A Forward Journey

I eventually got around to approaching my management about taking on another acting role in a department other than my official one. I spent the last six months of my employment supervising two fantastic teams in two major departments in corporate communications. Handling marketing communications & branding in one of the biggest companies in the region was not an easy job to do. I was ultimately in charge of safeguarding and strengthening the company's brand and reputation, or how internal and external stakeholders regard the company.

Understanding where and how you offer value to the business is part of a communications professional's job. While corporate communications handle many tactical and operational responsibilities, it is also a very strategic role. It is critical to reinforce this. Corporate communications should also coach, guide, and advise others on communicating effectively, including identifying desired outcomes, developing key messages, establishing a clear call to action, determining the best communications channel, timing, and critical metrics to measure effectiveness. There is usually a lot going on in corporate communications teams, and they will request one to undertake various tasks from the larger organization. As a result, time management and prioritization are crucial.

The experience was a full-fledged voyage to investigate the firm in-depth. I was the new member in a rooted legacy that requires a thorough understanding of the organization's history and the digital sector amongst all the nation's expertise and exceptional talents.

Here are a few examples of what I have learned:

To deliver a coherent message, you must talk authoritatively. People are more inclined to listen to what someone says if they communicate clearly and concisely. It will be clear if you lack confidence in your speech.

Employees who do not ask inquiries might limit the communications. When people do not feel empowered to ask queries, they rely on other means. They frequently seek clarification from another employee, which exacerbates the situation if they do not entirely grasp the message.

Professionals need to understand and value the worth of various perspectives and perceive the benefit of having a varied and sensitive team of talented thinkers, wordsmiths, and graphic artists on their team. Endeavor to include them in its strategic plans, increasing brand equity and performance management. When confronted with an issue to solve, creative individuals respond best. It is essential that any advice from them not be taken for granted. Instead of merely guiding their tasks based on evaluation of tastes and preferences, they need the opportunity to clarify whys and hows behind their initiatives.

Knowledge in the digital sector is not something you can acquire and store; it is an ongoing process of exploring new trends and reading about digital innovation to integrate your essential skills and knowledge in interactions with your stakeholders. It was a mandate to keep myself on my toes all the time when working for a large firm with a defined plan concentrating on the future.

Branding & Marcom teams need regularly conduct meetings to communicate and stay constantly updated on organizational and business unit heading, development direction, targets, desired outcomes, and relevant marketing initiatives. Teams ought to develop standardized measuring standards, as well as review and consult one another. Today's constantly developing workplace collaboration networks, techniques, and operating norms frequently result in faster development, distribution, and measurement of communications material.

It seemed like two full years passed instead of 11 months, and I undertook an exciting transformative journey on a group level with my colleagues and leadership, for which I am grateful for their unending support & mentoring.