true effectiveness.
4) “Our budget is too tight. Plus, we could hire someone for what we’d pay a vendor.”
Even if you got approval to increase your head count, it’s doubtful you could hire a single person with the deep expertise and strategic skills of a well-vetted comms partner. And here’s a tip: Tap into the budgets of the departments you serve. For example, if the IT department is rolling out new software, comms should be part of their budget.
5) “I’ve tried using outside help and it didn’t work.”
Was it the right person? The right agency? Did you set them up to succeed?
Try again, and this time hire a partner who has a proven process for setting themselves up for success.
It is possible to find help, even for the most complex comms challenges. It’s time to prove it to yourself.
idea three
Burnout signs? Use your superpower.
In the world of marketing and communications, burnout has a way of looking normal. It’s just how we work, how we see the world and how we get sh** done. Right?
Wrong. Use those communication skills you’ve mastered to find another way forward in 2024.
SUBSCRIBE TO
Three fresh ideas (and a meme)
Our monthly take on today’s marketing and communications topics… and a little fun, too.
