A few weeks ago, I attended a virtual reunion with a group of eight former colleagues and public relations professionals. These individuals claim a special place in my career and in my life. We haven’t worked together in more than 10 years, but when we gather, time seems to rewind, pause, and stop. The room fills with laughter and memories.
We did great work together, and grew our business exponentially while we were at it. But that success is not what keeps us connected a decade later.
It’s our relationships.
There’s a certain chemistry to how this group interacts. If you’ve ever been part of a team like this, you know what it’s like ⎻ each individual is an important part of the whole, bringing their own personality and unique skills to the table. While this should ideally happen on every team with the right recruitment strategy, the chances are slim that you’ll find exactly the right people for your mix at exactly the right time within your hiring window. (And then do it again, and again, and again, until you have your team.)
I suspect this is why hiring managers are so keen to figure out the silver bullet strategy to identify these illusive groups of people who will magically click together. And while personality profile assessments and strength finders are helpful, they may not be enough.
So, how do you find your “colleagues for life?” Maybe it’s fate. Maybe it’s timing. And yes, there are great recruiters out there and managers who might be able to accomplish it. But, let me share one secret with you about the particular team of former coworkers that I reference above.
We all had one thing in common. At least half of us were recruited through PPRS. This group was our connection.
I’ve found that our membership has always had the ability to bring the best communications professionals in the area together when we actively try to make it happen. But this responsibility cannot lie in the Membership Committee alone. We all must be intentional in continuously seeking to share what we love about this group and what we want it to become in the future.
Please visit the Member Area of the PPRS website and take a look at the career opportunities and resumes we have posted there. Bring a friend to a PPRS event this year and encourage them to join. Offer to help a job seeker by connecting them with a fellow member.
It’s my hope that we can continue to find and bring forth the differences among our industry colleagues that make us a better whole, that we can see value in our diversity, and that we can all build better and lasting teams because of it. And with your help, PPRS can be the vehicle to accomplish it.
Christine Cronkright, 2021 PPRS President