Navigating PR agency life: Our top tips for success

• April 11, 2023
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By NGAGE experts Vanessa Stiernholm, Sr. Account Manager, and Jennifer Britton, Sr. Account Director 

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While some of us returned to familiar offices last year, for many just beginning their careers, office culture – and agency life in general – is brand new. 

Without a playbook, these fresh PR pros are navigating a new environment just as they did during the onset of remote work during the pandemic. Back in the office, they’re faced with a new set of challenges and lessons to learn, from office etiquette to navigating in-person meetings and presentations. 

To ensure our junior staff are set up for success, North Strategic‘s NGAGE team of personal branding and professional communications experts recently hosted an Agency 101 “Lunch and Learn” session, where we shared best practices and helpful tips to maintain our positive agency reputation and role as trusted advisors to our clients.   

The Art of Communication 

When things get busy it’s easy to put internal communications on the back burner. However, it’s critical to keep lines of communication open with your teams around deadlines, the status of projects and support needed. Following these tips will ensure you never miss a beat with your teams: 

1. Keep your teams in the know: Let your team know at least two days in advance when possible if you don’t think you’ll meet a deadline​. Keeping your project manager and teams up to date on the status of important deliverables will allow them to share these updates with clients​ and give them peace of mind that you’ve got it covered.
2. Ask for help:  Don’t be afraid to ask for help if you need more support, have a question or think you’ve made a mistake. We’ve all been there!
3. Feedback is your friend: Proactively reach out to your teammates for tips, tricks and work hacks to improve your productivity. This will help you learn and grow in your role. 

Time Management Skills for Agency Life

Time management is something that many struggle with. The good news is that there are many small changes you can implement to make things easier on yourself: 

1. Clarify timing: Before you start work on a project, always clarify the deadline and how long a task should take. Deadlines are often flexible. There is no harm in asking your manager or team lead if a deadline can be adjusted — just do so in advance.
2. Know your workload: Keep lines of communication open with your team regarding your time and workload on other accounts. Don’t over-promise. Be realistic about what you can deliver within a certain timeframe.
3. Stay organized: Find what works best for you to stay organized. Written to-do lists or calendar reminders are great ways to stay on top of deliverables. 

Problem-Solving Skills for Agency Life

Problems and challenges will inevitably arise and that’s OK. It’s how you respond that’s important. Keep the following top of mind to ensure you provide value to your team every step of the way when navigating a challenge or issue: 

1. Be solutions-oriented: Always come to the table with a solution or recommendation​ to address an issue.
2. Be proactive: Where possible, provide your team with regular updates as the situation progresses​. If you’re unable to help right away, flag to your team so they can find additional support.
3. Be informed: It’s OK to ask for guidance if you don’t know the answer or best approach. Asking your team for resources or background materials is a great first step. 

Agency life is fast paced and at times overwhelming, but it’s also exciting and rewarding. You’re never alone. On a team like North Strategic, your colleagues are the best sounding board to help validate your ideas, the best teammates to encourage you, and the best mentors to learn from. These are just a few essential tips and best practices that can help you stand out from the crowd and be an invaluable teammate. 

Interested in joining the team? Learn more about North Strategic today:  

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