Christi's Top Takeaways from the PRSA Dallas Leadership Class

I’ve been a proud member of the Public Relations Society of America Dallas Chapter (PRSA Dallas) for almost 12 years and have learned a lot through the diverse programming offered by the chapter. From conferences and luncheons to boot camps and accreditation resources, PRSA Dallas provides some of the best professional development content available for public relations professionals. But the chapter took it to a whole new level this year…

As part of an initiative to give back to members and provide a valuable new member benefit at no cost to participants, PRSA Dallas launched a leadership development program to help professionals build important skills like strategic planning, budget management and executive presence.

I wasn’t exactly sure what I was signing up for when I submitted my application to be considered for the 2019 inaugural program, but it was one of the best learning experiences I’ve had in my career since completing the accreditation in public relations process in 2015. 

A few of my many takeaways from the program include:

PRIVILEGE CHANGES PERSPECTIVE.

This one seems obvious, but I don’t think it fully clicked for me until we participated in a privilege walk exercise led by PRSA Dallas Diversity & Inclusion Chair Jen Cho when discussing the importance of D&I in culture. Our different life experiences impact so much of our thoughts and behavior. When we stop assuming everyone’s had access to the same resources or privileges we’ve had in life, we can start seeing the world through a much broader lens. 

INTROVERTS CAN BE GREAT NETWORKERS.

As an introvert, I dread networking events and small talk more than a trip to the dentist. Fortunately, networking doesn’t have to look the same for every person. A panel of pros talked us through different approaches for networking based on style and personality type, and I’ve realized I can be much more successful (and less overwhelmed) networking in a small group or one-on-one situation than at a large cocktail party.

IT’S OK TO BE SELFISH WITH VOLUNTEER LEADERSHIP.

One of my favorite panels during the program included top local nonprofit leaders in a discussion about engaging volunteers. They highlighted that volunteerism in a board or leadership role should check several boxes, including both passion for helping a cause AND opportunity for personal or professional growth. It’s OK to say no to volunteer opportunities that don’t interest you and look for positions that will be mutually beneficial for you and the organization. A win-win!

HOW TO TAKE A MEETING FROM GOOD TO GREAT.

I’ve led my fair share of meetings and have experienced the highs of a killer productive brainstorm and the lows of a poorly planned discussion. In a session led by Liz Navarro, we learned specific strategies and tactics to bring to our meetings to drive the most productive and efficient outcomes. My favorite tactic she shared was the “Think. Pair. Share.” approach that poses a question to the group, pairs people up for discussion and then asks pairs to share the highlights from their discussions with the group. 

THE BEST LEADERS PLAY TO THEIR STRENGTHS.

Strengths-based leadership and professional development have always played an important role in building our team and culture here at Three Box, but it was fascinating to talk about it through the lens of building a stronger executive presence. We took the CliftonStrengths assessment to identify our top five themes, and then LaurieGrace Bouldin, CEO of Rethink Results, led us in a discussion of how we can leverage our unique strengths, rather than focusing on our weaknesses, to become stronger leaders. For example, while I often think of my top strength (which is Harmony) as more of a weakness because it’s associated with people-pleasing and conflict avoidance, it can actually be a major asset in building consensus among a team.

It was truly an honor to be a part of the inaugural graduating class of the PRSA Dallas leadership development program. I learned a lot, I was inspired and I built deeper connections with 16 other leaders in our profession.

For more information about the program and how to apply, visit https://prsadallas.org/Leadership_Program.