This month, as the ides of March recede, the first day of spring finally approaches. After a long, cold winter and year in isolation, we really need it to signify a new beginning, don’t we?
It’s my hope that spring brings you the mental and physical rejuvenation that comes with brighter skies and a breath of fresh air. I also hope you find that same renewed energy professionally.
In this season of spring cleaning, I encourage you to take the time to dig into the far corners of not just your bedroom closet, but your communications closet as well.
Maybe you pull out an old tool or resource, or perhaps you throw something away that isn’t working. Ask yourself:
- What can I keep? What strategies, tools, and tactics are currently working? Take a moment to reflect on these items and appreciate the value they bring to the table.
- What can I toss? Do you have outdated processes or policies that are weighing your team down? Perhaps you’re still holding on to a press release template from 2005, or maybe you’re just trying to do too much and you need to focus your efforts. Learn to let go of what’s not working for you and your team.
- Where do I need to clean up? As you review what you decide to keep, what can you do to improve upon it? Even the best and most proven strategies can always use improvement. Use the resources at your disposal – perhaps a fellow PPRS member, an industry blog, or a webinar – to hone the best of your best and make it better.
You don’t have to be a Marie Kondo enthusiast to make this work. It may not immediately spark joy. But you have to be intentional about it. Don’t let your communications plan and the tools to support it sit on the shelf all year long. Get out the broom and start sweeping!
Christine Cronkright
2021 PPRS President