Believe me when I say it is no cakewalk to create a niche for yourself as a Communication expert. Although there is space for everyone, it co-exists with cut throat competition.
Here are some tips to be a successful communicator –
We, as communication professionals, must possess a blend of great soft skills as well as know-how of the industry we represent and general awareness about what’s happening across the globe. First and foremost, you must come across as sociable, friendly, and approachable, and must be capable of striking meaningful conversations with people. This results in building strong relationships.
A communications professional must have the ability to write well and must be able to convince and inspire people through the written word. You must be well-informed of the current stories, trends, etc. in general, and as per the clients’ requirements in particular. Know your client, your company, the industry, and the media by heart. Learn new things everyday.
It is important to maintain a positive reputation of the client (and yourself) in the industry. In today’s fast-paced digital era, even a minor error can make its way through the media in no time. All communication to the media must be carefully planned and meticulously reviewed for a positive outcome.
A communicator must be comfortable with public speaking and must know how to convey a brand message or a story to an audience. They should also be equipped with multi-tasking. Pitching to the media, controlling a crisis, initiating a new campaign, and being able to juggle multiple projects or clients at one time are a given in this profession.
New technologies, new marketing techniques, and new media are evolving every day; hence, it is essential for a communicator to adapt themselves to these changes.
Being a communication professional makes it inevitable for us to be at the receiving end quite often. We must be able to successfully withstand that criticism and persevere. Maintaining the right attitude plays a vital role in this.
Our profile as communication experts requires us to always be on the go. Patience does play a vital role as despite the best of efforts, results don’t happen overnight. Whether it’s not seeing immediate results from a communication campaign or waiting to hear back from a publication that you pitched to, patience is truly a virtue in the world of communications.
Interesting Read – 5 Ways to Create Great Content for Public Relations
One needs to have the right mix of all these various characteristics to be successful as a communication expert.
– Ritu Bararia
Ritu is the Senior Director at SCoRe and heads special projects, including the PR Club. She also serves as a counsellor to the students of our Post Graduate Programme.
Ritu is a passionate Public Relations and Communications professional with more than two decades of progressive experience, Ritu is an expert in the realm of Travel, Hospitality and Aviation. She is a published author and her book The Little Joys of Communication discusses traditional PR and communications practices for several brands and corporate houses. She can be reached at @ritubararia on Twitter, and as Ritu Bararia on LinkedIn.
