Having made that decision, I took a leap out of my comfort zone into a new role and organisation. I therefore wanted to ensure that I continued to work behind the scenes in broadening my internal comms knowledge, skills and understanding in order to further my capability whilst demonstrating my commitment to the profession.
Getting a membership with the IoIC seemed like the obvious choice to support this – it offered a breadth of resources in a variety of different learning styles that suited my needs, along with the opportunity to create my very own continuous professional development (CPD) programme. I love to learn, and the CPD was the perfect way in which to set myself some personal goals for the year ahead and to start working towards achieving my Accredited Practitioner status.
I also had a particular interest in the networking opportunities available through the IoIC, and pre COVID-19 I was fortunate enough to attend a number of regional events where I got to meet other internal comms professionals and hear more about the sector and its developments. When COVID-19 struck, these events naturally had to stop but I've been really impressed with how much more the IoIC has brought online to support its members – there has been a constant flow of webinars available and articles published. And, of course, the much-loved Voice magazine has continued which is a fantastic read. It's always an exciting day when it comes through the letterbox as it's the perfect opportunity to grab a cup of tea, put your feet up and enjoy the array of case studies and experiences of others within our field.
The biggest highlight for me during my first year of membership has to be getting accepted onto the IoIC mentoring programme, and being paired with fellow IoIC member Colin Archer. Although our mentoring relationship is still in its infancy, I've already been able to utilise the knowledge and advice that Colin has shared to further support me in my role. My aim is to be a mentor myself one day, and I think the opportunity that the IoIC offers to pair members up to support specific challenges or goals is invaluable.
Whether you're new to the world of internal communications, or someone like me who is keen to continue topping up the skills bank and enhancing capability and effectiveness in role, I would highly recommend taking a look at the IoIC membership and what it could do for you.
You can join the IoIC without paying the £60 joining fee until the 30th of September by using the discount code SHAPETHEFUTURE!
