world of work https://mkpteam.com/ en Secrets to success as a new remote employee – Part 3: How to build the relationship you want (and need) with your manager https://mkpteam.com/blog/secrets-success-new-remote-employee-part-3-how-build-relationship-you-want-and-need-your <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'ds_entity_view' --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'modules/contrib/ds/templates/ds-entity-view.html.twig' --> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'ds_2col_stacked' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * ds-2col-stacked--node--273.html.twig * ds-2col-stacked--node-blog-post-rss.html.twig * ds-2col-stacked--node-blog-post.html.twig * ds-2col-stacked--node-rss.html.twig * ds-2col-stacked--node.html.twig x ds-2col-stacked.html.twig x ds-2col-stacked.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'modules/contrib/ds/templates/ds-2col-stacked.html.twig' --> <div data-history-node-id="273" class="node node--type-blog-post node--view-mode-rss ds-2col-stacked clearfix"> <div class="group-header"> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'links__node' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * links--node.html.twig x links--inline.html.twig * links--node.html.twig * links.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'themes/bootstrap_barrio/templates/navigation/links--inline.html.twig' --> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'themes/bootstrap_barrio/templates/navigation/links--inline.html.twig' --> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'field' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * field--default--node--field-display-title--blog-post.html.twig * field--default--node--blog-post.html.twig * field--default--node--field-display-title.html.twig * field--default--field-display-title--blog-post.html.twig * field--default--blog-post.html.twig * field--default--field-display-title.html.twig * field--default.html.twig * field--theme-ds-field-default.html.twig * field--node--field-display-title--blog-post.html.twig * field--node--field-display-title.html.twig * field--node--blog-post.html.twig * field--field-display-title.html.twig * field--string.html.twig x field.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'themes/bootstrap_barrio/templates/field/field.html.twig' --> <div class="field field--name-field-display-title field--type-string field--label-hidden field__item"><h2><a href="/blog/secrets-success-new-remote-employee-part-3-how-build-relationship-you-want-and-need-your" hreflang="en">Secrets to success as a new remote employee – Part 3: How to build the relationship you want (and need) with your manager</a></h2> </div> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'themes/bootstrap_barrio/templates/field/field.html.twig' --> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'field' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * field--default--node--field-blog-publish-date--blog-post.html.twig * field--default--node--blog-post.html.twig * field--default--node--field-blog-publish-date.html.twig * field--default--field-blog-publish-date--blog-post.html.twig * field--default--blog-post.html.twig * field--default--field-blog-publish-date.html.twig * field--default.html.twig * field--theme-ds-field-default.html.twig * field--node--field-blog-publish-date--blog-post.html.twig * field--node--field-blog-publish-date.html.twig * field--node--blog-post.html.twig * field--field-blog-publish-date.html.twig * field--datetime.html.twig x field.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'themes/bootstrap_barrio/templates/field/field.html.twig' --> <div class="field field--name-field-blog-publish-date field--type-datetime field--label-hidden field__item"> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'time' --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'themes/bootstrap_barrio/templates/field/time.html.twig' --> <time datetime="2023-03-01T12:00:00Z" class="datetime">Wednesday, March 1, 2023</time> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'themes/bootstrap_barrio/templates/field/time.html.twig' --> </div> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'themes/bootstrap_barrio/templates/field/field.html.twig' --> </div> <div class="group-left"> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'field' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * field--default--node--field-blog-main-image--blog-post.html.twig * field--default--node--blog-post.html.twig * field--default--node--field-blog-main-image.html.twig * field--default--field-blog-main-image--blog-post.html.twig * field--default--blog-post.html.twig * field--default--field-blog-main-image.html.twig * field--default.html.twig * field--theme-ds-field-default.html.twig * field--node--field-blog-main-image--blog-post.html.twig * field--node--field-blog-main-image.html.twig * field--node--blog-post.html.twig * field--field-blog-main-image.html.twig * field--image.html.twig x field.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'themes/bootstrap_barrio/templates/field/field.html.twig' --> <div class="field field--name-field-blog-main-image field--type-image field--label-hidden field__item"> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'responsive_image_formatter' --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'core/modules/responsive_image/templates/responsive-image-formatter.html.twig' --> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'responsive_image' --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'core/modules/responsive_image/templates/responsive-image.html.twig' --> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'image' --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'themes/bootstrap_barrio/templates/field/image.html.twig' --> <img srcset="/sites/default/files/styles/max_325x325/public/2023-03/MKP_1200x630_Remote_Part_3_02.jpg?itok=3qMg08Xn 325w, /sites/default/files/styles/max_650x650/public/2023-03/MKP_1200x630_Remote_Part_3_02.jpg?itok=sBaMKvdt 650w, /sites/default/files/styles/max_1300x1300/public/2023-03/MKP_1200x630_Remote_Part_3_02.jpg?itok=LC_hmoBz 1200w" sizes="(min-width: 1290px) 1290px, 100vw" src="/sites/default/files/styles/max_325x325/public/2023-03/MKP_1200x630_Remote_Part_3_02.jpg?itok=3qMg08Xn" alt="Banner with words, &quot;Part 3: How to build the relationship you want (and need) with your manager&quot; and cartoon images of six smiling people in a virtual video meeting" typeof="foaf:Image" /> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'themes/bootstrap_barrio/templates/field/image.html.twig' --> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'core/modules/responsive_image/templates/responsive-image.html.twig' --> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'core/modules/responsive_image/templates/responsive-image-formatter.html.twig' --> </div> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'themes/bootstrap_barrio/templates/field/field.html.twig' --> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'field' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * field--default--node--body--blog-post.html.twig * field--default--node--blog-post.html.twig * field--default--node--body.html.twig * field--default--body--blog-post.html.twig * field--default--blog-post.html.twig * field--default--body.html.twig * field--default.html.twig * field--theme-ds-field-default.html.twig * field--node--body--blog-post.html.twig * field--node--body.html.twig * field--node--blog-post.html.twig * field--body.html.twig x field--text-with-summary.html.twig * field.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'themes/bootstrap_barrio/templates/field/field--text-with-summary.html.twig' --> <div class="clearfix text-formatted field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field__item"><p><em><span><span><span>By Cathy Planchart, Senior Project Manager</span></span></span></em></p> <p><span><span><span>As you know if you read <a href="/blog/secrets-success-new-remote-employee-part-1-put-your-best-face-forward"><span>part 1</span></a> and <a href="/blog/secrets-success-new-remote-employee-part-2-you-make-your-own-success">part 2</a> of this blog series, I recently transitioned from working in my local community of Hancock County, Maine, to working remotely with MKP communications inc., a company based in New York City. For the last 30 years, I have worked in traditional, in-person office environments where I had an office or cubicle and co-workers in close physical proximity. In this environment it was easy to get facetime (note all lower case) with my manager, interact with co-workers on both a personal and professional level, lead meetings around conference room tables where every seat was filled, etc. </span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span><strong>So, how do you build relationships with your manager when you work remotely? How do you make yourself get recognized for your good work in hopes of getting a raise or a promotion? </strong></span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span>As a remote employee, sometimes I experience feelings of isolation and disconnection. I don’t want to bother my co-workers or manager because I don’t know if they are busy, in a meeting, on the phone or out of the office. In a traditional in-person office environment, I could just walk down the hall to see if co-workers are available. But now the only visual I have on them is when we are in a video meeting. So, rather than feeling isolated and stymied, I have become proactive in connecting and communicating, especially with my manager, by doing the following things:</span></span></span></p> <ul> <li><span><span><span>I ask my manager for help and advice when needed, reminding myself that my manager is invested in my success and there is no such thing as a stupid question.</span></span></span></li> <li><span><span><span>Rather than sending a question via email, which may not get a quick response, I call or text my manager. At MKP, we share our personal cell phone numbers and encourage calls and texts. Other companies may use an online chat application. But nothing beats face-to-face communication, so at MKP we often jump onto Teams for a quick video chat.</span></span></span></li> <li><span><span><span>Keeping my manager informed about the work I am doing helps build trust. Managers are most concerned about productivity and getting things done, so maintaining open lines of communication is critical. At MKP, every Friday I deliver to my manager a “to do” list for the upcoming week.</span></span></span></li> <li><span><span><span>Establishing a routine one-on-one meeting with my manager has been very effective. It can be once a week or every other week, but it is a set recurring meeting at the same day/time. This provides an opportunity for me to share my accomplishments (and be recognized for the good work I am doing), what I will be working on and discuss any areas where I am having difficulty. For my manager, it is an opportunity to provide feedback and direction.</span></span></span></li> <li><span><span><span>If my manager has not scheduled a 90-day review with me, I ask for one. I have found there is much to be gained as a new employee by checking in at this milestone, and it is even more important as a remote employee. I come prepared with a list of successes, questions I have and maybe even a few suggestions on how things might be improved. In these review meetings, managers can discuss an employee’s progress to date based on their expectations, share what is going well and provide constructive feedback on areas for improvement. This early check-in helps me adjust my work style, which positions me for future success. </span></span></span></li> </ul> <p><span><span><span><span><span>By taking responsibility for building an effective working relationship with my manager, I can create the type of relationship I want. Again, nothing shared here is reserved only for remote employees. These tactics are equally effective for employees operating in </span></span>traditional, in-person office environments. But,<span><span> taking the initiative to create and nurture the employee-manager relationship you want (and need) is, arguably, even more important for success as a remote employee.</span></span></span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span><span><span>(If you haven’t yet done so, please read </span></span><a href="/blog/secrets-success-new-remote-employee-part-1-put-your-best-face-forward"><span><span>part 1</span></span></a><span><span> and </span></span><a href="/blog/secrets-success-new-remote-employee-part-2-you-make-your-own-success"><span><span>part 2</span></span></a> <span><span>of this blog series!)</span></span></span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span><em>MKP communications inc. is a New-York based marketing communications agency specializing in merger/change communications for the financial services industry.</em></span></span></span></p></div> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'themes/bootstrap_barrio/templates/field/field--text-with-summary.html.twig' --> </div> <div class="group-right"> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'field' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * field--default--node--field-blog-category--blog-post.html.twig * field--default--node--blog-post.html.twig * field--default--node--field-blog-category.html.twig * field--default--field-blog-category--blog-post.html.twig * field--default--blog-post.html.twig * field--default--field-blog-category.html.twig * field--default.html.twig * field--theme-ds-field-default.html.twig * field--node--field-blog-category--blog-post.html.twig * field--node--field-blog-category.html.twig * field--node--blog-post.html.twig * field--field-blog-category.html.twig * field--entity-reference.html.twig x field.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'themes/bootstrap_barrio/templates/field/field.html.twig' --> <div class="field field--name-field-blog-category field--type-entity-reference field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">Blog Category</div> <div class='field__items'> <div class="field__item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/29" hreflang="en">employee engagement</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/50" hreflang="en">world of work</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/30" hreflang="en">team building</a></div> </div> </div> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'themes/bootstrap_barrio/templates/field/field.html.twig' --> </div> <div class="group-footer"> </div> </div> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'modules/contrib/ds/templates/ds-2col-stacked.html.twig' --> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'modules/contrib/ds/templates/ds-entity-view.html.twig' --> Wed, 01 Mar 2023 22:04:02 +0000 max 273 at https://mkpteam.com Making the Leap from Client-Side to Agency-Side Marketing https://mkpteam.com/blog/making-leap-client-side-agency-side-marketing <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'ds_entity_view' --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'modules/contrib/ds/templates/ds-entity-view.html.twig' --> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'ds_2col_stacked' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * ds-2col-stacked--node--271.html.twig * ds-2col-stacked--node-blog-post-rss.html.twig * ds-2col-stacked--node-blog-post.html.twig * ds-2col-stacked--node-rss.html.twig * ds-2col-stacked--node.html.twig x ds-2col-stacked.html.twig x ds-2col-stacked.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'modules/contrib/ds/templates/ds-2col-stacked.html.twig' --> <div data-history-node-id="271" class="node node--type-blog-post node--view-mode-rss ds-2col-stacked clearfix"> <div class="group-header"> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'links__node' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * links--node.html.twig x links--inline.html.twig * links--node.html.twig * links.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'themes/bootstrap_barrio/templates/navigation/links--inline.html.twig' --> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'themes/bootstrap_barrio/templates/navigation/links--inline.html.twig' --> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'field' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * field--default--node--field-display-title--blog-post.html.twig * field--default--node--blog-post.html.twig * field--default--node--field-display-title.html.twig * field--default--field-display-title--blog-post.html.twig * field--default--blog-post.html.twig * field--default--field-display-title.html.twig * field--default.html.twig * field--theme-ds-field-default.html.twig * field--node--field-display-title--blog-post.html.twig * field--node--field-display-title.html.twig * field--node--blog-post.html.twig * field--field-display-title.html.twig * field--string.html.twig x field.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'themes/bootstrap_barrio/templates/field/field.html.twig' --> <div class="field field--name-field-display-title field--type-string field--label-hidden field__item"><h2><a href="/blog/making-leap-client-side-agency-side-marketing" hreflang="en">Making the Leap from Client-Side to Agency-Side Marketing</a></h2> </div> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'themes/bootstrap_barrio/templates/field/field.html.twig' --> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'field' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * field--default--node--field-blog-publish-date--blog-post.html.twig * field--default--node--blog-post.html.twig * field--default--node--field-blog-publish-date.html.twig * field--default--field-blog-publish-date--blog-post.html.twig * field--default--blog-post.html.twig * field--default--field-blog-publish-date.html.twig * field--default.html.twig * field--theme-ds-field-default.html.twig * field--node--field-blog-publish-date--blog-post.html.twig * field--node--field-blog-publish-date.html.twig * field--node--blog-post.html.twig * field--field-blog-publish-date.html.twig * field--datetime.html.twig x field.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'themes/bootstrap_barrio/templates/field/field.html.twig' --> <div class="field field--name-field-blog-publish-date field--type-datetime field--label-hidden field__item"> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'time' --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'themes/bootstrap_barrio/templates/field/time.html.twig' --> <time datetime="2023-02-17T12:00:00Z" class="datetime">Friday, February 17, 2023</time> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'themes/bootstrap_barrio/templates/field/time.html.twig' --> </div> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'themes/bootstrap_barrio/templates/field/field.html.twig' --> </div> <div class="group-left"> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'field' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * field--default--node--field-blog-main-image--blog-post.html.twig * field--default--node--blog-post.html.twig * field--default--node--field-blog-main-image.html.twig * field--default--field-blog-main-image--blog-post.html.twig * field--default--blog-post.html.twig * field--default--field-blog-main-image.html.twig * field--default.html.twig * field--theme-ds-field-default.html.twig * field--node--field-blog-main-image--blog-post.html.twig * field--node--field-blog-main-image.html.twig * field--node--blog-post.html.twig * field--field-blog-main-image.html.twig * field--image.html.twig x field.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'themes/bootstrap_barrio/templates/field/field.html.twig' --> <div class="field field--name-field-blog-main-image field--type-image field--label-hidden field__item"> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'responsive_image_formatter' --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'core/modules/responsive_image/templates/responsive-image-formatter.html.twig' --> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'responsive_image' --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'core/modules/responsive_image/templates/responsive-image.html.twig' --> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'image' --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'themes/bootstrap_barrio/templates/field/image.html.twig' --> <img srcset="/sites/default/files/styles/max_325x325/public/2023-02/MKP_Leap_1200x630_02_0.jpg?itok=NuPrMo5H 325w, /sites/default/files/styles/max_650x650/public/2023-02/MKP_Leap_1200x630_02_0.jpg?itok=9VtVP7im 650w, /sites/default/files/styles/max_1300x1300/public/2023-02/MKP_Leap_1200x630_02_0.jpg?itok=rOcjoCyU 1200w" sizes="(min-width: 1290px) 1290px, 100vw" src="/sites/default/files/styles/max_325x325/public/2023-02/MKP_Leap_1200x630_02_0.jpg?itok=NuPrMo5H" alt="Banner with words &quot;Making the Leap from Client-Side to Agency-Side Marketing&quot; and silhouettes of two women jumping" typeof="foaf:Image" /> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'themes/bootstrap_barrio/templates/field/image.html.twig' --> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'core/modules/responsive_image/templates/responsive-image.html.twig' --> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'core/modules/responsive_image/templates/responsive-image-formatter.html.twig' --> </div> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'themes/bootstrap_barrio/templates/field/field.html.twig' --> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'field' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * field--default--node--body--blog-post.html.twig * field--default--node--blog-post.html.twig * field--default--node--body.html.twig * field--default--body--blog-post.html.twig * field--default--blog-post.html.twig * field--default--body.html.twig * field--default.html.twig * field--theme-ds-field-default.html.twig * field--node--body--blog-post.html.twig * field--node--body.html.twig * field--node--blog-post.html.twig * field--body.html.twig x field--text-with-summary.html.twig * field.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'themes/bootstrap_barrio/templates/field/field--text-with-summary.html.twig' --> <div class="clearfix text-formatted field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field__item"><p><em><span><span><span>By Terry Cole, Director, Communications Strategy and Content</span></span></span></em></p> <p><span><span><span>Or maybe the question is, “Is it really a leap?” Is agency-side marketing really that different from being on the client-side?  </span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span>Before I came to work at MKP, I had been on the client side of bank marketing for a long time (more years than I care to admit!) I’d had the opportunity to work with a number of different agency partners over the years and get a glimpse of agency life, but now, I’m part of an agency team that specializes in financial services marketing communications and I have an insider’s perspective on agency-side bank marketing, too.</span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span><strong>The Marketing Juggling Act </strong></span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span>Bank marketing teams are ultimately responsible for developing and implementing marketing strategies and programs that are aligned with brand and business objectives, and, in so doing, they play a central role in a bank’s success. Whether it’s ensuring a successful launch of new or enhanced products and services, supporting entry into a new market or line of business or driving revenue growth through new customer acquisition or expansion and retention of existing customer relationships, marketing departments often juggle many projects and priorities. The challenges of driving results for multiple lines of business while building and enhancing a strong, cohesive brand that supports the entire bank are often complicated by tight budgets, limited resources and, inevitably, timelines that can only be politely described as less-than-desirable. (Why does everyone want something yesterday?) That’s why having agency partners to complement the internal team—providing more resources and additional expertise—was a must-have for me in my former client-side marketing leadership role.</span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span>I looked to agency partners as just that: partners. Successful agency relationships were those where the agency operated as an extension of our team. They invested time in understanding our business and our brand, brought fresh perspectives and shared insights from their work with other clients, pushed us (nicely!) to explore options and “out-of-the-box” thinking for addressing our business challenges and enhancing our results and delivered compelling creative and marketing communications that were aligned with our brand and strategy. Perhaps most importantly, they cared about our success. And yes, from time to time, they jumped through hoops for us to meet tight timeframes and demands.  </span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span><strong>A View from the Agency Side</strong></span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span>What does all this look like from the agency perspective? While clearly not all agencies (or clients) are the same, I am now part of an agency team that does indeed view itself as a partner to its clients. In my first few months, I’ve experienced the perspective that our bank clients’ customers become our customers, the bank’s objectives and challenges become our objectives and challenges and their success translates into our success, too.  So, we immerse ourselves in the client's brand. We ask lots of questions to gain a complete understanding of the communications needs and requirements. We work hard to create and deliver strategies and programs that inspire the desired response and deliver strong results. And we do everything we can to meet even the most challenging requests and deadlines.  </span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span>So, is agency-side marketing really that different from client-side marketing? For me, the answer is no, it’s not a leap at all. While there are differences, like making recommendations and influencing outcomes as the agency versus making decisions and having accountability for program results as a client, those who love the many rewarding and challenging aspects of marketing can love it from either side.</span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span>The fundamental work we do as marketers—no matter what “side” you’re on—is to create positive perceptions and influence behaviors among a clearly defined target audience. To do it well requires passion, commitment and teamwork. The reality is, whether you are a bank marketer or agency marketer, you are working toward the same goals and there really are no “sides.” Success comes down to a fundamental understanding that we are all on the same team.</span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span><em>MKP communications inc. is a New-York based marketing communications agency specializing in merger/change communications for the financial services industry.</em></span></span></span></p></div> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'themes/bootstrap_barrio/templates/field/field--text-with-summary.html.twig' --> </div> <div class="group-right"> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'field' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * field--default--node--field-blog-category--blog-post.html.twig * field--default--node--blog-post.html.twig * field--default--node--field-blog-category.html.twig * field--default--field-blog-category--blog-post.html.twig * field--default--blog-post.html.twig * field--default--field-blog-category.html.twig * field--default.html.twig * field--theme-ds-field-default.html.twig * field--node--field-blog-category--blog-post.html.twig * field--node--field-blog-category.html.twig * field--node--blog-post.html.twig * field--field-blog-category.html.twig * field--entity-reference.html.twig x field.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'themes/bootstrap_barrio/templates/field/field.html.twig' --> <div class="field field--name-field-blog-category field--type-entity-reference field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">Blog Category</div> <div class='field__items'> <div class="field__item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/27" hreflang="en">marketing</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/50" hreflang="en">world of work</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/22" hreflang="en">brand</a></div> </div> </div> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'themes/bootstrap_barrio/templates/field/field.html.twig' --> </div> <div class="group-footer"> </div> </div> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'modules/contrib/ds/templates/ds-2col-stacked.html.twig' --> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'modules/contrib/ds/templates/ds-entity-view.html.twig' --> Fri, 17 Feb 2023 22:06:30 +0000 max 271 at https://mkpteam.com Secrets to success as a new remote employee – Part 2: You make your own success https://mkpteam.com/blog/secrets-success-new-remote-employee-part-2-you-make-your-own-success <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'ds_entity_view' --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'modules/contrib/ds/templates/ds-entity-view.html.twig' --> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'ds_2col_stacked' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * ds-2col-stacked--node--270.html.twig * ds-2col-stacked--node-blog-post-rss.html.twig * ds-2col-stacked--node-blog-post.html.twig * ds-2col-stacked--node-rss.html.twig * ds-2col-stacked--node.html.twig x ds-2col-stacked.html.twig x ds-2col-stacked.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'modules/contrib/ds/templates/ds-2col-stacked.html.twig' --> <div data-history-node-id="270" class="node node--type-blog-post node--view-mode-rss ds-2col-stacked clearfix"> <div class="group-header"> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'links__node' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * links--node.html.twig x links--inline.html.twig * links--node.html.twig * links.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'themes/bootstrap_barrio/templates/navigation/links--inline.html.twig' --> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'themes/bootstrap_barrio/templates/navigation/links--inline.html.twig' --> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'field' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * field--default--node--field-display-title--blog-post.html.twig * field--default--node--blog-post.html.twig * field--default--node--field-display-title.html.twig * field--default--field-display-title--blog-post.html.twig * field--default--blog-post.html.twig * field--default--field-display-title.html.twig * field--default.html.twig * field--theme-ds-field-default.html.twig * field--node--field-display-title--blog-post.html.twig * field--node--field-display-title.html.twig * field--node--blog-post.html.twig * field--field-display-title.html.twig * field--string.html.twig x field.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'themes/bootstrap_barrio/templates/field/field.html.twig' --> <div class="field field--name-field-display-title field--type-string field--label-hidden field__item"><h2><a href="/blog/secrets-success-new-remote-employee-part-2-you-make-your-own-success" hreflang="en">Secrets to success as a new remote employee – Part 2: You make your own success</a></h2> </div> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'themes/bootstrap_barrio/templates/field/field.html.twig' --> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'field' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * field--default--node--field-blog-publish-date--blog-post.html.twig * field--default--node--blog-post.html.twig * field--default--node--field-blog-publish-date.html.twig * field--default--field-blog-publish-date--blog-post.html.twig * field--default--blog-post.html.twig * field--default--field-blog-publish-date.html.twig * field--default.html.twig * field--theme-ds-field-default.html.twig * field--node--field-blog-publish-date--blog-post.html.twig * field--node--field-blog-publish-date.html.twig * field--node--blog-post.html.twig * field--field-blog-publish-date.html.twig * field--datetime.html.twig x field.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'themes/bootstrap_barrio/templates/field/field.html.twig' --> <div class="field field--name-field-blog-publish-date field--type-datetime field--label-hidden field__item"> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'time' --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'themes/bootstrap_barrio/templates/field/time.html.twig' --> <time datetime="2023-02-16T12:00:00Z" class="datetime">Thursday, February 16, 2023</time> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'themes/bootstrap_barrio/templates/field/time.html.twig' --> </div> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'themes/bootstrap_barrio/templates/field/field.html.twig' --> </div> <div class="group-left"> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'field' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * field--default--node--field-blog-main-image--blog-post.html.twig * field--default--node--blog-post.html.twig * field--default--node--field-blog-main-image.html.twig * field--default--field-blog-main-image--blog-post.html.twig * field--default--blog-post.html.twig * field--default--field-blog-main-image.html.twig * field--default.html.twig * field--theme-ds-field-default.html.twig * field--node--field-blog-main-image--blog-post.html.twig * field--node--field-blog-main-image.html.twig * field--node--blog-post.html.twig * field--field-blog-main-image.html.twig * field--image.html.twig x field.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'themes/bootstrap_barrio/templates/field/field.html.twig' --> <div class="field field--name-field-blog-main-image field--type-image field--label-hidden field__item"> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'responsive_image_formatter' --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'core/modules/responsive_image/templates/responsive-image-formatter.html.twig' --> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'responsive_image' --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'core/modules/responsive_image/templates/responsive-image.html.twig' --> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'image' --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'themes/bootstrap_barrio/templates/field/image.html.twig' --> <img srcset="/sites/default/files/styles/max_325x325/public/2023-02/MKP_1200x630_Remote_Part_2_01.jpg?itok=joB1s8cP 325w, /sites/default/files/styles/max_650x650/public/2023-02/MKP_1200x630_Remote_Part_2_01.jpg?itok=tyVn40m_ 650w, /sites/default/files/styles/max_1300x1300/public/2023-02/MKP_1200x630_Remote_Part_2_01.jpg?itok=oORLoJgm 1200w" sizes="(min-width: 1290px) 1290px, 100vw" src="/sites/default/files/styles/max_325x325/public/2023-02/MKP_1200x630_Remote_Part_2_01.jpg?itok=joB1s8cP" alt="Banner with words, &quot;Secrets to success as a new remote employee – Part 2: You make your own success&quot;" typeof="foaf:Image" /> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'themes/bootstrap_barrio/templates/field/image.html.twig' --> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'core/modules/responsive_image/templates/responsive-image.html.twig' --> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'core/modules/responsive_image/templates/responsive-image-formatter.html.twig' --> </div> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'themes/bootstrap_barrio/templates/field/field.html.twig' --> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'field' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * field--default--node--body--blog-post.html.twig * field--default--node--blog-post.html.twig * field--default--node--body.html.twig * field--default--body--blog-post.html.twig * field--default--blog-post.html.twig * field--default--body.html.twig * field--default.html.twig * field--theme-ds-field-default.html.twig * field--node--body--blog-post.html.twig * field--node--body.html.twig * field--node--blog-post.html.twig * field--body.html.twig x field--text-with-summary.html.twig * field.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'themes/bootstrap_barrio/templates/field/field--text-with-summary.html.twig' --> <div class="clearfix text-formatted field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field__item"><p><em>By Cathy Planchart, Senior Project Manager</em></p> <p><span><span><span><a>As you’ll know if you read </a><a href="/blog/secrets-success-new-remote-employee-part-1-put-your-best-face-forward"><span>part 1 of this blog series</span></a>, I recently transitioned from working in my local community of Hancock County, Maine, to working remotely with MKP communications inc., a company based in New York City. For the last 30 years, I have worked in traditional, in-person office environments where I had an office or cubicle and co-workers in close physical proximity. In this environment, it was easy to get facetime (note all lower case) with my manager, interact with co-workers on both personal and professional levels and lead meetings around conference room tables where every seat was filled.</span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span><strong>So, how do you build relationships with co-workers when you work remotely? How do you make yourself stand out and get recognized for your good work? </strong></span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span>I will be the first to admit that many of the ideas I share below are effective strategies for success in traditional, in-person office environments as well as remote work situations. However, as a remote employee I put more effort, focus and intention into doing these three things.</span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span><strong>Building relationships with my co-workers</strong></span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span>During my first week at MKP, I got some index cards and wrote each co-worker’s name on a separate card. As I learn something about them, I write it on their card. It might be their tenure with the company, their job title, where they went to college, what sports team they like, a hobby, the name of their spouse or dog, their favorite flower or food, etc. I listen during conversations and make notes. </span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span>Getting to know others on a personal level, and letting them get to know you, is how relationships are formed. In a traditional office environment, this can happen organically. In a remote setting, I feel it takes more effort. I use the information I gather to nurture and grow relationships with my co-workers and to ask questions (like, “how is your dog doing?”), which shows I take a genuine interest in them as individuals. The more you know about them, and the more they know about you, the stronger your connection will be.</span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span><strong>Finding something to do when I have nothing to do</strong></span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span>In any job, the workload ebbs and flows, especially in the early days as you move up the learning curve. Rather than folding the laundry, washing the dishes, or prepping the next meal (common distractions for remote employees), I try to find ways to add value to the company. </span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span>Here are four productive things I do when working from home, which help me stand out in a positive way and increase my own success and that of the company.</span></span></span></p> <ol> <li><span><span><span>I complete assignments on time or, better yet, deliver them early. The first few weeks at a new job provide the luxury of some free time on a soon-to-be crowded calendar, which allows me to focus my attention and dive into the work. This is an easy way to quickly impress my manager.</span></span></span></li> <li><span><span><span>I let my manager know when I have capacity (i.e., have nothing to do). This tactic has been very beneficial. I’ve gotten pulled into a new project, invited to participate in additional training and asked to write an entry for the company blog!</span></span></span></li> <li><span><span><span>I volunteer when someone needs help, or something needs to be done. Taking initiative is a positive trait many employers value. By offering to help, it also shows I am a team player. </span></span></span></li> <li><span><span><span>I read all kinds of stuff. Acquiring knowledge about the industry, company and co-workers will always pay off, in my opinion. Therefore, I read industry news publications, dig deep into the company website including reading old blog posts, re-review project documents, poke around on the company server to see what I can learn about work done in the past and learn more about my co-workers by reading their LinkedIn profiles.</span></span></span></li> </ol> <p><span><span><span><strong>Staying “LinkedIn”</strong></span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span>Once my job search was over, I wanted to run, not walk, from LinkedIn. As we all know, those who are seeking employment and those networking for new business rely heavily on LinkedIn. However, once I landed my new (remote) job, I made sure to take the following actions to expand and enhance my relationships on LinkedIn.</span></span></span></p> <ul> <li><span><span><span>Updated my work history to show how proud I am to be part of this new team. </span></span></span></li> <li><span><span><span>Connected with my new co-workers. Once connected, I can view their network and see connections we have in common. I can also learn more about them and their background by reading their profile, and they can learn more about me. </span></span></span></li> <li><span><span><span>“Followed” my new employer on LinkedIn (and other social media) if I didn’t already do that during the interview process. </span></span></span></li> <li><span><span><span>Made a point to like, share and comment on the social media generated by the company. As we know, sharing is the most valuable action. But, before I share, I make the effort to include a comment about why I feel the content has value. </span></span></span></li> <li><span><span><span>Took the time to post my own content on my feed, routinely. I like to choose something relevant to my new job and industry. </span></span></span></li> </ul> <p><span><span><span>Building relationships, adding value to the company and acquiring and sharing information help me as a new remote employee stand out and get recognized. I believe these same strategies to be equally effective in traditional, in-person office environments as well.</span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span>Don’t forget to check out <a href="/blog/secrets-success-new-remote-employee-part-3-how-build-relationship-you-want-and-need-your">p</a><a href="/blog/secrets-success-new-remote-employee-part-3-how-build-relationship-you-want-and-need-your">art 3</a> </span>of this series: How to build the relationship you want (and need) with your manager.</span></span></p> <p><span><span><span><em>MKP communications inc. is a New-York based marketing communications agency specializing in merger/change communications for the financial services industry.</em></span></span></span></p></div> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'themes/bootstrap_barrio/templates/field/field--text-with-summary.html.twig' --> </div> <div class="group-right"> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'field' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * field--default--node--field-blog-category--blog-post.html.twig * field--default--node--blog-post.html.twig * field--default--node--field-blog-category.html.twig * field--default--field-blog-category--blog-post.html.twig * field--default--blog-post.html.twig * field--default--field-blog-category.html.twig * field--default.html.twig * field--theme-ds-field-default.html.twig * field--node--field-blog-category--blog-post.html.twig * field--node--field-blog-category.html.twig * field--node--blog-post.html.twig * field--field-blog-category.html.twig * field--entity-reference.html.twig x field.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'themes/bootstrap_barrio/templates/field/field.html.twig' --> <div class="field field--name-field-blog-category field--type-entity-reference field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">Blog Category</div> <div class='field__items'> <div class="field__item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/50" hreflang="en">world of work</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/30" hreflang="en">team building</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/28" hreflang="en">time management</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/43" hreflang="en">technology</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/29" hreflang="en">employee engagement</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/40" hreflang="en">current events</a></div> </div> </div> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'themes/bootstrap_barrio/templates/field/field.html.twig' --> </div> <div class="group-footer"> </div> </div> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'modules/contrib/ds/templates/ds-2col-stacked.html.twig' --> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'modules/contrib/ds/templates/ds-entity-view.html.twig' --> Thu, 16 Feb 2023 17:52:58 +0000 max 270 at https://mkpteam.com Secrets to success as a new remote employee – Part 1: Put your best "face" forward https://mkpteam.com/blog/secrets-success-new-remote-employee-part-1-put-your-best-face-forward <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'ds_entity_view' --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'modules/contrib/ds/templates/ds-entity-view.html.twig' --> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'ds_2col_stacked' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * ds-2col-stacked--node--269.html.twig * ds-2col-stacked--node-blog-post-rss.html.twig * ds-2col-stacked--node-blog-post.html.twig * ds-2col-stacked--node-rss.html.twig * ds-2col-stacked--node.html.twig x ds-2col-stacked.html.twig x ds-2col-stacked.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'modules/contrib/ds/templates/ds-2col-stacked.html.twig' --> <div data-history-node-id="269" class="node node--type-blog-post node--view-mode-rss ds-2col-stacked clearfix"> <div class="group-header"> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'links__node' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * links--node.html.twig x links--inline.html.twig * links--node.html.twig * links.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'themes/bootstrap_barrio/templates/navigation/links--inline.html.twig' --> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'themes/bootstrap_barrio/templates/navigation/links--inline.html.twig' --> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'field' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * field--default--node--field-display-title--blog-post.html.twig * field--default--node--blog-post.html.twig * field--default--node--field-display-title.html.twig * field--default--field-display-title--blog-post.html.twig * field--default--blog-post.html.twig * field--default--field-display-title.html.twig * field--default.html.twig * field--theme-ds-field-default.html.twig * field--node--field-display-title--blog-post.html.twig * field--node--field-display-title.html.twig * field--node--blog-post.html.twig * field--field-display-title.html.twig * field--string.html.twig x field.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'themes/bootstrap_barrio/templates/field/field.html.twig' --> <div class="field field--name-field-display-title field--type-string field--label-hidden field__item"><h2><a href="/blog/secrets-success-new-remote-employee-part-1-put-your-best-face-forward" hreflang="en">Secrets to success as a new remote employee – Part 1: Put your best &quot;face&quot; forward</a></h2> </div> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'themes/bootstrap_barrio/templates/field/field.html.twig' --> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'field' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * field--default--node--field-blog-publish-date--blog-post.html.twig * field--default--node--blog-post.html.twig * field--default--node--field-blog-publish-date.html.twig * field--default--field-blog-publish-date--blog-post.html.twig * field--default--blog-post.html.twig * field--default--field-blog-publish-date.html.twig * field--default.html.twig * field--theme-ds-field-default.html.twig * field--node--field-blog-publish-date--blog-post.html.twig * field--node--field-blog-publish-date.html.twig * field--node--blog-post.html.twig * field--field-blog-publish-date.html.twig * field--datetime.html.twig x field.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'themes/bootstrap_barrio/templates/field/field.html.twig' --> <div class="field field--name-field-blog-publish-date field--type-datetime field--label-hidden field__item"> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'time' --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'themes/bootstrap_barrio/templates/field/time.html.twig' --> <time datetime="2023-02-08T12:00:00Z" class="datetime">Wednesday, February 8, 2023</time> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'themes/bootstrap_barrio/templates/field/time.html.twig' --> </div> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'themes/bootstrap_barrio/templates/field/field.html.twig' --> </div> <div class="group-left"> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'field' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * field--default--node--field-blog-main-image--blog-post.html.twig * field--default--node--blog-post.html.twig * field--default--node--field-blog-main-image.html.twig * field--default--field-blog-main-image--blog-post.html.twig * field--default--blog-post.html.twig * field--default--field-blog-main-image.html.twig * field--default.html.twig * field--theme-ds-field-default.html.twig * field--node--field-blog-main-image--blog-post.html.twig * field--node--field-blog-main-image.html.twig * field--node--blog-post.html.twig * field--field-blog-main-image.html.twig * field--image.html.twig x field.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'themes/bootstrap_barrio/templates/field/field.html.twig' --> <div class="field field--name-field-blog-main-image field--type-image field--label-hidden field__item"> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'responsive_image_formatter' --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'core/modules/responsive_image/templates/responsive-image-formatter.html.twig' --> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'responsive_image' --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'core/modules/responsive_image/templates/responsive-image.html.twig' --> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'image' --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'themes/bootstrap_barrio/templates/field/image.html.twig' --> <img srcset="/sites/default/files/styles/max_325x325/public/2023-02/MKP_1200x630_Remote_Part_1_01_0.jpg?itok=bHAEKYIe 325w, /sites/default/files/styles/max_650x650/public/2023-02/MKP_1200x630_Remote_Part_1_01_0.jpg?itok=wIt1kxi9 650w, /sites/default/files/styles/max_1300x1300/public/2023-02/MKP_1200x630_Remote_Part_1_01_0.jpg?itok=FNpSqMVq 1200w" sizes="(min-width: 1290px) 1290px, 100vw" src="/sites/default/files/styles/max_325x325/public/2023-02/MKP_1200x630_Remote_Part_1_01_0.jpg?itok=bHAEKYIe" alt="Banner with words, &quot;Part 1: Put your best face forward&quot; and image of clapper board" typeof="foaf:Image" /> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'themes/bootstrap_barrio/templates/field/image.html.twig' --> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'core/modules/responsive_image/templates/responsive-image.html.twig' --> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'core/modules/responsive_image/templates/responsive-image-formatter.html.twig' --> </div> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'themes/bootstrap_barrio/templates/field/field.html.twig' --> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'field' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * field--default--node--body--blog-post.html.twig * field--default--node--blog-post.html.twig * field--default--node--body.html.twig * field--default--body--blog-post.html.twig * field--default--blog-post.html.twig * field--default--body.html.twig * field--default.html.twig * field--theme-ds-field-default.html.twig * field--node--body--blog-post.html.twig * field--node--body.html.twig * field--node--blog-post.html.twig * field--body.html.twig x field--text-with-summary.html.twig * field.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'themes/bootstrap_barrio/templates/field/field--text-with-summary.html.twig' --> <div class="clearfix text-formatted field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field__item"><p><em><span><span><span>By Cathy Planchart, Senior Project Manager</span></span></span></em></p> <p><span><span><span>Recently, I transitioned from working in my local community of Hancock County, Maine, to working remotely with MKP communications inc., a company based in New York City. For the last 30 years I have worked in traditional, in-person office environments where I had an office or cubicle and co-workers in close physical proximity. In this environment, it was easy to get facetime (note, all lower case) with my manager, interact with co-workers on both personal and professional levels and lead meetings around conference room tables where every seat was filled.</span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span><strong>So, how do you build relationships with co-workers and your manager when you work remotely? How do you make yourself stand out and get recognized for your good work in hopes of getting a raise or a promotion? </strong></span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span>I attempt to address these questions in a series of three blog posts. (See <span><a href="/blog/secrets-success-new-remote-employee-part-2-you-make-your-own-success">part 2</a></span> and <span><a href="/blog/secrets-success-new-remote-employee-part-3-how-build-relationship-you-want-and-need-your">part 3</a>.)</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span>MKP hosts a “daily check-in” video meeting at 10:00 AM Eastern Time, every day, Monday thru Friday via Microsoft Teams. This is a carryover from 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic when everyone was working remotely, and the company has continued having this daily meeting because of the value it consistently brings. Personally, I think it is brilliant, especially as a remote employee, and I appreciate the information exchange and enjoy the camaraderie it engenders. We are a small team of 20-25. Daily, a random handful of employees are in the NYC office and log in as a group from a conference room. Other employees log in from Connecticut, New Jersey, Nevada, Maryland, while spending a few weeks in Mexico or from their homes in New York. But everyone is on screen and face-to-face during this precious half hour, mostly with their cameras on. Everyone shows up. We engage in some personal chitchat and connect about the important work tasks on deck for the day.</span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span>As a new remote employee, putting my best face forward on screen during a video meeting is a way to make myself stand out. Here are eight personal rules I follow:</span></span></span></p> <ol> <li><span><span><span><strong>Lights, camera, action!</strong> Before turning on my camera, I make sure my lighting is good, so I don’t look like a shadow on screen (since I am not in a witness protection program) or whitewashed due to too much light. I also position my (computer) camera at a flattering angle, which involves placing my laptop on a 9” stand so I am eye level with the camera. (Trust me, no one wants to look up my nose.)  </span></span></span></li> <li><span><span><span><strong>Choose a background.</strong> Microsoft Teams and similar applications allow you to use a “fake” background behind your onscreen image. I choose to use a fake background because I feel it is more professional (rather than having co-workers look at the mess in my living room). MKP promotes using our branded background. But sometimes I put up something personal during our check in meeting, like a photo from a morning walk in the woods, to spark conversation and share something personal about myself. This helps me stand out and build a personal connection with my colleagues.</span></span></span></li> <li><span><span><span><strong>Being on time is being early</strong>, as my college advisor used to say. I remember the days when I was the first or second person in a conference room as the team was gathering for a meeting. Those moments before the meeting were valuable for connecting with others. I feel arriving early for an online meeting provides the same benefits.</span></span></span></li> <li><span><span><span><strong>Smile, you’re on (candid) camera.</strong> I always turn my camera on and put a smile on my face. Being able to make “eye contact” and see each other’s body language, even facial expressions, is such an important component to human communication. And I’ve learned that smiling makes you look more approachable. When is it OK to turn your camera off? When you feel yourself nodding off during a meeting. (Trust me, I learned this from personal experience, which was quite embarrassing personally, and distracting to others in the meeting.) Grabbing a bite of breakfast? That’s a good time to turn off your camera. And I’m sure there are other times when it is acceptable to turn your camera off, but try, if possible, to keep these exceptions to a minimum.</span></span></span></li> <li><span><span><span><strong>Spend time in the dressing room. </strong>When I know I will be in a video meeting, I take the time to fix my hair and apply a bit of makeup. Personally, I am not one to wear makeup in my daily life. But with poor home lighting and onscreen viewing, a little blush and lipstick provides some “pop” to my digital appearance. I think of myself as the star walking onto a movie set.</span></span></span></li> <li><span><span><span><strong>Make a good wardrobe choice.</strong> I take pride in my appearance and feel it is important to look professional in every interaction. Therefore, I choose to wear professional attire (at least from the waist up). I want to look my best, or, as they say, to dress for success. Most days I wear a nice shirt or blouse with an open sweater or blazer. Then I accessorize. I have chosen to focus on the necklace, as earrings tend to disappear in the “fake” background.</span></span></span></li> <li><span><span><span><strong>Minimize food consumption.</strong> My rule is to keep on screen food/drink consumption to a minimum. No one wants to watch me putting a forkful of food into my mouth, or chewing or taking swigs from a liter-sized soda bottle. Even though I love to chew gum, I make sure to get rid of it before the camera goes on. If I need to eat or drink something during a video meeting, I do my best to be discreet about it, taking small bites or using a straw. Or, even better, going off camera for a minute while I eat or drink.</span></span></span></li> <li><span><span><span><strong>Let your little light shine.</strong> During a video meeting, it is easy to let myself sit on the sidelines and blend into the background. But, when appropriate, I let my light shine by adding something pertinent to the discussion. Participating helps build relationships with co-workers and clients and is an opportunity for me to share my knowledge, experience and unique perspective. At our daily check in at MKP, I may join in a conversation, share something I did recently or ask a team member a question during the “chitchat” portion of the discussion. When we do move on to topics related to work, speaking up is an opportunity to give my teammates a heads-up about an upcoming deadline or draw their attention to an important change in a project.</span></span></span></li> </ol> <p><span><span><span>I am sure you can go online and find many other pointers for remote working and video meeting etiquette, like minimizing distracting home noises by simply putting yourself on mute. (There’s nothing quite like the sound of a barking dog to disrupt a meeting.) So, whether I am in a meeting with co-workers or clients, I always make sure to be camera ready and put my best face forward in every online video interaction. </span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span>Want more secrets to success as a new remote employee? Be sure to read <span><a href="/blog/secrets-success-new-remote-employee-part-2-you-make-your-own-success">part 2</a></span><a> and </a></span></span></span><a href="/blog/secrets-success-new-remote-employee-part-3-how-build-relationship-you-want-and-need-your"><span><span><span><span>part 3</span></span></span></span></a>.</p> <p><span><span><span><em>MKP communications inc. is a New-York based marketing communications agency specializing in merger/change communications for the financial services industry.</em></span></span></span></p></div> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'themes/bootstrap_barrio/templates/field/field--text-with-summary.html.twig' --> </div> <div class="group-right"> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'field' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * field--default--node--field-blog-category--blog-post.html.twig * field--default--node--blog-post.html.twig * field--default--node--field-blog-category.html.twig * field--default--field-blog-category--blog-post.html.twig * field--default--blog-post.html.twig * field--default--field-blog-category.html.twig * field--default.html.twig * field--theme-ds-field-default.html.twig * field--node--field-blog-category--blog-post.html.twig * field--node--field-blog-category.html.twig * field--node--blog-post.html.twig * field--field-blog-category.html.twig * field--entity-reference.html.twig x field.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'themes/bootstrap_barrio/templates/field/field.html.twig' --> <div class="field field--name-field-blog-category field--type-entity-reference field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">Blog Category</div> <div class='field__items'> <div class="field__item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/50" hreflang="en">world of work</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/30" hreflang="en">team building</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/28" hreflang="en">time management</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/43" hreflang="en">technology</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/29" hreflang="en">employee engagement</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/40" hreflang="en">current events</a></div> </div> </div> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'themes/bootstrap_barrio/templates/field/field.html.twig' --> </div> <div class="group-footer"> </div> </div> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'modules/contrib/ds/templates/ds-2col-stacked.html.twig' --> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'modules/contrib/ds/templates/ds-entity-view.html.twig' --> Wed, 08 Feb 2023 16:42:19 +0000 max 269 at https://mkpteam.com From The Classroom to The Boardroom https://mkpteam.com/blog/classroom-boardroom <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'ds_entity_view' --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'modules/contrib/ds/templates/ds-entity-view.html.twig' --> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'ds_2col_stacked' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * ds-2col-stacked--node--254.html.twig * ds-2col-stacked--node-blog-post-rss.html.twig * ds-2col-stacked--node-blog-post.html.twig * ds-2col-stacked--node-rss.html.twig * ds-2col-stacked--node.html.twig x ds-2col-stacked.html.twig x ds-2col-stacked.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'modules/contrib/ds/templates/ds-2col-stacked.html.twig' --> <div data-history-node-id="254" class="node node--type-blog-post node--view-mode-rss ds-2col-stacked clearfix"> <div class="group-header"> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'links__node' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * links--node.html.twig x links--inline.html.twig * links--node.html.twig * links.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'themes/bootstrap_barrio/templates/navigation/links--inline.html.twig' --> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'themes/bootstrap_barrio/templates/navigation/links--inline.html.twig' --> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'field' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * field--default--node--field-display-title--blog-post.html.twig * field--default--node--blog-post.html.twig * field--default--node--field-display-title.html.twig * field--default--field-display-title--blog-post.html.twig * field--default--blog-post.html.twig * field--default--field-display-title.html.twig * field--default.html.twig * field--theme-ds-field-default.html.twig * field--node--field-display-title--blog-post.html.twig * field--node--field-display-title.html.twig * field--node--blog-post.html.twig * field--field-display-title.html.twig * field--string.html.twig x field.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'themes/bootstrap_barrio/templates/field/field.html.twig' --> <div class="field field--name-field-display-title field--type-string field--label-hidden field__item"><h2><a href="/blog/classroom-boardroom" hreflang="en">From The Classroom to The Boardroom</a></h2> </div> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'themes/bootstrap_barrio/templates/field/field.html.twig' --> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'field' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * field--default--node--field-blog-publish-date--blog-post.html.twig * field--default--node--blog-post.html.twig * field--default--node--field-blog-publish-date.html.twig * field--default--field-blog-publish-date--blog-post.html.twig * field--default--blog-post.html.twig * field--default--field-blog-publish-date.html.twig * field--default.html.twig * field--theme-ds-field-default.html.twig * field--node--field-blog-publish-date--blog-post.html.twig * field--node--field-blog-publish-date.html.twig * field--node--blog-post.html.twig * field--field-blog-publish-date.html.twig * field--datetime.html.twig x field.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'themes/bootstrap_barrio/templates/field/field.html.twig' --> <div class="field field--name-field-blog-publish-date field--type-datetime field--label-hidden field__item"> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'time' --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'themes/bootstrap_barrio/templates/field/time.html.twig' --> <time datetime="2022-05-26T12:00:00Z" class="datetime">Thursday, May 26, 2022</time> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'themes/bootstrap_barrio/templates/field/time.html.twig' --> </div> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'themes/bootstrap_barrio/templates/field/field.html.twig' --> </div> <div class="group-left"> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'field' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * field--default--node--field-blog-main-image--blog-post.html.twig * field--default--node--blog-post.html.twig * field--default--node--field-blog-main-image.html.twig * field--default--field-blog-main-image--blog-post.html.twig * field--default--blog-post.html.twig * field--default--field-blog-main-image.html.twig * field--default.html.twig * field--theme-ds-field-default.html.twig * field--node--field-blog-main-image--blog-post.html.twig * field--node--field-blog-main-image.html.twig * field--node--blog-post.html.twig * field--field-blog-main-image.html.twig * field--image.html.twig x field.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'themes/bootstrap_barrio/templates/field/field.html.twig' --> <div class="field field--name-field-blog-main-image field--type-image field--label-hidden field__item"> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'responsive_image_formatter' --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'core/modules/responsive_image/templates/responsive-image-formatter.html.twig' --> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'responsive_image' --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'core/modules/responsive_image/templates/responsive-image.html.twig' --> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'image' --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'themes/bootstrap_barrio/templates/field/image.html.twig' --> <img srcset="/sites/default/files/styles/max_325x325/public/2022-05/Classroom-Boardroom_1200x630_03.jpg?itok=fSRIz6mS 325w, /sites/default/files/styles/max_650x650/public/2022-05/Classroom-Boardroom_1200x630_03.jpg?itok=KhqH4Fdn 650w, /sites/default/files/styles/max_1300x1300/public/2022-05/Classroom-Boardroom_1200x630_03.jpg?itok=7GBwo8nX 1200w" sizes="(min-width: 1290px) 1290px, 100vw" src="/sites/default/files/styles/max_325x325/public/2022-05/Classroom-Boardroom_1200x630_03.jpg?itok=fSRIz6mS" alt="Image showing young man with arms out and legs up on desk with blackboard and whiteboard behind him with words Theory, Legal, Q1, Project and Terms written on blackboard and whiteboard" typeof="foaf:Image" /> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'themes/bootstrap_barrio/templates/field/image.html.twig' --> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'core/modules/responsive_image/templates/responsive-image.html.twig' --> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'core/modules/responsive_image/templates/responsive-image-formatter.html.twig' --> </div> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'themes/bootstrap_barrio/templates/field/field.html.twig' --> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'field' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * field--default--node--body--blog-post.html.twig * field--default--node--blog-post.html.twig * field--default--node--body.html.twig * field--default--body--blog-post.html.twig * field--default--blog-post.html.twig * field--default--body.html.twig * field--default.html.twig * field--theme-ds-field-default.html.twig * field--node--body--blog-post.html.twig * field--node--body.html.twig * field--node--blog-post.html.twig * field--body.html.twig x field--text-with-summary.html.twig * field.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'themes/bootstrap_barrio/templates/field/field--text-with-summary.html.twig' --> <div class="clearfix text-formatted field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field__item"><p><em>By John Raffa, Intern</em></p> <p><span><span><span><span lang="EN" xml:lang="EN" xml:lang="EN">Three years ago today, I was a bright-eyed senior at Yorktown High School awaiting my summer and excited for the road ahead of me in college. I constantly remind myself of this because I am truly amazed at where the time has gone and all that I still have ahead of me.</span></span></span></span><span><span><span> </span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span><span lang="EN" xml:lang="EN" xml:lang="EN">Today, I sit here as a wide-eyed junior at the University of Maryland getting ready to start my life in the “real world.” Over the last few months, through my internship at MKP, I got my first look at what the “real world” might entail. At MKP, I have not only learned that there is actually something important in those letters from my bank that I keep throwing away, but also that there is also a completely new world out there I never knew about. Through my experience at MKP, I’ve learned about the detailed elements of bank merger communications, and also how to interact in a professional setting and collaborate with more established coworkers to help push the company to even greater heights. I’ve discovered that there are just some things you cannot learn in the classroom – things you can only learn by spending time working and interacting with people who have years of experience. I am grateful for my experience at MKP because it has allowed me to learn things I would have never encountered through my academic experience. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span><span lang="EN" xml:lang="EN" xml:lang="EN">As I am an Economics major and MKP is a bank communications company, the things I have seen in the classroom are nothing like I have experienced in my internship. My main area of study is qualitative economic analysis and how that affects decision-making. MKP’s focus is definitely outside that discipline, and I have really enjoyed that change of pace. Majoring in Economics provides a lot of flexibility to try different things in the business world while still gaining an understanding of important policies that impact everyone. As a student, this degree has allowed me to try new things and expand my knowledge in different areas.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span><strong><span lang="EN" xml:lang="EN" xml:lang="EN">Jumping right in</span></strong></span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span><span lang="EN" xml:lang="EN" xml:lang="EN">I am just an intern here, and yet, all throughout my internship, I have felt nothing but included and encouraged to interact and contribute to the company. With so many team members having over two decades of experience at MKP, one would think it would be intimidating to try to chime in and share my opinion, but that was never the case. Many employees have been very excited to hear what I have to say as if I had been at the company longer than I actually have been.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span><span lang="EN" xml:lang="EN" xml:lang="EN">As a small company, there is nothing small about what is going on at MKP. The hands-on experience I gained (all while being remote) is rare. The ability to sit in on creative concept presentations was something I could have never seen through my coursework. Before the presentation, I was briefed on the project background as well as the client’s brand standards that were referenced in creating the layouts. Then, seeing MKP’s client’s reaction to the creative layouts and how impressed they were with the range of ideas presented showed me that not only can the company deal with the logistics involved in deploying marketing communications, but also ideate and develop high-energy, appealing creative work. I was always told about the work the creative team does, but to see that work come to life in a client presentation was extremely valuable. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span><span lang="EN" xml:lang="EN" xml:lang="EN">One of my favorite parts of working at MKP has been our daily check-ins. Sometimes, as a college student, it could feel like a hassle getting up in the morning to possibly just talk about people’s hobbies and interests. However, MKP’s daily check-in is more than that and it has kept the team on the same page while working remotely during the pandemic. As a small company, it is important for everyone to be close and operating on the same wavelength. Things as basic as making someone feel important on their birthday by making a thirty-minute meeting all about them is so vital to a successful work environment. While this is only my first experience working with a company, I can see the value in having a daily meeting to keep the team aligned and I am glad to have been a part of it.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span><strong><span lang="EN" xml:lang="EN" xml:lang="EN">Learning through doing</span></strong></span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span><span lang="EN" xml:lang="EN" xml:lang="EN">My time here has not all been about entertainment and coworker discourse, even though that can be very amusing. Through the assignments I’ve been given, I’ve learned quite a bit about financial services communications that I did not know before. Something as simple as spending time looking through bank merger microsites has taught me a lot about the digital space in which MKP is involved. I learned about what information is crucial and the best ways to visually display information to customers. The term “direct mail” is something I never heard before I started working here, but now I understand what goes into direct mail packages, how important paper stock is and all of the quality control measures MKP implements to ensure perfection in execution.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span><span lang="EN" xml:lang="EN" xml:lang="EN">A lot of what I do here could be labeled as “intern work,” but everyone has to start somewhere and these kinds of tasks are laying down a foundation of knowledge that I can build on in the future. The time I spent researching client and prospect contact information added to my understanding of the importance of business development, even if it is simple internet research and Excel work. Projects like this have taught me lessons in organization, research, professional communication and time management, all of which will not only help me through my professional development, but also help in my daily life (like making time to clean my room!).</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span><span lang="EN" xml:lang="EN" xml:lang="EN">Also</span> <span lang="EN" xml:lang="EN" xml:lang="EN">among the projects with which I was charged included participation in company social media discussions, thought leadership meetings and creative deliverable run-throughs. These served as opportunities to learn and expand my knowledge of company operations and brand messaging. The variety of discussions to which I’ve been exposed has allowed me to see the intricacies of what goes into content and deliverables produced by the company.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span><span lang="EN" xml:lang="EN" xml:lang="EN">Because of the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, I have not done any of these things in person. Instead, I have found myself sitting in front of the computer screen for the duration of my internship. As sad as that is, being remote has allowed me to have this work experience all while I am still on campus. Hopefully, in the future, we can return to normality, and I will be able to implement all that I have learned in the context of an in-person office experience.</span></span></span></span><span><span><span> </span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span><span lang="EN" xml:lang="EN" xml:lang="EN">Don’t get me wrong, I’ve learned a lot through books I have read and tests for which I have prepared, but being hands-on in my internship is the reason why my eyes are wide open. MKP has given me an opportunity to see clearly what I have in front of me (which, surprisingly, is not dissimilar from what I felt when I was a senior in high school). My academic career may be coming to an end, but my professional career is what excites me now. What I have learned at MKP I will carry forward, and I am better for having this knowledge. I am so thankful for the time I spent at this internship and I look forward to the rest of my time here. While my time in the classroom earned me this internship, this internship, in turn, is helping prepare me for the future. In this way, I’m on the path from the classroom to the boardroom!</span></span></span></span></p> <p><em>MKP communications inc. is a New York City-based communications company specializing in financial services marketing and merger/change communication.</em></p></div> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'themes/bootstrap_barrio/templates/field/field--text-with-summary.html.twig' --> </div> <div class="group-right"> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'field' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * field--default--node--field-blog-category--blog-post.html.twig * field--default--node--blog-post.html.twig * field--default--node--field-blog-category.html.twig * field--default--field-blog-category--blog-post.html.twig * field--default--blog-post.html.twig * field--default--field-blog-category.html.twig * field--default.html.twig * field--theme-ds-field-default.html.twig * field--node--field-blog-category--blog-post.html.twig * field--node--field-blog-category.html.twig * field--node--blog-post.html.twig * field--field-blog-category.html.twig * field--entity-reference.html.twig x field.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'themes/bootstrap_barrio/templates/field/field.html.twig' --> <div class="field field--name-field-blog-category field--type-entity-reference field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">Blog Category</div> <div class='field__items'> <div class="field__item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/50" hreflang="en">world of work</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/29" hreflang="en">employee engagement</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/30" hreflang="en">team building</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/27" hreflang="en">marketing</a></div> </div> </div> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'themes/bootstrap_barrio/templates/field/field.html.twig' --> </div> <div class="group-footer"> </div> </div> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'modules/contrib/ds/templates/ds-2col-stacked.html.twig' --> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'modules/contrib/ds/templates/ds-entity-view.html.twig' --> Thu, 26 May 2022 15:00:31 +0000 max 254 at https://mkpteam.com Confessions of an MKP Creative Director | MKP communications inc. https://mkpteam.com/blog/confessions-mkp-creative-director-mkp-communications-inc <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'ds_entity_view' --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'modules/contrib/ds/templates/ds-entity-view.html.twig' --> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'ds_2col_stacked' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * ds-2col-stacked--node--234.html.twig * ds-2col-stacked--node-blog-post-rss.html.twig * ds-2col-stacked--node-blog-post.html.twig * ds-2col-stacked--node-rss.html.twig * ds-2col-stacked--node.html.twig x ds-2col-stacked.html.twig x ds-2col-stacked.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'modules/contrib/ds/templates/ds-2col-stacked.html.twig' --> <div data-history-node-id="234" class="node node--type-blog-post node--view-mode-rss ds-2col-stacked clearfix"> <div class="group-header"> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'links__node' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * links--node.html.twig x links--inline.html.twig * links--node.html.twig * links.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'themes/bootstrap_barrio/templates/navigation/links--inline.html.twig' --> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'themes/bootstrap_barrio/templates/navigation/links--inline.html.twig' --> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'field' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * field--default--node--field-display-title--blog-post.html.twig * field--default--node--blog-post.html.twig * field--default--node--field-display-title.html.twig * field--default--field-display-title--blog-post.html.twig * field--default--blog-post.html.twig * field--default--field-display-title.html.twig * field--default.html.twig * field--theme-ds-field-default.html.twig * field--node--field-display-title--blog-post.html.twig * field--node--field-display-title.html.twig * field--node--blog-post.html.twig * field--field-display-title.html.twig * field--string.html.twig x field.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'themes/bootstrap_barrio/templates/field/field.html.twig' --> <div class="field field--name-field-display-title field--type-string field--label-hidden field__item"><h2><a href="/blog/confessions-mkp-creative-director-mkp-communications-inc" hreflang="en">Confessions of an MKP Creative Director | MKP communications inc.</a></h2> </div> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'themes/bootstrap_barrio/templates/field/field.html.twig' --> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'field' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * field--default--node--field-blog-publish-date--blog-post.html.twig * field--default--node--blog-post.html.twig * field--default--node--field-blog-publish-date.html.twig * field--default--field-blog-publish-date--blog-post.html.twig * field--default--blog-post.html.twig * field--default--field-blog-publish-date.html.twig * field--default.html.twig * field--theme-ds-field-default.html.twig * field--node--field-blog-publish-date--blog-post.html.twig * field--node--field-blog-publish-date.html.twig * field--node--blog-post.html.twig * field--field-blog-publish-date.html.twig * field--datetime.html.twig x field.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'themes/bootstrap_barrio/templates/field/field.html.twig' --> <div class="field field--name-field-blog-publish-date field--type-datetime field--label-hidden field__item"> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'time' --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'themes/bootstrap_barrio/templates/field/time.html.twig' --> <time datetime="2022-04-26T12:00:00Z" class="datetime">Tuesday, April 26, 2022</time> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'themes/bootstrap_barrio/templates/field/time.html.twig' --> </div> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'themes/bootstrap_barrio/templates/field/field.html.twig' --> </div> <div class="group-left"> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'field' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * field--default--node--field-blog-main-image--blog-post.html.twig * field--default--node--blog-post.html.twig * field--default--node--field-blog-main-image.html.twig * field--default--field-blog-main-image--blog-post.html.twig * field--default--blog-post.html.twig * field--default--field-blog-main-image.html.twig * field--default.html.twig * field--theme-ds-field-default.html.twig * field--node--field-blog-main-image--blog-post.html.twig * field--node--field-blog-main-image.html.twig * field--node--blog-post.html.twig * field--field-blog-main-image.html.twig * field--image.html.twig x field.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'themes/bootstrap_barrio/templates/field/field.html.twig' --> <div class="field field--name-field-blog-main-image field--type-image field--label-hidden field__item"> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'responsive_image_formatter' --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'core/modules/responsive_image/templates/responsive-image-formatter.html.twig' --> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'responsive_image' --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'core/modules/responsive_image/templates/responsive-image.html.twig' --> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'image' --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'themes/bootstrap_barrio/templates/field/image.html.twig' --> <img srcset="/sites/default/files/styles/max_325x325/public/2022-04/Branding_Dating_1200x630_01.jpg?itok=oOMgqiyS 325w, /sites/default/files/styles/max_650x650/public/2022-04/Branding_Dating_1200x630_01.jpg?itok=USF98u_B 650w, /sites/default/files/styles/max_1300x1300/public/2022-04/Branding_Dating_1200x630_01.jpg?itok=jtJfNbY2 1200w" sizes="(min-width: 1290px) 1290px, 100vw" src="/sites/default/files/styles/max_325x325/public/2022-04/Branding_Dating_1200x630_01.jpg?itok=oOMgqiyS" alt="Purple image with the words &quot;Confessions of an MKP creative director&quot;" typeof="foaf:Image" /> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'themes/bootstrap_barrio/templates/field/image.html.twig' --> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'core/modules/responsive_image/templates/responsive-image.html.twig' --> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'core/modules/responsive_image/templates/responsive-image-formatter.html.twig' --> </div> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'themes/bootstrap_barrio/templates/field/field.html.twig' --> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'field' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * field--default--node--body--blog-post.html.twig * field--default--node--blog-post.html.twig * field--default--node--body.html.twig * field--default--body--blog-post.html.twig * field--default--blog-post.html.twig * field--default--body.html.twig * field--default.html.twig * field--theme-ds-field-default.html.twig * field--node--body--blog-post.html.twig * field--node--body.html.twig * field--node--blog-post.html.twig * field--body.html.twig x field--text-with-summary.html.twig * field.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'themes/bootstrap_barrio/templates/field/field--text-with-summary.html.twig' --> <div class="clearfix text-formatted field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field__item"><p><em>By Jeff Keller, Creative Director</em></p> <p><strong><span><span><span><em><span>“What are you going to wear?” I ask my design partner Nick as soon as </span></em></span></span></span><span><span><span><em><span>I hear about the meeting.</span></em></span></span></span></strong></p> <p><strong><span><span><span><em><span>“Black,” says Nick. “I always wear black.”</span></em></span></span></span></strong></p> <p><strong><span><span><span><em><span>“I was thinking about a jacket and tie,” I say nervously. </span></em></span></span></span></strong></p> <p><strong><span><span><span><em><span>“Too formal. Go with a vest. You’re a vest guy.”</span></em></span></span></span></strong></p> <p><strong><span><span><span><em><span>“What about pants?”</span></em></span></span></span></strong></p> <p><strong><span><span><span><em><span>“What about ‘em?”</span></em></span></span></span></strong></p> <p><strong><span><span><span><em><span>“You wearing them?”</span></em></span></span></span></strong></p> <p><strong><span><span><span><em><span>“Well,” says Nick, “it’s a Zoom meeting.”</span></em></span></span></span></strong></p> <p><span><span><span><span>#     #     #</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span><span>At MKP, brand meetings with a client are some of the most intriguing, most anticipated meetings on our calendar. Whether it’s a brand introduction from a new client or a brand update from an existing one, these meetings are <em>different</em>. The agendas are more open-ended, the focus more aspirational. We spend our time talking about <em>feelings</em> and <em>moods</em> instead of the usual bottom-line topics. Strange to say, it brings back all kinds of memories from my youthful dating days, with agency and client filling the roles of two very earnest but awkward teens trying to find ways to connect with each other. So, I thought it would be fun to dust off a few of the old dating rules I learned through painful trial and error over the years, to demonstrate some of the odd similarities the two experiences share.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span><strong><em>Rule #1: Don’t talk about yourself too much.</em></strong></span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span><span>Nothing’s worse than being on a date with someone who drones on about himself – or an agency that spends more time talking than listening. At MKP, we always bring the focus back to <em>your</em> company’s brand – where it’s been, where it’s heading, what you love about it and what you want to change.  An agency that spends too much time talking about past clients is like a date who’s fixated on past relationships. Get over it! Focus on the relationship you’re beginning. This is the one that’s important.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span><span><strong><em>Rule #2: Establish your do’s and don’ts.</em></strong></span></span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span><span>Do you like sushi or not? Scary movies or not? Roller coasters or not? In relationships, answers to certain questions tend to be black and white. Same for most corporate brands. Some are pro-tagline, others avoid them like the plague.  Some love warm, people-focused photography, others demand abstractions, or icons, or no photography at all. One of our most important tasks in exploring brand is to make sure we understand which boundaries are flexible and which aren’t, so we don’t get slapped in the face at the end of a bruising roller coaster ride, metaphorically speaking.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span><strong><em><span>Rule #3: Be ready for the good times and the bad.</span></em></strong></span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span><span>When your dinner reservation gets lost or the beach weather turns stormy, how do the two of you react? Sometimes you learn more about each other when something goes wrong than when everything goes right. The same is true of brands. As merger/change communications specialists, we frequently need to convey the kinds of messages not everyone wants to hear. And a brand expression that stands up for impacted customers, in word and in deed, is one of the hallmarks of a brand standard that been clearly thought out and articulated for all audiences. We’ll make sure it’s part of your brand agenda if it isn’t there already. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span><strong><em><span>Rule #4: Find a way to grow together.</span></em></strong></span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span><span>In good relationships, both people grow to become better than they were separately. Same with your company and your agency. For many clients, the brand is a fully defined, static sets of standards and guidelines, and we’re there to learn the rules. But every agency has something to add, particularly in graphic domains like direct mail, where graphic guidelines are frequently less fully defined than they are in other forms of print. If you can go into your brand meeting with the attitude that both participants have something unique to add, it opens the door to fresh perspectives -- and through this creative give-and-take process, you’ll find that your brand could benefit considerably.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span><em><span>#     #     #</span></em></span></span></span></p> <p><strong><span><span><span><em><span>“So Nick, what did you think of the meeting? This could work! </span></em></span></span></span></strong></p> <p><strong><span><span><span><em><span> I really think this could work!”</span></em></span></span></span></strong></p> <p><strong><span><span><span><em><span>“It was just one meeting,” says Nick. “Don’t go head over heels again, OK? </span></em></span></span></span></strong></p> <p><strong><span><span><span><em><span>“Let’s see if they call us back.”</span></em></span></span></span></strong></p> <p><strong><span><span><span><em><span>“Well, you know where I’ll be…”</span></em></span></span></span></strong></p> <p><strong><span><span><span><em><span>“I know, I know, waiting for the phone to ring!”</span></em></span></span></span></strong></p> <p><em>MKP communications inc. is a New York City-based communications company specializing in financial services marketing and merger/change communication.</em></p></div> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'themes/bootstrap_barrio/templates/field/field--text-with-summary.html.twig' --> </div> <div class="group-right"> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'field' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * field--default--node--field-blog-category--blog-post.html.twig * field--default--node--blog-post.html.twig * field--default--node--field-blog-category.html.twig * field--default--field-blog-category--blog-post.html.twig * field--default--blog-post.html.twig * field--default--field-blog-category.html.twig * field--default.html.twig * field--theme-ds-field-default.html.twig * field--node--field-blog-category--blog-post.html.twig * field--node--field-blog-category.html.twig * field--node--blog-post.html.twig * field--field-blog-category.html.twig * field--entity-reference.html.twig x field.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'themes/bootstrap_barrio/templates/field/field.html.twig' --> <div class="field field--name-field-blog-category field--type-entity-reference field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">Blog Category</div> <div class='field__items'> <div class="field__item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/26" hreflang="en">fun</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/33" hreflang="en">creativity</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/27" hreflang="en">marketing</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/22" hreflang="en">brand</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/50" hreflang="en">world of work</a></div> </div> </div> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'themes/bootstrap_barrio/templates/field/field.html.twig' --> </div> <div class="group-footer"> </div> </div> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'modules/contrib/ds/templates/ds-2col-stacked.html.twig' --> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'modules/contrib/ds/templates/ds-entity-view.html.twig' --> Tue, 26 Apr 2022 17:47:37 +0000 max 234 at https://mkpteam.com Women’s History Month: One Woman’s Perspective https://mkpteam.com/blog/womens-history-month-one-womans-perspective <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'ds_entity_view' --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'modules/contrib/ds/templates/ds-entity-view.html.twig' --> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'ds_2col_stacked' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * ds-2col-stacked--node--232.html.twig * ds-2col-stacked--node-blog-post-rss.html.twig * ds-2col-stacked--node-blog-post.html.twig * ds-2col-stacked--node-rss.html.twig * ds-2col-stacked--node.html.twig x ds-2col-stacked.html.twig x ds-2col-stacked.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'modules/contrib/ds/templates/ds-2col-stacked.html.twig' --> <div data-history-node-id="232" class="node node--type-blog-post node--view-mode-rss ds-2col-stacked clearfix"> <div class="group-header"> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'links__node' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * links--node.html.twig x links--inline.html.twig * links--node.html.twig * links.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'themes/bootstrap_barrio/templates/navigation/links--inline.html.twig' --> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'themes/bootstrap_barrio/templates/navigation/links--inline.html.twig' --> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'field' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * field--default--node--field-display-title--blog-post.html.twig * field--default--node--blog-post.html.twig * field--default--node--field-display-title.html.twig * field--default--field-display-title--blog-post.html.twig * field--default--blog-post.html.twig * field--default--field-display-title.html.twig * field--default.html.twig * field--theme-ds-field-default.html.twig * field--node--field-display-title--blog-post.html.twig * field--node--field-display-title.html.twig * field--node--blog-post.html.twig * field--field-display-title.html.twig * field--string.html.twig x field.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'themes/bootstrap_barrio/templates/field/field.html.twig' --> <div class="field field--name-field-display-title field--type-string field--label-hidden field__item"><h2><a href="/blog/womens-history-month-one-womans-perspective" hreflang="en">Women’s History Month: One Woman’s Perspective</a></h2> </div> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'themes/bootstrap_barrio/templates/field/field.html.twig' --> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'field' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * field--default--node--field-blog-publish-date--blog-post.html.twig * field--default--node--blog-post.html.twig * field--default--node--field-blog-publish-date.html.twig * field--default--field-blog-publish-date--blog-post.html.twig * field--default--blog-post.html.twig * field--default--field-blog-publish-date.html.twig * field--default.html.twig * field--theme-ds-field-default.html.twig * field--node--field-blog-publish-date--blog-post.html.twig * field--node--field-blog-publish-date.html.twig * field--node--blog-post.html.twig * field--field-blog-publish-date.html.twig * field--datetime.html.twig x field.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'themes/bootstrap_barrio/templates/field/field.html.twig' --> <div class="field field--name-field-blog-publish-date field--type-datetime field--label-hidden field__item"> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'time' --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'themes/bootstrap_barrio/templates/field/time.html.twig' --> <time datetime="2022-03-01T12:00:00Z" class="datetime">Tuesday, March 1, 2022</time> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'themes/bootstrap_barrio/templates/field/time.html.twig' --> </div> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'themes/bootstrap_barrio/templates/field/field.html.twig' --> </div> <div class="group-left"> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'field' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * field--default--node--field-blog-main-image--blog-post.html.twig * field--default--node--blog-post.html.twig * field--default--node--field-blog-main-image.html.twig * field--default--field-blog-main-image--blog-post.html.twig * field--default--blog-post.html.twig * field--default--field-blog-main-image.html.twig * field--default.html.twig * field--theme-ds-field-default.html.twig * field--node--field-blog-main-image--blog-post.html.twig * field--node--field-blog-main-image.html.twig * field--node--blog-post.html.twig * field--field-blog-main-image.html.twig * field--image.html.twig x field.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'themes/bootstrap_barrio/templates/field/field.html.twig' --> <div class="field field--name-field-blog-main-image field--type-image field--label-hidden field__item"> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'responsive_image_formatter' --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'core/modules/responsive_image/templates/responsive-image-formatter.html.twig' --> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'responsive_image' --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'core/modules/responsive_image/templates/responsive-image.html.twig' --> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'image' --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'themes/bootstrap_barrio/templates/field/image.html.twig' --> <img srcset="/sites/default/files/styles/max_325x325/public/2022-03/MKP%20Site_WomensHistory_0.jpg?itok=oQuB4kjc 325w, /sites/default/files/styles/max_650x650/public/2022-03/MKP%20Site_WomensHistory_0.jpg?itok=K7fkzeZC 650w, /sites/default/files/styles/max_1300x1300/public/2022-03/MKP%20Site_WomensHistory_0.jpg?itok=RqEBg5RZ 988w" sizes="(min-width: 1290px) 1290px, 100vw" src="/sites/default/files/styles/max_325x325/public/2022-03/MKP%20Site_WomensHistory_0.jpg?itok=oQuB4kjc" alt="Women&#039;s Rights Pioneers Monument in Central Park featuring Sojourner Truth, Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Susan B. Anthony" typeof="foaf:Image" /> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'themes/bootstrap_barrio/templates/field/image.html.twig' --> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'core/modules/responsive_image/templates/responsive-image.html.twig' --> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'core/modules/responsive_image/templates/responsive-image-formatter.html.twig' --> </div> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'themes/bootstrap_barrio/templates/field/field.html.twig' --> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'field' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * field--default--node--body--blog-post.html.twig * field--default--node--blog-post.html.twig * field--default--node--body.html.twig * field--default--body--blog-post.html.twig * field--default--blog-post.html.twig * field--default--body.html.twig * field--default.html.twig * field--theme-ds-field-default.html.twig * field--node--body--blog-post.html.twig * field--node--body.html.twig * field--node--blog-post.html.twig * field--body.html.twig x field--text-with-summary.html.twig * field.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'themes/bootstrap_barrio/templates/field/field--text-with-summary.html.twig' --> <div class="clearfix text-formatted field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field__item"><p><span><span><em><span><span>By Hillary Kelbick, President &amp; CEO</span></span></em></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span><span>With Women’s History Month upon us, I took some time to reflect on my journey with MKP, the company I started more than 27 years ago. I had no clue at the time I started the firm what it would be like to enter a business primarily dominated by men and to do so at a time where being an executive was not necessarily compatible with being an ambitious working mother. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span><span>I literally started the business on a dare. (A male colleague I had known for years told me that I would never have the guts to step out on my own.) I ultimately did so because I needed to find a way to better balance my passion for work with the desire to spend time with my children: to see their soccer games, to participate in their school happenings and to have a seat at the dinner table with them at the end of the day. In the ‘80s and ‘90s, if a working woman took time out for her kids, it was invariably at the expense of her career. I didn’t want to have to make a choice that so many women before me had to make: I didn’t want to have to choose between work and family. I hoped that being the boss would enable me to create some flexibility in the workplace, not just for me, but for the staff who would ultimately join my team.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span><span>As the mother of two young boys, I learned early on how much they were watching me and my every move. My sons quickly learned that even though I was “with” them—at dinner, on vacation and at the ballpark—I was always on the phone or at the computer. The business was pretty much a 24/7 affair. They saw that I did my “homework” while they did theirs, and they grew up seeing their mom as a business leader and a working professional, as well as a parent. I had the opportunity through running my company to show these two young boys that a woman could both work and parent, and do justice to both roles.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span><span>So, as I muse about my business, I ask myself, what does all this have to do with Women’s History Month? My opportunity to create a thriving business is because of the work, persistence and ongoing battles that women have been engaged in for centuries. The first wave of modern feminism and the push to make women an equal part of society began back in the 19th and early 20th centuries, with women like </span></span><span><span><span><span>Susan B. Anthony, Sojourner Truth and Elizabeth Cady Stanton, who fought for women to gain equal rights under the law, including the right to vote. They were followed by some of the role models of my generation: </span></span></span></span><span><span>Gloria Steinem, Betty Friedan and Shirley Chisholm. These women paved the way for me and my contemporaries through their relentless push to involve women in politics, their fight for equal rights in the workplace and their demands for personal freedoms in all aspects of life. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span><span><span><span>It was out of these efforts that Women’s History Month was born as an acknowledgement of the strength, power and ongoing commitment to ensuring that women play a part in society that is as powerful as the part that men play.</span></span></span></span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span><span><span><span>I stand on the shoulders of these activists. My business is woman-owned, and I underscore that point whenever I get the chance. The business could only have come to be because of the struggles and relentless persistence of those who came before me. </span></span></span></span><span><span>Women’s History Month actively plays that back, with themes each year ranging from commitment, service, championing non-violence, labor and business to voting rights, government and, this year, providing healing and promoting hope. </span></span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span><span>While the days of dressing in power suits and shirts with bow-tied collars are gone (thank goodness), it is every woman’s responsibility to keep paying forward the significance of this important month. Women’s History Month gives us an opportunity to ensure our gains continue, our value is recognized and the girls of today can be the women who own the future tomorrow.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><em><span><span>MKP communications inc. is a New York City-based communications company specializing in financial services marketing and merger/change communication.</span></span></em></span></span></p></div> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'themes/bootstrap_barrio/templates/field/field--text-with-summary.html.twig' --> </div> <div class="group-right"> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'field' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * field--default--node--field-blog-category--blog-post.html.twig * field--default--node--blog-post.html.twig * field--default--node--field-blog-category.html.twig * field--default--field-blog-category--blog-post.html.twig * field--default--blog-post.html.twig * field--default--field-blog-category.html.twig * field--default.html.twig * field--theme-ds-field-default.html.twig * field--node--field-blog-category--blog-post.html.twig * field--node--field-blog-category.html.twig * field--node--blog-post.html.twig * field--field-blog-category.html.twig * field--entity-reference.html.twig x field.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'themes/bootstrap_barrio/templates/field/field.html.twig' --> <div class="field field--name-field-blog-category field--type-entity-reference field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">Blog Category</div> <div class='field__items'> <div class="field__item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/36" hreflang="en">banking industry</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/40" hreflang="en">current events</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/49" hreflang="en">equity</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/50" hreflang="en">world of work</a></div> </div> </div> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'themes/bootstrap_barrio/templates/field/field.html.twig' --> </div> <div class="group-footer"> </div> </div> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'modules/contrib/ds/templates/ds-2col-stacked.html.twig' --> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'modules/contrib/ds/templates/ds-entity-view.html.twig' --> Tue, 01 Mar 2022 18:45:32 +0000 max 232 at https://mkpteam.com MKP Embraces a Workplace Transformation https://mkpteam.com/blog/mkp-embraces-workplace-transformation <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'ds_entity_view' --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'modules/contrib/ds/templates/ds-entity-view.html.twig' --> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'ds_2col_stacked' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * ds-2col-stacked--node--230.html.twig * ds-2col-stacked--node-blog-post-rss.html.twig * ds-2col-stacked--node-blog-post.html.twig * ds-2col-stacked--node-rss.html.twig * ds-2col-stacked--node.html.twig x ds-2col-stacked.html.twig x ds-2col-stacked.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'modules/contrib/ds/templates/ds-2col-stacked.html.twig' --> <div data-history-node-id="230" class="node node--type-blog-post node--view-mode-rss ds-2col-stacked clearfix"> <div class="group-header"> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'links__node' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * links--node.html.twig x links--inline.html.twig * links--node.html.twig * links.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'themes/bootstrap_barrio/templates/navigation/links--inline.html.twig' --> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'themes/bootstrap_barrio/templates/navigation/links--inline.html.twig' --> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'field' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * field--default--node--field-display-title--blog-post.html.twig * field--default--node--blog-post.html.twig * field--default--node--field-display-title.html.twig * field--default--field-display-title--blog-post.html.twig * field--default--blog-post.html.twig * field--default--field-display-title.html.twig * field--default.html.twig * field--theme-ds-field-default.html.twig * field--node--field-display-title--blog-post.html.twig * field--node--field-display-title.html.twig * field--node--blog-post.html.twig * field--field-display-title.html.twig * field--string.html.twig x field.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'themes/bootstrap_barrio/templates/field/field.html.twig' --> <div class="field field--name-field-display-title field--type-string field--label-hidden field__item"><h2><a href="/blog/mkp-embraces-workplace-transformation" hreflang="en">MKP Embraces a Workplace Transformation</a></h2> </div> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'themes/bootstrap_barrio/templates/field/field.html.twig' --> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'field' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * field--default--node--field-blog-publish-date--blog-post.html.twig * field--default--node--blog-post.html.twig * field--default--node--field-blog-publish-date.html.twig * field--default--field-blog-publish-date--blog-post.html.twig * field--default--blog-post.html.twig * field--default--field-blog-publish-date.html.twig * field--default.html.twig * field--theme-ds-field-default.html.twig * field--node--field-blog-publish-date--blog-post.html.twig * field--node--field-blog-publish-date.html.twig * field--node--blog-post.html.twig * field--field-blog-publish-date.html.twig * field--datetime.html.twig x field.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'themes/bootstrap_barrio/templates/field/field.html.twig' --> <div class="field field--name-field-blog-publish-date field--type-datetime field--label-hidden field__item"> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'time' --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'themes/bootstrap_barrio/templates/field/time.html.twig' --> <time datetime="2022-02-07T12:00:00Z" class="datetime">Monday, February 7, 2022</time> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'themes/bootstrap_barrio/templates/field/time.html.twig' --> </div> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'themes/bootstrap_barrio/templates/field/field.html.twig' --> </div> <div class="group-left"> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'field' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * field--default--node--field-blog-main-image--blog-post.html.twig * field--default--node--blog-post.html.twig * field--default--node--field-blog-main-image.html.twig * field--default--field-blog-main-image--blog-post.html.twig * field--default--blog-post.html.twig * field--default--field-blog-main-image.html.twig * field--default.html.twig * field--theme-ds-field-default.html.twig * field--node--field-blog-main-image--blog-post.html.twig * field--node--field-blog-main-image.html.twig * field--node--blog-post.html.twig * field--field-blog-main-image.html.twig * field--image.html.twig x field.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'themes/bootstrap_barrio/templates/field/field.html.twig' --> <div class="field field--name-field-blog-main-image field--type-image field--label-hidden field__item"> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'responsive_image_formatter' --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'core/modules/responsive_image/templates/responsive-image-formatter.html.twig' --> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'responsive_image' --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'core/modules/responsive_image/templates/responsive-image.html.twig' --> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'image' --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'themes/bootstrap_barrio/templates/field/image.html.twig' --> <img srcset="/sites/default/files/styles/max_325x325/public/2022-02/HybridOff_01_0.jpg?itok=MTH8S5mQ 325w, /sites/default/files/styles/max_650x650/public/2022-02/HybridOff_01_0.jpg?itok=z_sX28o1 650w, /sites/default/files/styles/max_1300x1300/public/2022-02/HybridOff_01_0.jpg?itok=2_K_ytzA 1200w" sizes="(min-width: 1290px) 1290px, 100vw" src="/sites/default/files/styles/max_325x325/public/2022-02/HybridOff_01_0.jpg?itok=MTH8S5mQ" alt="An image of a computer plugging into a house with the words, &quot;The Hybrid Office&quot;" typeof="foaf:Image" /> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'themes/bootstrap_barrio/templates/field/image.html.twig' --> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'core/modules/responsive_image/templates/responsive-image.html.twig' --> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'core/modules/responsive_image/templates/responsive-image-formatter.html.twig' --> </div> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'themes/bootstrap_barrio/templates/field/field.html.twig' --> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'field' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * field--default--node--body--blog-post.html.twig * field--default--node--blog-post.html.twig * field--default--node--body.html.twig * field--default--body--blog-post.html.twig * field--default--blog-post.html.twig * field--default--body.html.twig * field--default.html.twig * field--theme-ds-field-default.html.twig * field--node--body--blog-post.html.twig * field--node--body.html.twig * field--node--blog-post.html.twig * field--body.html.twig x field--text-with-summary.html.twig * field.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'themes/bootstrap_barrio/templates/field/field--text-with-summary.html.twig' --> <div class="clearfix text-formatted field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field__item"><p><em>By Phil Ziff, Project Manager</em></p> <p><span><span><span>For over twenty-five years, MKP had been a company that, like many others, worked out of a central office space. While a few employees worked primarily from home, most people met daily in MKP’s New York City loft in Union Square. </span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span>In March of 2020, as more information came out about COVID-19, CDC and government officials asked office workers to stay home to help flatten the curve. MKP complied, expecting a fully remote office to be a temporary shift lasting maybe a few months. Little did MKP, and the rest of the world, know that there would likely be long lasting changes to the meaning of going to work.</span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span>I sat down with Hillary Kelbick, President and CEO of MKP, to discuss how the team has adapted and thrived under a remote-work model.</span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span><strong>Challenges of the remote office</strong></span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span>Switching from daily, in-person work to remote life was challenging at first, as there are certain workplace elements that are missed when people are not together in the same space. When I asked Hillary about this, she reflected, “if you’re trying to build a creative solution and foster some ingenuity, there’s nothing that replaces being in the same room with your colleagues. Human interactions are part of what drives creativity in the office place.” </span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span>There’s an intangible quality about being present with co-workers and sensing their energy and excitement. Hillary expressed her thoughts on the camaraderie that physical presence can create. “I love my team. I love my people I’ve been committed to, it’s like a family. The family hasn’t seen each other.” </span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span><strong>Making it work through new traditions</strong></span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span>Without the ability to feed off each other’s energy in person, how does an office manage to stay connected? MKP created a new meeting that still takes place to this day, called Daily Check-In. The whole MKP team meets every day at 10am on Microsoft Teams to connect and set expectations for the day. This virtual standing meeting became an instant success. Hillary shared, “There is a lot of good energy around this meeting. It helps everyone stay on track, while fostering a strong sense of connection among the team.”</span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span>One of the factors that helped Daily Check-In gain in popularity was the opportunity for the team to come together and share news about their weekend or connect on “water cooler” conversations. <span>Being on camera motivated many of the team to up their game in terms of clothing, jewelry, make-up, etc. – as if they were actually in the office.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span>The Employee Engagement (“EE”) team was a big help. The team was founded shortly before COVID, and was responsible for planning company activities, like office happy hours, lunches and other social events and celebrations. Once the office shifted to a fully remote environment, Hillary credited the EE team for playing a major role in keeping the larger group connected.  She said, “The Employee Engagement team stepped up activity in a huge and meaningful way and it became part of the lifeblood of the company.” </span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span><strong>The perks of being a homebody</strong></span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span>Remote work does have perks that grant employees more flexibility in their days. For starters, removing the daily commute eliminates concerns about traffic, car trouble, or late trains. This extra time can be redirected toward work projects or completing personal errands. As Hillary put it, “If you want to do your laundry, cook a meal, take your dog for a walk, meditate, or take a workout class in the middle of the day, you have more flexibility. You can manage your time more efficiently and effectively from your own home, and for some people, that results in higher productivity.” Employees can still work on major projects and attend client meetings from their homes, and it’s easier to dig into deep work without the interruptions or distractions that sometimes come in an office environment. </span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span><strong>The drawbacks of disconnection</strong></span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span>“Humans need connection, real connection, and there’s only so far Zoom and Microsoft Teams will go in creating this,” Hillary lamented. When tackling creative problem solving or brainstorming, there’s a certain spark that exists when colleagues are in the same room. The energy that comes from being present, sharing snacks and throwing ideas on a whiteboard is notably absent when collaborators are physically distant. Collaborative creative work is still best done in face-to-face.</span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span>While Zoom meetings are certainly useful, it’s easier for employees to multitask, and you don’t necessarily get someone’s full attention. Meetings used to be a respite from screen time, and now screens are required to meet. There’s a certain level of Zoom-fatigue that occurs, and people tend to zone out or get distracted by emails or texts—which is much less likely to happen when meeting in person. Despite these drawbacks, however, work still gets done and productivity levels tend to be higher overall.</span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span><strong>The future of work: a hybrid office</strong></span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span>The term “hybrid office,” meaning one where employees split time between in-person and remote work, has become increasingly popular. As the world is far from finished with navigating the dangers and risks associated with the coronavirus, companies like MKP need to adapt to this new reality. The challenges brought about by this moment in time have opened the door to reimagining the modern workspace. </span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span>Hillary is using this as an opportunity to consider a redesign to the office space, replacing cubicles with communal tables, creating a more open, collaborative environment for those who choose to come to the office to work. Employees will have the option to continue to work remotely, returning to the office on occasion for in-person connection. She hopes that employees will embrace this hybrid model at MKP moving forward. “You don’t have to be in person with every colleague every day, but humans feed on each other’s energy and the opportunity to collaborate is critical to business success.”</span></span></span></p> <p><em>MKP communications inc. is a New York City-based communications company specializing in financial services marketing and merger/change communication.</em></p></div> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'themes/bootstrap_barrio/templates/field/field--text-with-summary.html.twig' --> </div> <div class="group-right"> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'field' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * field--default--node--field-blog-category--blog-post.html.twig * field--default--node--blog-post.html.twig * field--default--node--field-blog-category.html.twig * field--default--field-blog-category--blog-post.html.twig * field--default--blog-post.html.twig * field--default--field-blog-category.html.twig * field--default.html.twig * field--theme-ds-field-default.html.twig * field--node--field-blog-category--blog-post.html.twig * field--node--field-blog-category.html.twig * field--node--blog-post.html.twig * field--field-blog-category.html.twig * field--entity-reference.html.twig x field.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'themes/bootstrap_barrio/templates/field/field.html.twig' --> <div class="field field--name-field-blog-category field--type-entity-reference field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">Blog Category</div> <div class='field__items'> <div class="field__item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/40" hreflang="en">current events</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/29" hreflang="en">employee engagement</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/43" hreflang="en">technology</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/28" hreflang="en">time management</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/50" hreflang="en">world of work</a></div> </div> </div> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'themes/bootstrap_barrio/templates/field/field.html.twig' --> </div> <div class="group-footer"> </div> </div> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'modules/contrib/ds/templates/ds-2col-stacked.html.twig' --> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'modules/contrib/ds/templates/ds-entity-view.html.twig' --> Mon, 07 Feb 2022 13:19:14 +0000 max 230 at https://mkpteam.com