Category: At work

Six Public Relations Tricks You Can Use On a Toddler

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I am one of those fortunate college grads of my generation who landed a job in her chosen field upon graduation. Not everyone gets to do that, nor does everyone want to. For me, Public Relations was a natural fit. I loved to write, I loved to talk and I loved to plan. As a working mom and public relations professional, I’ve come to the realization that being a PR Pro is not unlike parenting a toddler. Let me explain.

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Along with years of experience, hard work and expertise in relationship-building, communications professionals have picked up a few tricks of the trade. But, you don’t have to be a pro to use them. Here are six PR tricks that also work on toddlers.

  1. Distraction
    There’s a reason this is number one. I consider this a gift in disguise: a toddler’s inability to focus on whatever task you want her to do. Her easily distracted personality means you also can point out a shiny object if she is heading the wrong direction, pulling the dog’s tail or otherwise losing her mind.
  2. Plan for A, B, and C
    Would you plan an outside event without a indoor option? Then why would you take a toddler to the doctor’s office without a bag of toys and books to distract her from the impending doom that is the stethoscope? As long as you’re filling up your bag with books, you may as well add a snack, a change of clothes and extra socks because who knows where she put hers when she took them off in the car. And let’s be honest – her adorable little feet can be embarrassingly stinky sometimes.
  3. Spin
    Me: “Green beans ARE yummy. See, watch Mommy eat them. Yummmmm!”
    Toddler, staring blankly at me, doesn’t break eye contact as she feeds the green beans to the dog.
  4. Flexibility
    Literal: I’ve personally kicked the dryer door closed while standing at the refrigerator looking for non-expired yogurt just as my 2-year-old was about to deposit our cat into the spin cycle.

    Figurative: You had grand plans for an organic breakfast and a lovely stroll around the farmer’s market with your adorable family. But your toddler refuses to put on pants. Or shoes. Or her diaper. Go-Gurt and the local playground are looking better and better.

  5. Patience
    Just like in public relations, it can take years to build relationships inside and outside your organization. What’s an agonizing 7-minute “walk” down the stairs (because she doesn’t need your help), when you’ve worked years to build positive media partnerships? Slow and steady wins the race.
  6. Fear
    Just kidding. Sort of.
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Five reasons moms make great managers

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Let me preface this by pointing out that I, myself, am not a manager. I have experience managing people (thank you, summer lifeguarding job), but not as an adult in the corporate world. I did spend the summer informally supervising our team intern, which has given me a peak into the role, and I LOVE it. That being said, I’ve had some fabulous managers and some not-so-fabulous managers and because I work in a the heavily-female world of communications, most of my managers just happened to be mothers.

I think we often overlook skills that moms have as being valuable in the workplace because they are considered “soft skills.” We sometimes feel like to be successful in a male-dominated workforce, we have to act more like men. Here are five reasons the skills we acquire as mothers make us great manager
Untitled Infographic1. A mom can multitask LIKE A BOSS (no pun intended). I know, I know, researchers will tell you there is no such thing as “multitasking,” we are really just switching from task to task very quickly. I bet that researcher has never replied to an email with one hand from home while nursing a sick baby in the other.

2. Moms are nurturing.
I’m not saying you need to hold your employees’ hands and walk them to the playground, err, conference room, but there’s something to be said for having a boss who takes a personal interest in your career and goes out of her or his way to help you further it.

 

3. When it comes to work-life balance, moms get it.
Whether you have a sick relative, are preparing for the birth or adoption of a child or caring for an aging parent, life gets in the way of work. Moms are constantly riddled with guilt thrust upon us by nature or nurture (I’m not getting into that debate right now) so we understand the need for flexibility at the office. With technology that tethers us remotely wherever we go, there’s no excuse not to allow flexible work schedules in your office.

4. Moms are the hardest working people you will ever meet.
Long hours and late nights don’t necessarily make you a good employee, but we’ve been there. Did you bring your baby home from the hospital only to have your little cherub sleep through the night immediately? I didn’t think so. Moms know hard work, sleepless nights and selflessness better than anyone. Caring for a child is a full-time job and all you SAHM, you’re doing incredible work!

5. Moms know that poop happens.
Didn’t get that contract? Lost an important client? Ticked off the head honcho? Yeah, that sucks. But it’s not the end of the world. Most moms have literally been pooped on and it’s not a pleasant experience. But it’s also not the end of the world. Grab a baby wipe and move on.

 

**This is not to say that single, childless men are bad managers. On the contrary – I’ve had bosses who have never been married, have no children and are some of the most understanding people I have ever worked for.

Monday Momspiration – You got this

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MM5

 

Mondays are tough. Mondays after a holiday are even tougher. You have to get up, look presentable (preferably in something clean that matches), get the kids up, fed, dressed and in the car, deal with a meltdown because your toddler wanted her white puppy, not her pink bunny, and try to remember your work bag, laptop, car keys and anything else you need for the day. Once you finally pry your screaming child off your leg and slink guiltily out the daycare door, you have to go to work and act like an adult.

It’s times like this that it’s important to remember that your kid’s class is full of parents doing the exact same thing as you. So, get a cup of coffee, sit down at your desk and breathe. You got this.

Monday Momspiration – Kids are like VISA

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MM3

Sometimes it’s a blessing. When you’ve had a tough day, thinking about your toddler’s silly laugh makes you smile. Sometimes it can be painful when you realize she’s hitting milestones and you’re working on a deadline rather than watching her eat grilled cheese for the first time. Good or bad, we carry our children in our hearts wherever we go; they’re everywhere we want to be.