A few colleagues and practitioners have been offering extensive lists of suggestions for interns and supervisors in the industry; so I thought I’d offer my own ‘modes & observations’ for communicators in the industry, at all stages of their careers…
I’d love your feedback…
Mode I.
Tell the truth. People respect that.
Mode II.
Learn to live together, despite your delusions.
Mode III.
Wake up – avoid the gossip.
Mode IV.
Be prepared. You never know when you’ll meet the Deputy Minister, a keen intern, or a vindictive citizen journalist in the elevator.
Mode V.
If you happen to have a 9 a.m. meeting, be there at 8:15 a.m., as it will most likely be rescheduled to 1 p.m. (Lesson: be flexible.)
Mode VI.
Simplify. Simplify. Simplify.
Mode VII.
Interns & volunteers are like impressionable children – they remember everything. Treat them well.
Mode VIII.
Assume that every e-mail you craft, may at some point be seen by your President/CEO, an intern, or the public.
Mode IX.
Try to prevent conflict of interest whenever possible. There’s poor judgment, and then there’s blatant nerve. It’s like the mayor of a village, owning the village companies.
Mode X.
Check again. What is ‘logical’ to you may not translate into reality.
Mode XI.
Don’t be mean to people you don’t know.
i dont know staffeen…
not sure i know a single person who practices such a practice…
but great suggestions…
im currently working on VI…
and number X…
I like the last one…it’s so easy for people to get caught up in their busy and crisis-ridden lives, that they forget how to be civil. You don’t have to like everyone, but you do need to show some respect – at the very least. And that shouldn’t be difficult at all…
The eighth one is so very, very true.