We continue the discussion about career trajectory in the Network. On the heels of the invigorating Connect 2019, the community managers in the Network are discussing how to move both horizontally and vertically within the community space.
This month one of the highlights was a Roundtable call with Marjorie Anderson, the digital communities manager for Project Management Institute. She shared her path from entering the community space to receiving a promotion all while navigating organizational shifts.
One of her words of advice to other community managers is to speak up. She encourages those looking to take on more responsibility to ask to work on projects, to learn on the job, and position themselves for the perfect opening within the company.
Often, community managers are still the authorities on community mindset and practice within their organization. Plotting your trajectory, without a well-defined path is difficult but not impossible. With support from mentors and peers in professional networks such as TheCR Network, many community professionals are finding unique and innovative ways to move up the proverbial latter.
Another exciting Roundtable discussion centered on the parallels between journalism and community. We were joined by Anita Zielina, Director of News Innovation and Leadership at Craig Newmark J-School at CUNY. This inspiring discussion focused on how journalism and community have a shared value of centering people and the stories that inform their lives.
Lead community manager Kelly Scholl also discussed her experience attending the first annual Engagement Innovation Summit, focusing on what journalists can learn from communities in the healthcare sector. This reciprocal relationship between journalism and community lends itself to some important lessons about human behavior, and more importantly how to form more authentic and useful relationships.
With the continuous work of reporting, strategic planning, tactical and operational tasks, it is necessary to pause from time to time and return to the core of what we do as community professionals. Remembering that human connections underpin all we do is vital to ensuring that our work remains on focus, and can help to rejuvenate us when we are experiencing challenges.
In the Network, we regularly share and celebrate the wins we experience in community. Many of which have the most impact when they are focused on how community made a lasting impact on someone’s life. Whether it answered a questions, saved time, helped foster an introduction or deepen a connection, community is at its best when it is helping people feel and do their best.
