This week, #CommsLede officially celebrates ten successful years. (Cue: confetti and silly horn sound.) And while I’ve learned far more than ten powerful lessons over the last decade in business, I also know it’s important to get to the content pronto. So, here’s a quick wrap-up of the lessons I’ve shared on the CommsLede blog in recent weeks:
- Ask yourself the hard questions, and then act on your answers.
- Articulate your values and use them as your decision-making “true north.”
- Don’t let others define success for you. Great opportunities don’t need hype men.
- Always start with a strategy Things tend to slowly unravel otherwise.
- Lead with curiosity…and stay curious as long as possible, even if you think you know the answer.
- Sometimes you need to hold your space to enhance your value.
- Focus on priorities versus balance, since “balance” is a bunch of hot garbage.
- Comms metrics and insights can prevent embarrassing “Well…We assume…” or “Um….We think…” conversations.
- Question the stories you’re told. Often. Even by your mom.
- Surround yourself with kind, generous, and talented people. Good people=Good business.
I’ve enjoyed drafting these posts, so if you’ve found them valuable, please like, comment, share, or drop me a line, and I’ll keep ’em coming.
But let’s be honest, folks … Q4 is right around the corner, and work will pick up quickly and significantly for us all. We have plans to execute, teams to lead, results to package, leadership messages to craft, reviews to conduct, data to analyze, and strategic roadmaps to create. Starting to panic yet?
If you need a seasoned, talented comms partner to help you get it all done, or just someone organized and strategic to help you think through the next few steps, please reach out. And if someone on your team might benefit from coaching to get them to the next level, I’m here.
Because when great, strategic communicators have seats at the table, we all win.
Thanks for the last decade, friends. I hope to partner with you soon!
With more than two decades of communications experience spanning agencies, Fortune-100 organizations, non-profits and academia, Kristi Hinck Mills brings her passion for employee communications to CommsLede Consulting, where she delivers strategic solutions and executive coaching for her clients. Visit the CommsLede blog for more tips.
