Personable You

Personable: friendly or pleasant in manner; easy to get along with
(According to Merriam-Webster Dictionary)

It's so important to do what makes you happy. Most would consider a sense of personableness a key trait needed for any PR professional, but it surely doesn't stop there. All career paths, including business, marketing, advertising, nursing, sales, language, and art require confidence for success!  Here's three easy ways to embrace that friendly side we know you have:

1. Always say hello - People appreciate and notice greetings more than you would think. Don't you? "Hello" or "Good morning" to anyone you pass in the office or at your part-time job could easily make their day, and will put some pep in your step. If you consider yourself to be on the shy-er side, saying hello is an easy to start to break out of your shell and into a comfortable zone.

(Source: Girl Most Likely)

2. Relate, relate, relate - Understanding the audience is the key to PR and many business fields. Start relating by making conversation with the co-worker next to you, or making sure the client recognizes you are both on the same page; though two different types of situations, both can help in being easy to talk and can bring more projects your way.

3. Be inspired - Inspiration can boost your confidence - in your self, in your goals, and in your work ethic. Often times, inspiration will involve some of your favorite things and ideas, putting you in a good mood or give you a burst of energy. Get inspired by art, words, or stories to continue to work hard for what you want with a smile on your face for the world to see.

(Source: Flickr)

Understanding Leadership in Your Workplace or Organization

This past May, I attended the LeaderShape Institute with Temple University, a six-day long leadership retreat. On the second day of the program, we talked about leadership styles and took the DiSC Classic Personality Test. This test helps you understand yourself and others by giving you a framework for understanding human behavior. DiSC stands for dominance, influence, steadiness, and conscientiousness. After completing the test, you find out the strength of these qualities are in your own personality. 

I found out that I am a “C,” which places an emphasis on work that ensures quality and accuracy. After taking the test and finding out which letter each of us represented, we found that our different strengths in our leadership styles, when combined, are beneficial, especially in your organization or workplace.  Whether you represent dominance, influence, steadiness, or conscientiousness all four of these qualities are needed:

Dominance (D) – This type of person likes getting immediate results, shaping the environment, making quick decisions, managing trouble, solving problems, and questioning the status quo. A person with a dominant personality needs others who use caution, weigh pros and cons, research facts, calculate risks, and recognize the needs of others.

Influence (i) – This type of person likes contacting people, being articulate, creating a motivating environment, generating enthusiasm, and entertaining people. An influencer needs others who respect sincerity, develop systematic approaches, take a logical approach, concentrate on the task, and seek facts.

Steadiness (S) – This type of person enjoys performing in a consistent, predictable manner, demonstrating patience, helping others, showing loyalty, being a good listener, and creating a stable, efficient work environment. A person with this personality needs others who react quickly to unexpected change, apply pressure on others, work well in an unpredictable environment, and are flexible in work procedures.

Conscientiousness (C) – This type of person likes being diplomatic with people, critically analyzing performance, concentrating on details, approaching situations systematically, and weighing pros and cons. This person needs others who delegate important tasks, encourage teamwork, use policies as guidelines, and make quick decisions.

Whichever letter you represent, you bring value to your workplace or organization. You may even have qualities from two or more DiSC areas. As you can see, you need others with different strengths and leadership styles to help make your workplace or organization the best it can be. What type of leader are you? 

This guest blog post was written by PRowl staff member Megan Healy. 

Signs Of A Successful Internship Supervisor

There are dozens of blog posts and articles on do's and don'ts for interns, but very few about the people they report to. An internship supervisor or coordinator has a lot to manage. Not only are they in charge of delegating assignments and keeping interns on track, they also have to fulfill their regular duties as an employee. It is most definitely a balancing act. Even the most diligent and responsible intern can have an awful internship experience if his or her supervisor isn't up to par. 

So before you blame it all on the intern, consider these things about his or her supervisors:

Do they give assignments aimlessly? The purpose of an internship is to learn; becoming more confident in your strengths and overcoming weaknesses. A good internship supervisor will know what his or her intern is good at and what could use improvement. Guidance should always be given when needed to help the intern reach that next level in their skill set. If your supervisor simply shouts an assignment sans explanation or assistance, it may be time to address the issue.

Do they know the intern's goals? When I started my current internship, my direct supervisor asked me what I wanted to accomplish during my time as an intern. This is essential in insuring that an intern gets the best possible experience. The intern's goals should be expressed at the start of the internship, and the supervisor should help the intern achieve them!

Do they give feedback? If you leave an internship with a hundred terrible writing samples, then was it even worth your time? No. It's great when interns get to tackle new assignments and do hands-on work, but without feedback it is all pointless. A supervisor should go over assignments with interns, tell them what's strong and what could use improvement. This is how growth happens, feedback is essential!

Do interns feel comfortable approaching them? Many times, an internship is a college student's first peek into the professional world. An intern may assume that certain things are protocol and be hesitant to speak up or ask questions. It is crucial that supervisors create an environment where interns feel that it is safe for them to ask questions, learn from mistakes, and seek out opportunities. Everyone works better in a peaceful work environment. 

So, does your internship supervisor seem to measure up? If you are a supervisor, do you think you embody these qualities? Share your thoughts!

Smartphone Anonymous

You fall asleep to it every night, and you wake up to it every morning. You obsessively check on it through out the night, and sometimes it even wakes you up. No, it's not your significant other or your child - it's your smartphone. A New York Times article written by Tanya Mohn, "Silencing the Smartphone" discusses how companies are making resolutions to wean their employees off their smartphones by adopting in office policies.

More and more companies are adopting these technology policies in order to keep employees alert, refreshed and balanced. A nationwide survey of 2,254 adults found that 44 percent of cellphone owners had slept with their phone next to their bed and that 67 percent had experienced “phantom rings,” checking their phone even when it was not ringing or vibrating. Contrary to popular belief, these habits actually undermine productivity. In order to combat this vicious cycle, the Chief Executive of Empower Public Relations in Chicago, Sam Chapman, has enforced what he calls a, "BlackBerry blackout policy". From 6 p.m. until 6 a.m., both Chapman and his employees turn off their smartphones. Chapman stated that the policy has increased company productivity and morale.

Still, one of the best pieces of advice I took from the article was from a founder of a startup company who said, “Just because you can e-mail at 2 a.m., doesn’t mean it’s a good thing". I'm not recommending we all go cold turkey but we can probably all agree we should put down the phone every once and awhile.

My name is Cori and I'm addicted to my smartphone, are you?

Landing on Fortune’s “Best Companies to Work For” List

Last week Fortune announced its annual “Best Companies to Work For” list. The morning the rankings were announced, it is safe to say that the PR staff for those who made the cut were buzzing with joy and excitement.

Being on the “Best Companies to Work For” list is a huge deal for a company’s reputation. A simple ranking can help generate positive attention towards an organization, which in turn will attract the best and brightest to want to work there. A company known for treating employees well is often a company well-liked by the public.

However, attaining recognition on this list cannot be something a company’s PR staff simply sets out to achieve. The top ten workplaces all are known for having great communication and trust among employees. These two characteristics cannot be obtained rapidly by doing a quick PR fix.

For Zappos, the online retailer, company-wide initiatives such as the Zfrog program were essential to landing on the list. This program gives all employees the opportunity to pitch new business ideas. 14 other companies stood out for paying 100% of their employees’ health care premiums.

Google topped the list for 2012 with its innovative and diverse company culture definitely playing a role in the ranking.

Here are the top ten workplaces of 2012:
1. Google
2. Boston Consulting Group
3. SAS
4. Wegmans Food Markets
5. Edward Jones
6. NetApp
7. Camden Property Trust
8. Recreational Equipment (REI)
9. CHG Healthcare Services
10. Quicken Loans

Do you work for any of these companies? Does it help for you to feel supported in your work environment? Let us know!

This guest blog was written by PRowl Public Relations staff member Kyra Mazurek.

Take Your Passion and Make It Happen

When you hear the word job, what do you think? There are several answers to this question, most connected to money and making a living. But what about your passion? Is that the same thing as a job? It probably should be, so that you’ll love what you do and ultimately will be better at it.

In today’s society, many people forget about their passion and solely focus on their job in order to make money. It is important to reignite your passion and to find inspiration at work that will lead to success.

In her article, “How to Find Inspiration at Work,” PRowl PR alumni Jessica Lawlor gave readers five tips on how to find or remember their inspiration at work:

1. Decorate your work space: Having a visual of places you’ve been or sayings that you like reminds you of past accomplishments while also adding some color to your space.


2. Break out the warm-fuzzies: There should be a folder in your inbox for compliments and affirmations from other colleagues, supervisors, or even friends. It’s a great way to remind you that you are good at what you do.


3. Create a killer playlist: Music is one of the best motivators out there so get together some of your favorite motivational songs for when you need a pick-me-up. My personal favorite is “A Beautiful Day” by India Aire.


4. Turn to your Social Media: Whether it’s Twitter, Facebook, or Google +, many times people on your social networks provide inspirational stories or quotes that can get you motivated or remind you why you love your job.


5. Take a Walk: I know, we’re all too busy to take 15 minutes out of our day but fresh air and sunlight allow you to feel refreshed and refocused.

Similar to finding inspiration at work, it is important to reignite your fire or passion for what you do. A blog called Zenhabits listed some ways in which to ignite your passion. For me, I’ve seen a few of them like surrounding yourself with passionate people, living outside of your comfort zone, and starting a blog or journal to be successful. When you are around people who love your cause, it instantly lifts your spirits and reminds you that you are a part of something so much bigger than yourself.

Where do you draw your inspiration from? What’s your special secret for reigniting your passion? Let us know!

This guest blog was written by PRowl Public Relations staff member Alex Crispino.