The morning of the last day was a hands-on session, and I chose “Developing your Elevator Pecha! Are you Open4Learning?” during which Elena Underhill and Kyle Hunter from BCIT presented the “Elevator Pecha:” a mash-up of Pecha Kucha and the Elevator Pitch which consists of 10 slides, 10 seconds each.

Jo and Samantha (both from Royal Roads University) and I collaborated on an Elevator Pecha. In 25 minutes, this is what we came up with:

In this instance, I added in some words that I used when I gave the presentation, because I thought the photos without the narrative might be inscrutable without context.

This is the real nub: what’s the point of putting slideshows online so people can view them in isolation? Presentations are not about the slides, they are about the presenter.

Alan Levine, the keynote presenter at this ETUG conference, made this point clear by way of example. He spoke without notes, and showed his collected stories in the form of short videos. He also does his keynote justice by presenting all the videos on his blog.

I met Alan three weeks ago at the Online Community Enthusiasts day in Vancouver. There, we got into a discussion about bringing playfulness to events. As it turns out he had written a post last November arguing that people who make presentations really need to learn some improv skills rather than Powerpoint skills.

Hear hear! I had popped in on Alan’s blog before, now I am a subscriber.

I am a half decent public speaker, but my background is in radio broadcasting. I have a fear of speaking off the top of my head, and I have a terrible head for memorization. I need that piece of paper (or more recently my Evernote notes on my iPhone) as a crutch. It’s a shortcoming I’m acutely aware of in my spoken word poetry, but I’ve been lackadaisical about improving on it.

However, my Elevator Pecha went extremely well because it was so focused and concise. I sense a crack in the dam in terms of my performance skills! Elena took video of everyone delivering their Elevator Pechas that day. If she posts them online I’ll share the video, and you can judge for yourself, and see the presentation in context, the way it was meant to be delivered.

Last Wednesday December 8 we took the day to do just that: sit down and talk with one another about how we do the things we do. This was my first All Staff gathering as a BCcampus employee, and as the Communications Manager, I was the organizer. (Uh – no pressure!)

I decided to loosely model the day in an “unconference” format, but instead of having people pick topics when they arrived, in the weeks leading up to the day I used email and the corporate wiki to gather feedback, questions, ideas and tips on what we should talk about. I tried to create a loose, flexible structure to give staff the leeway to set the agenda, contribute as much as they could.

The result was success – I wrote a post about it on our corporate blog, you can read it here.

I don’t doubt this is the case in David Hume’s Citizen Engagement group and other pockets of government, however that’s a tough row to hoe for most of the public service. Ok, to tell the truth, as a former government worker (for 4 years) my first reaction to that statement was “What planet is he on? This isn’t government right now, not in BC!”

I used to give mini-media relations seminars to front line government workers where the only thing I wanted them to remember was “NO SURPRISES,” meaning, everything anyone said in a public forum had to be told to the communications people first, so the Minister could be prepared. For every public meeting there is (depending on the deputy and the Minister involved) a small forest of trees cut down preparing approved messaging, briefing notes, information binders, etc.

So while it’s true that 21st century knowledge workers are also citizens, they indeed are butting up against 19th century government, as David mentioned. How are we going to fix it?

I was pleased David offered some answers: cheaper, better, faster and more efficient ways of doing things will be found no matter what – people disobeying their bosses or in resource-constrained environments will be forced to innovate using new social technologies.

During my time in government I saw many examples of conscientious government workers keeping in close contact with their diverse stakeholder groups, mainly by phone (because the best relationships are still formed in person after all), when preparing new regulations or contemplating new initiatives. They developed relationships of trust where they could share limited amounts of sensitive information and trust each other not to use it to embarrass the other. I was so impressed and inspired when I saw that happen.

I also saw the opposite: people so afraid of approaching constituent groups in person that they dug themselves and their minister an issue-laden hole so deep it nearly paralysed the process: all because they were afraid to share with stakeholders and citizens.

Chris Rasmussen alluded to this in his keynote later in the morning: that an environment of fear (of losing one’s job because of government cuts or restructuring) makes people quite conservative and protective of their turf.

I also saw decisions come seemingly ex nihilo from on high that front line workers could not explain to their stakeholders. It made them feel helpless and frustrated to be ordered to implement decisions no one asked for or requested, seemingly at the whim of their leadership.

How do we make innovation and openness happen every single day? It has a lot to do with leadership, and it comes from the top as well as the rank and file, and it starts also with elected officials and senior (Deputy and Assistant Deputy-level) bureaucrats embracing change, being more tolerant of failure and willing to give up control of the process to a certain extent.

I know I’m sounding a little pessimistic, and I don’t mean to. Today’s conference was certainly a bright light and possibly the start of real change.

But certainly, we as citizens must keep asking more of our leadership.

This time, the administrators of the program at the post-secondary institution asked me to give an interview. I prepared my responses and have turned them into a four-part series of blog posts directed at students. The second question they asked was:

What makes a cover letter and a resume really stand out?

———-

So, you’re a student in a communications program looking for a co-op work term placement. How can I tell from your resume you might be a good fit for my organization?

There are three things you must do:

1. Rewrite your cover letter and resume to tailor it to the position.
2. Re-jig your cover letter and resume to showcase your specific skills relevant to the position.
3. Read the job posting carefully and highlight up front your skills and experience that relate directly to the position.

Get the picture? I can’t stress this enough. I posted my last work term position in four post-secondary institutions asking specifically for a writing/communications student. It was a concise posting wherin it was clear I was looking for writing ability and web-based publishing skills.

I received around 75 resumes, many of which were from students in programs other than communications (I didn’t even read those). I would venture to guess many of them didn’t even read the job posting all that carefully.

I imagine they found summer work at one of the many restaurants and tourist attractions on the Island and lower mainland …

I interviewed two (2) students whose resumes, cover letters and web site links stood out.

Two. Out of 75.

Did I say I don’t have all day? I was serious about that, and my organization isn’t nearly as busy as many larger employers. I can think of dozens more managers and directors of communications who are ten times busier than I was this past spring.

Bottom line: if you have what I’m looking for, don’t assume I’ll comb through your resumé to find it. I simply won’t. Government recruiters often must read through and score each and every applications they get – they have my sympathies – and they’ll still score yours lower if you make them work too hard.

Include a summary at the top stating your relevant skills as they related to the job posting. Re-iterate those same skills in your cover letter. Make it brief. I’m busy.

This time, the administrators of the program at the post-secondary institution asked me to give them an interview. I prepared my responses and have turned them into a four-part series of blog posts directed at students. The first question was:

“Thinking about the co-op students you have hired in the past, what skills, abilities and attitudes have they demonstrated that have encouraged them to have a successful work term?”

So, you’re a student in a communications program looking for a co-op work term placement. How can I tell you’ll be a good hire for my organization?

Skills:

Writing writing writing! Not only great stories well-told, but examples of your writing using correct spelling and grammar. I’m looking for a nascent wordsmith. You do not have to write masterpieces, but you do have to show some budding talent. Writing as a craft can be honed, but usually there is some innate material to work with.

For those of us who have always aspired to work with words and stories, who write because we simply must, our calling and our passion for the written word shows in everything we write, whether it’s a letter to the editor, a blog entry or a series of Twitter posts. I have had one or two employees who simply did not have “it,” and those are difficult conversations to have, but for the most part, we get into this profession because we simply love to write.

Abilities:

Demonstrate your experience with computer programs, both web-based and print publishing, beyond “I have a Gmail account and use it daily.” Seriously, I have read resumes that list that particular “skill” and I am surprised at the number of second and third-year students who, contrary to pop-culture stereotypes, demonstrate very little computer savvy.

How do you demonstrate your computer savvy-ness?

• Set up a blog using WordPress or Drupal or some other content management system, and make it look nice. It doesn’t matter what the content is as long as it’s inoffensive to at least 70 per cent of the population.
• Use it to showcase your passion, talent and skill. It will shine through that skateboarding video you did for the neighbourhood guys or that paper you aced. Did you set up a database in your last job? Great, add a post about that too.
• Don’t have a blog yet? Start one! But in the meantime, have great examples in a portfolio, including writing samples, screen shots and links to your work.

Attitude:

Be a team player (really, it’s not just a buzz word) while at the same time demonstrating self-reliance.

My most recent hire required the student employee to work from home on a laptop we provided. I was looking for evidence of someone who is highly self-directed, yet conscientious and accountable for results.

I was not disappointed. Jenna hit all her deadlines – in fact she was much more efficient than I had anticipated, finishing well before deadline much of the time – and she made sure to ask me if there was anything else she could do when she ran low on work. She had a lot of questions about how to go about doing her work, which was fine, but she didn’t need constant supervision. She struck the perfect balance between her learning needs and my organization’s need for an extra pair of hands.

Your great attitude will show through if you are a good communicator and have a blog (that you have set up on your own time – added bonus!) or a portfolio to show a potential employer. It will also shine through during your interview, a topic to be covered in a further post.

Upcoming posts in this series:

• What makes a cover letter and a resume really stand out?
• What are the benefits of networking?
• What are the key points to a successful student interview?

I’ve always referred to myself as a journalist-turned-”mercenary.” Since my brief career as a journalist, what have I as a communications practitioner contributed to the world? The “eduskunk” I work with insists my work is valued and welcomed, which helps, and the only direction to move is forward.

What if someone started trying to transform Communications? Is there a “CommPunk” movement akin to the “EduPunk?” Or is citizen journalism/blogging/social media altering the landscape enough as it is – pulling the corporate communicators along?

What does open content mean for communications practitioners? What would have to change in public relations, internal communications, media relations, stakeholder and client relations – in order to bring the ideals of democratic, share-alike community-building to a profession reviled for being simply “spin?”

Something tells me I’m in the right place to find some answers to those questions. Here is the Twitter exchange between me and my boss today at the Northern Voice blogging conference:

But Friday afternoon, two weeks into my new job, raring to go, with 3 tasks left on my Top 5 for the day (including assembling, printing and mailing my expense forms), I still had not managed to get my new printer working after two hours of frustration.

Flummoxed. Laid flat. Humbled. Defeated.

I mourned the lost hours I could have spent writing the strategic communications plan, a job description for the co-op student I want to hire, or mapping out a schedule of internal and external blog posts.

I sent a pleading email to my new boss in Vancouver: “do we have any tech support at all?”

Answer: no, not really. We have software engineers and geeky techie people coming out the yin-yang at BCcampus – we’re all supposed to be highly computer literate. Maybe somebody in Victoria can help you, he said, and if you’re really stuck yes we can bring in someone to look at your system (and if you’ve figured out email for iPhone let me know, he added sheepishly.)

At first I was aghast: all the hours I’ve “wasted” when I could have been doing My Very Important Job – does it make sense to leave my computer workings to me alone? Why can’t I just call someone and have them deal with it?

Later that day I met up at the pub with some of my old colleagues from government. “How’s your new job going?” they asked.

“Great!” I said, “I’m writing the comms plan and there are so many cool, innovative things I get to put in place: linking the strategic plan within the very fabric of the internal and external web site, real-time measurement, interactive calendars, blogging functions, a stakeholder survey — all the stuff I couldn’t do when I was with government!”

Then it hit me: the reason I was so frustrated with my computer and printer issues. I had been domesticated.

For over four years (in contrast to my career before that – a blog post for another day) I was never my own systems administrator. My computer, blackberry, software, printer and LAN connections were provided to me within the strict confines of Policy. I couldn’t download the tools I like best: Skype, Evernote, Scrivener, Skitch, Tweetie, etc. At one point, for a brief time, even shortened URLs were blocked.

Don’t get me wrong: because of the people I worked with (including my incredible boss) I was able to do some of my best work while at government, and I was able to innovate, to a point. I implemented the very first Facebook group from the BC government three years ago; and in the process contributed in a concrete way to the discussion about whether to block – or use – social networking sites within the public service.

But still – I had been coddled and grain fed and confined to my cubicle and the Help Desk line for so long I forgot what it means to be self-reliant.

Now I’ve come fill circle. I’m back in a small organization with no Shared Services or Help Desk to come to my rescue. When I came on board I was asked what hardware and software I needed in order to do my job, and I eagerly took the iPhone, MacBook Pro and HP printer. I installed Office and got it working (after 2 tries); I configured my work email and calendar and sync’d to my iPhone.

I am NOT alone, not really. My new coworkers are ready to help – I need only ask. Besides, it’s early days and I’m still getting my feet under me in my new role. It’s OK for me to relax and get settled comfortably, to let the process happen and not feel like I have to Perform, Right now!

More importantly: I have a measure of autonomy I longed for but did not have in my previous job. I had forgotten – with freedom comes responsibility.

If having freedom to work creatively means being more self-sufficient, then I gladly embrace the trade-off.

Photo by Kodomut (licensed under Creative Commons)

I have not used this blog to write about my work as a communications professional; primarily because the past four years have been spent writing communications advice, speeches and news releases for the provincial government (I was in the Public Affairs Bureau). I enjoyed the work, learned a great deal and made some great friendships and connections with very talented PR professionals, but I was also somewhat disconnected from the fruits of my labour.

In short, I was putting words in someone else’s mouth and providing advice on how to defend policies or decisions with which, at times, I disagreed. Even when I did support the programmes about which I was writing (which was, happily, most of the time), confidentiality and political sensitivities prevented me from even talking about what I was working on.

That’s about to change. BCcampus is an innovative organization that connects 25 post-secondary institutions across the province using web-based technologies. Collaboration and therefore transparency are the operational imperatives. I’m delving into online learning, educational technology, web-based business applications I could only have dreamed about when I was a grad student fifteen years ago.

This job will feed the geek and the academic within me. I’m looking forward to sharing more of my professional life here.

I started working for the government of B.C. four years ago. My first assignment was preparing for media coverage for the 2006 Games. Now, I am leaving government for another position, and one of my last assignments is preparing for media coverage during the 2010 Games.

One door closes, and another one opens. Sometimes it’s the same door …