Traversing the Road Ahead

Over the past couple of weeks I have been the recipient and benefactor of valuable career mentoring. Any step change requires us to think and act differently but one thing is certain, as we set out on a new journey, we are inevitably retracing somebody else's already well-trodden path.

Their priceless experience can provide us with a roadmap, an understanding of how the other person has approached problems, devised solutions, defined approaches and acquired the right tools to undertake a project or establish a business.

We don't have to stick to this route slavishly but it gives us options, a sense of direction and an understanding of the road ahead.

I was introduced by the CIPR to one of my mentors who is a leading exponent of independent practitioners. She established her consultancy more than 15 years ago and when we met via Zoom, I immediately felt like there was a meeting of minds. She provided me with some candid views and practical suggestions on consultancy work. I was humbled by her generosity - both in time and the refreshing honesty with which she answered my list of questions.

I have also appreciated the 'how are you doing?' conversations that I have had with other compatriots - the chance to voice concerns, garner opinion and hear another human voice.

At a time when many of us are working remotely or moving into self-employment, devoid of day-to-day contact with colleagues, it's more important than ever to reach out and establish a reliable and trusted network. It not only provides us with practical help but also acts as a sounding board on which we can voice our concerns, reinforce our values and provide ever important checks and balances.

So, when a former colleague contacted me to say that her other half was about to make a momentous leap from a long career in journalism to possible self-employment I was happy to return the favour.

When we work in a particular industry for some time, we can become conditioned by its culture, processes and behaviours. Journalism can be somewhat formulaic - as trainees we are taught the essence of news, the syntax of an introduction, the breadcrumb trail of detail, its relevance to the reader, the most importantly a balance of opinion.

In PR, we abide by a code of ethics to ensure that we question our sources, ensure accuracy and promote and protect our clients' reputations. However, the conveyance of those messages and the channels that we use are more varied, creative and flexible - from a facility day to a social media post - the influence is a progressive flow of communication.

It can be difficult to break out of the mould and move from one career to a different one but on speaking with my 'mentee' (don't you just hate that word?), who was still forming his 'offer' my advice was to follow his heart. When we get the opportunity, we should embrace our passions and set a course which provides us with professional satisfaction as well as a method of income.