A professional aside to my usually non-pro postings on Teahen Tales. This originally ran in Paul Kilbertus’s blog interviewing communications and non-profit leaders, The Three Keys. Thanks for the opportunity, Paul!

A first for this blog – Kelley Teahen, Director of Communications and Marketing at Parachute, Canada’s national charity dedicated to injury prevention – wrote this entry! Kelley gained a wide experience in the communications space over her career. She began in journalism and bridged into communications as Media Relations Manager for the Stratford Festival. She has had senior communications roles at the University of Waterloo and OCAD University. Adding to the variety, she has taught public relations and writing, as well as serving as a consultant and communications coach.

Three keys to success

Feed your creativity

Communication work requires creative thought and inspiration. One of my staff once called me an “idea hamster” and meant it as a compliment because even after many years working in communications, I come up with fresh ideas. I couldn’t do that if I didn’t regularly refill my tank with visits to art galleries, reading, even gardening. Gardening can teach you a lot about editing.

Be curious; keep learning

Little kids go through a “no” stage and then graduate to “why?” They are insatiably curious. A good communicator needs to keep a bit of that toddler alive. Seeking “why?” drives learning, whether about technology or changing audience expectations.

Fortune favours the prepared

Being organized, tools at the ready, is the key between success and disaster – or needless drama – in communications. If you take the time to organize photos as they come in, you will be able to find those you need quickly to pull together an effective presentation. Enter the data. Do the reports. Plan activities. See in advance where there’s going to be an overload of work and spread it out so you have capacity to handle the inevitable eruptions and opportunities that come.

Three keys to making a difference

Get outside your bubble

Routines make life easier, but when they become a way of life, our perception of the world narrows and we start thinking that everyone must think as we do. Especially as communicators, we need to see the world through our audiences’ eyes. When I covered social services as a journalist, I learned so much more about what can help people by setting aside the learned pronunciations of well-meaning highly educated white observers (including me) and listening to those who were struggling.

Nurture the seedlings

Teaching, mentoring programs, taking extra time with junior staff to guide their development – these are all ways to bring along the next generation of storytellers. Have the coffee. Make the compliment. Offer honest critique. You never know which seeds are going to grow but keep planting them.

Be persistent

Not relentless – persistent. Creating change and fighting injustice, or stupidity, or bullying, or any other number of ills plaguing society, can be exhausting. While stopping is not an option, you can and should create pauses to regain your strength, do something fun, and remember why you are being persistent in the first place.