This week marks the eighth week of working from home for the Communiqué PR team. We consider ourselves fortunate to have a job that we can perform from home, and that our team is supportive of one another during a stressful and uncertain time. Despite the unforeseen circumstances, the transition to working from home has been relatively painless for our team. We are grounded in our core values, which inform our attitudes and perspective and guide us as we move forward. Without such a clear understanding of what we strive for, I imagine the past eight weeks would have been a lot more difficult.
During a time like this, it may prove beneficial for teams to dust off their core values and find ways to inject their company culture into their day-to-day operations. Outlined below are some of the ways I’ve seen the Communiqué PR team deliver on our core values.
Deliver Superior Results. We have remained dedicated to delivering results for our clients, recognizing the unusual circumstances we are in. I’ve seen an open dialogue between our team and our clients, as we assess changing needs and circumstances.
Embrace Client Service and Partnership. At the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, we were quick to offer support to our clients in developing internal and external messaging about the crisis. We have continued to put our clients first and add value in every interaction.
Collaborate and Work as a Team. We have continued to hold our morning team meetings, in which we often strategize with each other to find solutions to problems and drive results for our clients. When one team tries something new and finds success, we share it with each other in case another account team could benefit.
Nurture a Proactive, Positive Spirit. When an account team experiences a win, we share the win with the rest of the office via email or in virtual meetings and celebrate our accomplishments together. We also encourage each other to continue onward when we feel fatigued and think proactively about next steps.
Think Strategically. Given the unpredictable nature of COVID-19, we have been kept on our toes. As we balance driving results with being sensitive to changing trends, we’ve had to consider multiple perspectives as we think through problems to determine the best solutions.
Foster Creativity. When in the office, we hold meetings to brainstorm creative ideas for our clients. This is a practice that has been ongoing during quarantine. We’ve also shared our setbacks and successes with each other, which has helped team members get out of ruts or see a new way to approach a scenario.
Take Time to Celebrate and Create Fun. Communiqué PR has held a handful of virtual happy hours. One happy hour was to celebrate a birthday, to which one of our team members showed up wearing a party hat. We take time to connect over how we’re staying sane during quarantine and celebrate our personal and professional wins.
Act with Integrity. Working remotely requires self-discipline and integrity to produce quality work and meet deadlines. Our team has continued to work productively and with a consistent set of actions, methods, principles and expectations. Our outcomes are driven by honesty and transparency with each other, our clients and our partners.
Be Respectful. Knowing everyone is under a great deal of stress, we have paid extra mind to show respect to our team members, clients and the media with whom we regularly partner. We understand that everyone is doing the best they can, and respect others’ decisions.
Embrace Growth and Change. The current global health crisis has turned the world upside down and cast a shadow of uncertainty on the future. Communiqué PR has not let that get us down. We are taking each day one at a time and doing the best we can to be flexible as we move forward. The world of public relations is always changing and will continue to do so after COVID-19, and Communiqué PR is prepared to take each change in stride.
Core values support the vision of a company and help shape its culture. They are the essence of the company’s identity. In addition, core values educate clients and potential customers about what the company stands for. Having a strong foundation of values can help teams draw closer together during the highs and lows of the future.
How would you define your company’s core values?