Professional Spring Cleaning

Spring has officially sprung! The warm sunshine and crisp air has a tendency to inspire spring cleaning – be it overhauling your closet, decluttering the garage or organizing your kitchen Marie Kondo style. For PR pros, this is also a great time to do some tidying up professionally. So, before you bust out the mop, check out these tips on professional spring cleaning. 

Spruce Up Your LinkedIn Profile
What accomplishments have you made over the winter? Are there any new skills you can add to your profile? How about that stellar coverage you scored for your client? This is also a great time to reach out to a few colleagues, mentors or clients for some fresh recommendations!

Refresh Your Professional Toolbox 
Spring is the season of growth and new beginnings, so there’s no greater time to brush up on existing skills or expand your knowledge in new areas. Challenge yourself to attend at least one webinar or professional development event over the next 90 days. Not sure where to start? See upcoming PR Club events here.  

Declutter Your Inbox and Calendar
Hello, my name is Kat and I am an email hoarder. I have sub folders for every client that are filled with emails on past projects, outdated info, or just something I said I would read later but never have, and never will. Take some time to go through your inbox and purge anything that is no longer relevant or serves your client’s current goals. Also, take a look at your calendar. Are there recurring meetings that could be converted to a status email or moved to a bi-weekly basis? What adjustments can you make to streamline workflows and free up some bandwidth on your teams? 

Dust Off Those Business Cards 

Networking and in-person events are coming back with restrictions lifting and this is a great time to expand your horizons, and network. Consider attending a few networking events or conferences this spring. Trade shows are a great opportunity to get back into the game and meet potential clients.  

Scrub Your Media Lists 

We all have that one list that is a little dusty, crusty and just plain overwhelming. Stop avoiding it like that pile of laundry in the corner and take the time to give it a good scrub. Work with your teams to assign sections or set aside 15-20 minutes a day so you can dedicate the time it needs without losing an entire afternoon. Doing so will set you up for success this spring and beyond! 

Grab Coffee with a Mentor
Mentors are to our careers as The Home Edit is to organization – inspirational and full of bright ideas. Have a challenge you need help troubleshooting? Need a gut check on a media strategy? Looking for some direction on the next steps needed to advance your career? Grab a coffee with a mentor! These informal conversations can help you see things from a new perspective, identify hidden opportunities and fuel your growth in the long and short term. 

What are some other ways you plan to freshen up your professional development this spring? Share with us on social @PRClubofNE.

 

This article was written by Kat Aronofsky, Account Manager at Matter Communications and PR Club Board Member.