An Open Letter to Mid-Level Corporate Professionals
It’s a Sunday afternoon and it feels like it arrived too quickly again. There is a shift of mood. It happens unconsciously but with incredibly consistent timing. In the background of your mind there is a dull sense of dread. You may or may not directly recognize it as being related to the upcoming work week, but if you were to track this symptom you would clearly see that it’s worse leading into weeks that you anticipate to be difficult. Some call it the Sunday Blues, some call it the Sunday Scaries, but even people who don’t know what it’s called can recognize this feeling.
Work shouldn’t be this hard and it shouldn’t be a source of dread or a barrier to living the life you want.
The Vision of KO Communication is to eliminate the Sunday Scaries by teaching mid-career professionals workplace communication skills that make work easier and more fun.
Why Communication?
Improving workplace communication skills helps you achieve objectives with less friction. Work is more fun when you aren’t wasting energy worrying about what to say or if you said something wrong. Success in corporate companies requires understanding of how to tell the business story in ways that influence others and inspire action. In short, communicating better at work is the key to making work easier, more effective, and more enjoyable.
Why mid-level professionals?
Mid-level is the most challenging place to be in corporate America. Entry level colleagues have well defined jobs where success is more directly within their personal control. When you move into mid-level, jobs get more ambiguous and your success depends not only on your hard work but on your ability to influence and motivate others. Communication gets more complicated.
There is a support gap since most out-of-the box communication is too basic and advanced coaching and development experiences are reserved for senior executives and C-Suite. To top it off, you’re now expected both to do the work and to lead the work… execute well and do more with less, while also being a visionary and strategic contributor. This leaves minimal time for professional development. Mid-career professionals need tailored communication training that fits their workweek and reality.
Anyone can become a powerful communicator
The biggest myth about workplace communication is that some people are ‘natural born’ communicators, pre-disposed to being polished and articulate, while other aren’t… and if you' aren’t, there isn’t much you can do about it. Communication is a skill, and any skill can be improved with practice.
The second biggest myth is that there is one right way to communicate at work. You don’t have to emulate a specific style that doesn’t feel right. You can find your most effective communication style through practice and reflection in real situations. You can become a powerful communicator with intentional practice.
The Mission of KO Communication is help mid-career corporate professionals fast-track communication skill building through training and consulting that fits their reality and workweek. Using micro-learning and a test-and-learn approach, I empower busy professionals and teams to practice skills in real work situations, building confidence as communicators so they can make work easier, more effective, and more fun.
If you’re consistently feeling the Sunday Scaries, I invite you to consider if improving your workplace communication skills could change the way you experience work. I’m here for you and your team and have many free and paid options to help you reach your goals.
FOLLOW ME ON INSTAGRAM @KO.Communication This is where I share content most frequently and I’m accessible by DM to answer your specific workplace communication questions.
DOWNLOAD FREE JOURNAL PROMPTS HERE Reflecting on your every day experiences is a habit that turns your work day into an opportunity or growth. These journal prompts will help you get started.
LISTEN TO WORKPLACE COMMUNICATION EPISODES OF THE OPPOSITE OF SMALL TALK PODCAST WITH THIS SPOTIFY PLAYLIST Once a month I release a solo episode of the podcast where I go deeper into a workplace communication strategy that you can start using right away to make work easier.
BOOK A CALL HERE To learn more about 1:1 Consulting, Team Training, or Workshops it’s best to have a call together so that I can hear about your unique situation to see if these programs are a good fit.
Conclusion
If you were to search #corporatelife on any social media platform you’d find a plethora of memes, skits, and rants about toxic bosses, endless meetings, and unreasonable workloads. While I know these things exist, I also know that a faceless corporation is a helpful scapegoat. You have more control than you think in creating a work experience that is easier and dare I say it, enjoyable. A great first step is to improve workplace communication skills, which will make your Sundays a lot less scary.
Related Blogpost: