Unleashing Your Communication Potential: Saying “No” to Elevate Your Expertise
Leading a business function when you lack the right education and expertise can be challenging. This is the position communication practitioners may find themselves in. For reference, communication practitioners are those who deliver communication for their organizations and likely don’t have formal training or experience in communication skills or strategy.
I once worked for a communication practitioner who found himself in this predicament and decided the best course of action was to position Communications as the team that “got things done.” Not specifically communication things—but just whatever requests were sent their way. This individual was so focused on covering up his lack of expertise in the communication function that his approach was simply to make himself useful. And never say, “No.”
To top it all off, this communication practitioner refused to engage in any professional development that would increase his expertise. My advice: don’t take this approach. Instead, do this:
Increase your expertise—If you’re a communication practitioner and seek to become a professional, pursue an undergraduate or graduate degree from an accredited university, obtain certifications through reputable organizations like Ragan Communications, or explore a combination of on-demand training and live coaching from organizations like Kademy.
Find a mentor or coach —If you’re not working with a communication professional who can mentor you, explore mentorship programs like the one from ICology. Engaging a communication coach or consultant are also great options for gaining professional expertise and insights.
Embrace the power of “no”—It’s perfectly acceptable to say “no” to requests that are outside your scope of work and aren’t communication-related. As you build and lean into your expertise, it will become easier to create boundaries around what you do and don’t do.
In internal communication, transitioning from “no” to confident leadership can be transformative. Invest in expertise, seek mentors, and embrace “no” to enhance your professional growth and boost your organization’s success. Start your journey today, mastering when to say “yes” and, more crucially, “no.”
