Reminder – Not Everyone Knows What You Know

This week I had a client media training sesh and it was one of those days that reminds you why you do what you do.

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This particular group has a really significant role in our community, and speaking with the media is a regular part of the job. Sometimes they get to talk about something positive, but often they're being asked to comment on difficult situations and explain complex issues in a way that is clear and easy for the public to understand.

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It's intense. Just like the rest of their work.

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Most people don't spend their days being interviewed by journalists, and even those who do can find it challenging. You're trying to think about the facts, the audience, the message you want to get across and the questions you might be asked – all while trying not to say um or show any signs of being nervous. Not easy.

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What impressed me most with these guys was how willing they were to get involved. They threw themselves into the training, asked great questions and really supported each other – especially through my “slightly challenging” prac section. And at the end, I knew they’d really taken something away from it – mainly because they told me so!

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Driving home afterwards, I found myself reflecting on how easy it is to overlook the value of the skills we have – because we use them every day.

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For me, communications and marketing are all literally a normal work week. I've spent years learning those skills, practising them and helping others to develop them. But watching someone walk away feeling more capable and confident was a reminder that the things we know anddo every day can have a genuine impact on other people.

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When you're busy trying to keep up with work, family, commitments and the endless list of things that need doing, it's easy to focus on what hasn't been done yet. The jobs still sitting on your list. The emails you haven't answered. The projects you're still working through.

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What we often don't stop to think about is the difference we've already made.

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Chances are you've helped someone this week. It may have been something that felt small or routine to you, but it could have made a real difference to them. Sometimes it's worth taking a moment to remember that.

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