My experience studying the Advanced Diploma Simon McMurdo

I wanted my instincts backed by evidence, not just experience.

Before starting the Advanced Diploma, I had six years’ experience in communication roles, but I wanted to know if my instincts were genuinely robust, or just familiar. I wanted to have courage that my assertions were backed with evidence, not just experience.

The diploma has developed my skills in many areas, including offering practical expertise in evidence-based advice, channel audits and supporting leadership communication. As I aspire towards advisory and strategic roles, I recognise that these tasks are a core expectation. Not only am I now able to perform these responsibilities, I’m able to comprehend and justify their value.

Redefining my own role was humbling, but it unlocked real change.

My objectives delivered measurable benefits across our organisation. Through conducting our department’s first communications audit, I identified a desire from our audience for more communications delivered by their line managers. Research also helped me identify that I was inadvertently acting as a blocker. In constantly communicating on their behalf, I was restricting our managers’ development in this area and had to redefine my own role. It can be humbling to recognise your own gaps, but so rewarding to respond to them and see the benefits unlocked. The great feedback for the training workshop I delivered and observing our brilliant managers as they now deliver excellent communications was worth it all! We’re even integrating the workshop into all new managers’ development plans.

The network of IC peers was, without a doubt, the best takeaway.

Amongst many great learnings, the network of IC peers that I gained from this course was, without a doubt, the best takeaway. We collaborated brilliantly on our group project and built great bonds that saw us supporting one another even after the group project was finished. We remained in regular contact and gave one another that last push of motivation when it came to submitting our portfolios. As well as the emotional support, our varying experiences were so useful to share. I was able to learn from their practice and share what was working well for us. As the only Communications Manager in my department, this extended network has been a huge benefit and support.

Applying my research straight into practice made all the difference.

The diploma is unique in the way it adapts to your own skill gaps and development motivations. Having studied at university years ago, a comparative perk of the diploma was being able to integrate the learnings from my research immediately into my practice.

Studying has taught me how to engage with resources and theory. Fantastic research is made more powerful and relevant by being able to critically assess it before applying or adapting to your organisation when suitable. My biggest takeaway from undertaking the diploma is not just what I learned, but how it taught me to think.