It’s the ultimate weapon for long-term growth.
Hannah McFadden is an account executive at Method Communications.
Accelerating your career in PR can feel overwhelming. There’s a lot to learn, a constantly evolving media landscape to contend with, and a need to continuously prove yourself with each opportunity or promotion.
My secret to success? Proactivity. I believe it is the ultimate weapon to supercharge long-term growth. By embracing a fearless, can-do attitude, ambitious PR pros can build a lasting and successful career in an industry that is hyper-competitive and constantly changing.
Here are three actionable ways to manifest your potential and channel the power of proactivity to become a standout PR pro.
Tap into your curiosity
Genuine interest and passion for the projects you’re owning will fuel your best work. When you approach assignments with authentic enthusiasm, you’ll ask more questions, discover potential mistakes, and identify ideas that others might miss.
For example, when conducting client research, don’t just stop at the ask – dive in for deeper context. Read news relevant to your client’s industry and their competitors, and don’t be shy about sharing any insightful articles you come across. During meetings, ask about the “why” behind strategic decisions or throw out your ideas during a team brainstorm – the worst anyone can say is no!
We’re fortunate to work in an industry that allows us to flex our creative muscles. Lean into this flexibility! The more genuinely curious you are, the more ideas you’ll come across and the more valuable you’ll become to your team.
Bite off more than you can chew
It’s easy to stay in your comfort zone and avoid taking on bigger projects beyond your job description, but these are the exact opportunities you should consider raising your hand for. When you push beyond what you’re comfortable working on, not only will you develop new skills, you’ll also prove what you’re capable of to your peers and mentors.
You can start by volunteering to take on projects you don’t traditionally own, like drafting press releases and media strategy briefs – or contributing to a crisis comms plan or a new business presentation. Another way to level-up is by pitching more business press, maybe for an initiative where you’ve identified contacts you want to build a relationship with.
Taking on tasks above your pay grade may feel intimidating, but it will be a win-win for everyone on your teams. Sure, you may struggle initially and receive constructive, yet valuable feedback – but the growth opportunity is worth it. Your team will still appreciate your initiative. Even if the first pass requires edits, suggestions, and a lot of back-and-forth – which it will – you’ll be better equipped the next time you own it. And soon enough, you’ll nail tasks that once seemed overwhelming and unfamiliar – and will start looking for the next challenge.
Take advantage of your resources
Biting off more than you can chew doesn’t always come naturally or feel intuitive, which is why you should take advantage of your resources. In PR agency environments, we’re fortunate to have access to many mentors, learning opportunities, and valuable resources that are made for this moment – remember, you’re not figuring everything out alone!
Try asking a colleague if you can shadow them while they work on a project you might be unfamiliar with. Or when you receive feedback, call your managers to discuss implementation in real-time and internalize the “why” behind their suggestions.
Beyond mentorship, lean into the tools your company has, like research platforms, media insights and analytics tools that can enhance your knowledge. Remember that asking for help isn’t a form of weakness – it’s a strength indicative of the genuine interest and curiosity you have in what you’re doing.
The media landscape and the PR industry are evolving rapidly, giving ambitious PR pros a unique opportunity to grow alongside these changes. High performers that proactively tap into their natural curiosity, take on challenges that accelerate growth, and make the most of their resources – will see those efforts pay off for years to come.
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