Unceasing Momentum in Media Communications: Continuous Action, Learning, and Improvement in the Pulse

The work in media communications is dynamic, engaging, and continuous; it calls for a proactive, adaptive, and agile mindset. Recalling my own experience at Jaipuria Institute of Management, Jaipur, where I have been handling the media communication team of students for almost 5 years now, working on institutional branding, social media management, event media coverage, educational content creation, video production, and public relations, it's been a 24/7 cycle of relentless coordination as we work out and cover every event on campus while also managing our team through constant communication. Our work and coordination are interconnected cycles of continuous action, fostering continuous learning and continuous improvement.

This work and my involvement in fostering this culture of relentless coordination have helped develop my speed, efficiency, adaptation, and agile nature. To recall the various facets of this unceasing momentum, are continuous action, continuous communication for coordination, continuous mentoring, continuous evolution and change, continuous observation, and continuous learning.

Continuous Action: The most recurring part of leading this kind of work and team is about continuous action; there is no stop; the actions are continuous, connecting tasks from task and project to project. This calls for a relentlessly proactive approach and developing foresight in work. Continuous action is not a cakewalk in itself, as it poses many challenges when working with a team. With a team involved, there is always some or the other engagement of members; hence, it requires a greater proactiveness to work between the lines with an ability to see the larger picture and a vision of continuous action for a continuous cycle of success. It becomes evident that in moments of continuous action, we learn holistically. I can recall many instances where, while implementing coverage of back-to-back activities as well as simultaneous events, I learned how important it is to have the foresight to deal with such continuity in action and guide the team to implement it. This has helped me understand and move ahead of time to ensure that the action doesn't stop and things run smoothly.

Continuous Communication for Coordination: With a team involved, constant communication is crucial, and continuous action with the team cannot survive when there is a lack of communication and coordination. I recall many situations over the years of handling this team where communication has saved the day for us. Not only has constant communication and coordination helped in day-to-day operations, but in many scenarios, it has also helped in crisis situations. Like during simultaneous events and back-to-back events, our efficiency comes from effectively communicating to coordinate. I ensure that from top to bottom, from my side, I effectively communicate to the team the right things at the right time for the right results to be ensured. I also recall instances where our problems were solved because members communicated the challenges at the right time, as communication has been a lifeline in order to prevent failures in our projects and campaigns and ensure that things run smoothly. There are also times when, as per situations and circumstances, we have to change our plans in our work, and this becomes possible when we are continuously communicating with each other. Communication has not only streamlined our operations but has also fostered trust between team members.

Continuous Mentoring: Now the team's ability to produce and follow continuous action, communication, and coordination requires continuous mentoring. We do ensure that the team receives ample training for learning how to carry on with day-to-day tasks in media communications, but I also ensure to mentor the members separately as and when required. There are members who show exceptional skills at a specific function, and for that, I keep mentoring them to polish that skill and elevate it to another level. I recall many instances where I observed how students were showing great skills, like when one student from the team shared how he gained confidence and experience from working with the team, which he used in his internship during his content creation and social media profile. I sat with the student for some time and helped him write an article and publish it on LinkedIn, learning from the experience gained on campus with a team and then implementing it on the job.

In another mentoring experience, I observed a student regularly posting on LinkedIn. I saw that he was posting daily about the experience of their induction program, but not in a very organized and professional manner, but the content was good. I decided to approach him on LinkedIn, called him to meet me, and helped him with the professional LinkedIn publishing of his experience articles. Further, the student also went on to get selected for our team. There is another instance where I mentored a student of the team who was handling social media for the institute but was quite active on her personal social media projects. Seeing the passion and conviction toward the student’s own personal development, I advised and gave more creative ideas to increase the presence of her work. Further mentoring within the team has also been important in resolving conflicts between team members, it has also helped me in challenging circumstances by counseling the students if their behavior and performance go against the team goals. These are some examples of how continuous mentoring makes a difference in the skill set of the team.

Continuous Evolution and Change: Continuous mentoring has fostered continuous evolution and change in my ways of handling team performance, new ideas, and my approach to work. The team adopted a lot of new ways, such as the media vlog project. During an induction program at the campus, I thought about the idea for the Media Vlog Project when four faculty members from the Royal Institute of Management in Bhutan visited. Inspired to capture their insights and experiences, interviews were conducted with the support of enthusiastic students. I took the initiative to record these interviews while training the students to take them, capturing candid moments and behind-the-scenes footage. The project's success led to its expansion and increased interest. Further, I sought ways to empower our team. It was during one of India's most prominent journalism events that I attended a mobile journalism workshop led by NDTV's Foreign Affairs Editor, Umashankar Singh. Witnessing his ability to cover global events using only a phone and a selfie stick was truly inspiring. Embracing the concept of mobile journalism, I brought this innovative approach to our project, and we implemented it in a continuous manner to enhance the performance.

Continuous Observation and Foresight: In a dynamic and fast-moving environment, being highly observant has been key to continuous change and evolution. Whether it is managing the team, events, performance, or behavior of the team, continuous observation and foresight have been the forefront factors in determining the success of what we do. Observing the team and system around me closely has enhanced my ability to connect our actions, motivations, and things for a larger picture of what is to be done, how it is to be done, and what does not have to be done. For example, I keep close track of how members are behaving, observing any red flags in behaviors or any look holes that loom around in day-to-day operations.?

Continuous Learning: In the realm of media communications, the landscape is ever-evolving, demanding professionals to be on their toes, adapting to the latest trends, technologies, and strategies. My journey at the Jaipuria Institute of Management, Jaipur, with my team, has been a testament to this. With every event covered, every video produced, and every campaign launched, there was a new lesson waiting to be learned. From understanding the nuances of social media to mastering the art of effective public relations, every day presented an opportunity to learn and grow. Continuous learning is not just about acquiring new skills; it's about refining the existing ones, understanding the changing dynamics, and foreseeing future trends. For instance, the shift towards mobile journalism was a significant learning curve. Adapting to this trend not only enhanced our content quality but also made our processes more efficient. Moreover, mentoring students and observing their growth provided insights into the evolving needs and aspirations of the younger generation, further enriching my learning experience.

In this fast-paced world, resting on past laurels is not an option. Continuous learning ensures that we remain relevant, innovative, and ahead of the curve. It's the backbone that supports all other facets of unceasing momentum, making us not just participants but leaders in the media communications domain.

Conclusively, the world of media communications is a whirlwind of action, coordination, evolution, and, most importantly, learning. My tenure at Jaipuria Institute of Management, Jaipur, has been a reflection of this unceasing momentum, where every day is a new challenge and a new opportunity. From leading a dynamic team of students to pioneering various innovative projects like the Media Vlog Project, the journey has been both demanding and rewarding. The various facets of continuous action, communication, mentoring, evolution, observation, and learning have intertwined to create a tapestry of experiences that have shaped my professional outlook. In this ever-evolving domain, the key is to remain agile, proactive, and always eager to learn.