Melissa Agnes leading a discussion about crisis communications |
As such, I believe in and agree with Tom’s mission with PIO Chronicles: To provide relevant information and helpful insights to the PIO and emergency management community. But Tom and others like him can only go so far. It’s your dedication to continual education that will enable you to continue to be the best PIO you can be.
The PIOs commitment to staying relevant
PIOs have such an important role in crisis and emergency management and as their tasks continue to evolve, so must their understanding, planning and skills. So how can you commit to this continued education - for both yourself and the different members of your teams and partners?Here are some considerations:
Commit yourself to staying up on the latest trends, apps and technology. Opportunity is everywhere, you just have to spot it. The trick to spotting it is to keep abreast of:
- Who your audiences are; and
- Where / how they prefer to receive their information.
A great example is BBC’s new WhatsApp strategy for delivering timely, helpful and informative updates to West Africans on Ebola.
The WhatsApp logo |
By understanding who your target audiences are and the apps, tools and technology they use regularly, you will enable yourself and your team to strategize efficient and effective communication possibilities in an emergency.
Note: This is a continual challenge, and something that should be part of your daily thoughts and considerations prior to experiencing an emergency.
Continue to challenge yourself
Continuing to challenge yourself is a dedication to continued self-growth and education. It’s also the mark of great PIO. Here are some ways to facilitate this task:
- Subscribe to the right blogs
- Listen to the right podcasts
- Read the right books
- Keep up-to-speed on the latest emergency events and case studies taking place around the world
- Continue to build your network and connect with great minds
Study up on the latest trends and tools |
Go beyond your own education to better do your job
Your own continued education is the first step. But you also have to make sure that the rest of your team understands both today’s crisis realities and your challenges and tasks, if you’re going to continue to grow and work together efficiently.
As a PIO, communication is a skill and an asset. However, it’s not just about external communication or emergency communication. The more regularly you communicate with your team and keep them in the loop of the realities and challenges you face as a PIO, the better and more efficiently you will be able to work together. Not to mention learn from one another and grow as a stronger team.
Melissa Agnes
President and Co-Founder
Agnes + Day
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