Go for it!

A couple of weeks ago, we got the message from Promise Foundation that PRAXIS 2020 was being postponed. Given the huge uncertainty prevailing due to COVID-19, the organisers have taken a well-meaning early call. 

PRAXIS is a highly popular event – a heady mix of who’s who of the profession, the best of the communicators, young curious students, thought provoking discussions and of course dollops of fun. When Amith Prabhu threw a challenge to us last year to write 52 posts for Reputation Today and grab a discounted ticket to PRAXIS 2020, I readily took up the challenge. The challenge rekindled my love for writing and keeps me on my toes to meet my weekly deadlines. I am so grateful for the opportunity that has been given to me and I intend to continue with my love for writing and share my experiences on this portal.

GO!

I want us to think deeply of two words that I have mentioned here – grateful (G) and opportunity (O).

The COVID-19 situation has given rise to a multitude of webinars, online classes, zoom meetings, panel discussions and what not. There are days when I am literally spoilt for choice! Most of the discussions have been on the ‘new normal’ and the ‘future approach’ for firms, government, communicators, policy makers, economists, etc. Rightly so. This is so topical.

However, what I sorely find missing is a sense of gratitude to what we have with us today. Somewhere in the midst of lamenting loss of businesses, clients, less advertising/marketing spends, we have forgotten to be grateful for what we have amidst us.

Here is a list of opportunities that has come our way and that we need to be grateful for:

• Grateful to be alive – if you are healthy, safe, have a job and are able to maintain your daily work routine, thank God for all that has been bestowed on you. Don’t hanker about what is missing.
• Grateful for the lovely cutting-edge conversations that have come our way – would we have ever been able to access the best of minds through webinars as we can do today? Imagine if these were to be physically held in different cities…surely you would not have been able to attend all. Today, you can access the discussion you want sitting in the comfort of your home.
• Grateful for the new learning and growth curve – COVID-19 communication is the biggest lesson for PR and comms in employee engagement. If you have not yet grasped the nuances of this then you have missed looking at the bigger picture. Go back to the drawing board and smell the coffee around – one that still exists. I have witnessed the best of creative internal campaigns in this period. I have seen the dramatic rise of digital medium to communicate and hey, this one is here to stay. Make the most of it. Learn how to shoot videos, edit them and let your imagination soar.
• Grateful for a hands-on lesson in crisis management. Honestly, who would have ever thought that a pandemic would make us scramble internally and re-look at how we handle crisis. If you are new to this industry, this is the right time for you to pick up the relevant crisis and issues management skills.
• Immense gratitude for the circumstances leading to a new level of collaboration and partnerships with government, other companies and the tremendous recognition that science and research has finally got. A thrust to research and development has been waiting in the wings for far too long. COVID-19 has bought this opportunity right in the forefront.

This is my list of gratitude and I have grabbed these opportunities as they have unfolded before me. We must let go of our obsession of looking at what is missing and what we have lost – there is an opportunity right in front of us and we can see that only once we are grateful for what we have.

GO for it!

The views and opinions published here belong to the author and do not necessarily reflect the views and opinions of the publisher.

Sarita Bahl

Sarita Bahl is an alumnus of Tata Institute of Social Sciences and the Swedish Institute of Management Program. An experienced and versatile leader, she comes with nearly four decades of professional experience. She has over the years successfully overseen the communications and public affairs function and led the corporate social responsibility strategy for Bayer South Asia, Pfizer, and Monsanto, among others. Sarita has held multiple roles across diverse industries, the public sector, trade associations, MNCs, and the not-for-profit sector. Her areas of interest include advocacy, stakeholder engagement, sustainability, and communications.

As an Associate Certified Coach (ACC) from the International Coaching Federation (ICF) and Senior Practitioner (Mentoring) from the European Council of Mentoring and Coaching (EMCC), Sarita specializes in career transition, inner engineering and life issues. Sarita enjoys writing and is passionate about animals, books, and movies.