You’re struggling to get promoted in corporate communications. What’s the best way to build a strong team?

The best leaders are those who are able to admit they don't know everything and empower their teams to flex their knowledge muscles. This can lead to greater engagement, a stronger team and solidify the team's support of and trust in their leader. I make it a point to make sure my people get facetime with the C-Suite and more importantly get credit for the work that comes from our function. As Bill Belichick has said many times, "The players win the games. I've never thrown or caught a pass in the NFL." Lastly, my mantra has always been "we work in PR, not an ER." You have to have fun at work. Finding ways to remind each other of that regularly is so critical. When your team is successful, you'll be successful and that will be recognized.

Assessing your strengths and weaknesses as a leader is important: 1) Self-awareness: It allows you to gain a deeper understanding of yourself as a leader. It helps you identify your areas of expertise as well as areas where you may need improvement. This self-awareness is crucial for personal and professional growth. 2) Effective decision-making: By knowing your strengths, you can leverage them to make informed decisions and lead with confidence. Similarly, being aware of your weaknesses allows you to take into account potential blind spots 3) Building a complementary team: Self awareness helps you identify the skills you lack. This allows you to recruit team members who complement your strengths

In my experience its critical to listen, empower and challenge... and do it again... and again! Its important everyone has a meaningful contribution to the team's success. Be authentic as a leader, learn from your team and be ready to be challenged as well. To me this is an incredible signal if team members dare to challenge the leader and each other. In strong teams everyone should learn from everyone.

Here are some steps you can take to strengthen your team: 1) Define Clear Goals and Objectives 2) Foster Open Communication 3) Promote Collaboration and Teamwork 4) Provide Clear Direction and Guidance 5) Empower and Delegate Responsibility 6) Invest in Professional Development 7) Celebrate Achievements and Recognize Contributions 8) Lead by Example 9) Promote Diversity and Inclusion 10) Regularly Evaluate and Adjust Strategies By implementing these strategies, you can build a strong and cohesive team in corporate communications that is aligned with the organization's goals and well-positioned to achieve success.

Assessing strengths and weaknesses is crucial for building a strong team in corporate communications. Understanding your team's capabilities enables effective delegation, skill development, and fostering a collaborative environment, ultimately enhancing productivity and increasing chances of promotion.

TCS, one of India's leading IT services companies, places a strong emphasis on continuous learning and upskilling its workforce, including its corporate communications team. TCS has implemented an online learning platform that allows employees to access a wide range of courses and training programs. This initiative supports the team in staying updated with the latest trends in communications technology and strategies, thereby enhancing their effectiveness and innovation.

As a team, one thing all should have in common is the objective. Otherwise, it's like a football team, with each player having a different idea of where the 'goal post' is. Everyone has their own individual professional goals which I admit is crucial, but understanding the collective goal, and working towards it inching closer to the finish line is equally important; since in many ways, we all grow together. The team needs to be communicated & also reminded (in a timely manner) what is the purpose, what is at stake, what is the impact, etc. If done right this will only boost the motivation driving everyone to contribute effectively.

Para fortalecer sua equipe, defina claramente a vis?o e os valores que guiar?o o trabalho e as decis?es. Como líder, é essencial comunicar o propósito e os objetivos da equipe, alinhando-os à cultura da empresa. Destaque valores como integridade, criatividade e responsabilidade. Garanta que todos compreendam e se comprometam com esses princípios, utilizando-os como alicerce para reconhecimento e avalia??es. Esse alinhamento promove um ambiente de trabalho coeso e motivado.

To cultivate a formidable team in corporate communications, start by delineating a clear vision and instilling core values. Encourage collaboration, foster open communication, and prioritize professional development. Empower team members to contribute meaningfully, fostering a culture of trust and accountability for optimal performance and growth.

It is our responsibility to translate the organisation's vision to the team's vision. Our role is to support, it has to be reminded consistently and as simple as possible to understand the team's role to achieve the bigger role.

Infosys has been at the forefront of promoting diversity and inclusion within its workforce. The company has various programs aimed at supporting women in leadership, inclusivity for LGBTQ+ employees, and ensuring a multicultural work environment. By valuing diverse perspectives, Infosys's corporate communications team benefits from a wide range of insights and ideas, which enrich their storytelling and engagement strategies.

To strengthen your corporate communications team, prioritize recruiting and nurturing diverse talent. Cultivate an environment where varied perspectives thrive, fostering innovation and inclusivity. Embrace diverse skill sets and experiences to enhance collaboration and effectiveness within the team, ultimately paving the way for your promotion.

Recruiting diverse talent brings benefits such as increased innovation, a broader range of skills, improved decision-making, enhanced customer understanding, increased employee engagement and retention, expanded market reach, and a positive reputation. Embracing diversity is not only the right thing to do, but it also contributes to the overall success and competitiveness of an organization.

Para construir uma equipe forte, foque em atrair talentos que tragam perspectivas e habilidades diversas. Priorize a inclus?o e o respeito, promovendo a diversidade de pensamento. Busque pessoas com habilidades comunicativas, adaptabilidade e capacidade de trabalhar em equipe. Ofere?a oportunidades para que cres?am e aprendam dentro da empresa. Essa abordagem n?o apenas enriquece a equipe com diferentes vis?es, mas também cria um ambiente onde o respeito e o desenvolvimento pessoal s?o valorizados, impulsionando o sucesso coletivo.

Ensure your team possesses a diverse skill set covering areas like writing, design, social media, brand marketing and crisis management. This ensures versatility in handling various communication tasks effectively. Also encourage your team to consistently update and upskill. Follow the EPI model I've mentioned below under 'Learn and Improve' for this.

I have set up processes and SOPs at Della Adventure and Resorts so that the company is on an auto-pilot mode, managed by the leaders appointed. I always like to empower my team to create and follow the SOPs for least intervention from my side as dont wish to become a bottleneck for approvals and day to day operational decisions.

The Mahindra Group, under the visionary leadership of Anand Mahindra, has shown how strong leadership can guide a corporate communications team to align with the company's vision and values. Anand Mahindra's active presence on social media and his engagement with both employees and customers set a tone for open, authentic communication throughout the organization. This leadership style helps the corporate communications team to craft messages that are consistent with the group's ethos of driving positive change.

To strengthen your team in corporate communications, prioritize delegation and empowerment. Allocate tasks according to strengths, encourage autonomy, foster open communication, provide resources, and offer guidance. Building a cohesive and capable team enhances productivity and facilitates career advancement.

Para fortalecer sua equipe, delegue tarefas alinhadas às habilidades e interesses de cada membro, promovendo autonomia. Confie neles para decis?es e solu??o de problemas, evitando microgerenciamento. Forne?a recursos, suporte e feedback necessários para seu sucesso, responsabilizando-os pelos resultados. Celebre as conquistas, reconhecendo o esfor?o e valorizando cada contribui??o. Esse empoderamento n?o só eleva a performance da equipe, mas também estimula um ambiente de trabalho motivador e coeso, onde cada um se sente valorizado e parte integral do sucesso coletivo.

Let's not hesitate to offer the opportunity for your team to step up and lead when there is a chance in front of senior management and other teams.

To build a strong team in corporate communications, prioritize effective communication and collaboration. Foster an environment where ideas flow freely, encourage open dialogue, actively listen to team members, delegate tasks efficiently, and recognize and celebrate achievements to boost morale and motivation.

Para promover uma equipe forte, é crucial uma comunica??o clara e colabora??o ativa. Como líder, demonstre práticas de comunica??o eficaz, incentivando diálogos abertos e construtivos. Facilite atividades que estimulem o trabalho conjunto, criatividade e inova??o. Mantenha uma comunica??o constante, encorajando a equipe a expressar ideias, opini?es e feedback. A escuta ativa e o respeito mútuo s?o fundamentais. Esse processo n?o só aprimora o desempenho da equipe, mas também cria um ambiente de trabalho onde todos se sentem valorizados e parte integrante do sucesso coletivo.

Fostering Effective Communication & Collaboration: Lead by Example: Demonstrate clear, concise, and respectful communication in all interactions. Open Communication Channels: Encourage a culture where team members feel comfortable sharing ideas and concerns. Active Listening: Pay close attention, understand perspectives, and acknowledge contributions. Collaborative Activities: Promote teamwork through shared projects, brainstorming sessions, and knowledge sharing. Transparency & Regular Updates: Keep everyone informed about progress, decisions, and potential challenges. By implementing these practices, you can foster a collaborative environment where open communication thrives, leading to a more productive and successful team.

Continuous learning and improvement are essential for fostering a strong team in corporate communications. Emphasize skill development, encourage collaboration, provide constructive feedback, and cultivate a culture of innovation to propel both individual growth and collective success within the team.

Assess your strengths and weaknesses.Define your team's vision and values. Recruit and develop diverse talent.Delegate and empower your team. Communicate and collaborate effectively. Learn and improve continuously.

I call this the EPI model. -Encourage your team to continuously learn and grow. -Provide them with some time during the workweek to focus on self development. This shouldn't be expected as a weekend task. -Incentivize those who are able to fulfill their job demands while ensuring consistent learning that they are able to implement to improve performance. EPI ensures your team stays ahead in a dynamic field like communications. Continuous learning boosts team morale and efficiency, fostering a culture of innovation. Leaders can facilitate this further by providing training, encouraging feedback and organizing knowledge-sharing sessions. Free tools like Coursera, HubSpot Academy and Canva are good resources for skill enhancement.