Women in Internal and Change Communications
Happy International Women’s Day! I feel incredibly fortunate to be surrounded by fierce, loyal, and inspiring women. Joining VMA GROUP and recruiting for Internal Communications and Change professionals has been a delightful surprise, as it is a predominantly female industry. According to VMA GROUP’s 2018 Inside Insight report, 70% of respondents in the internal communications sector were female, reflecting the sector’s overall composition.
In my six months at VMA GROUP, I’ve met incredible women who have achieved amazing things in their careers. To celebrate International Women’s Day, I reached out to some of these inspiring women to share their experiences in internal communications. Here are their thoughts:
Advice for Starting Your Career
Several women shared valuable advice for those beginning their careers:
- “Worry less and don’t allow the fear of rejection or failure to stop you from going after what you want.”
- “Don’t overthink opportunities. Better to put yourself forward, or your hand up, to take on more or something different without analyzing it to death. Trying something new is always good for you.”
- “If you want it – stick to it, explore it, fail in it, and then get back to it. If you don’t want it – walk away and go on looking.”
- “Say ‘yes’ to the opportunities that frighten you the most!”
- “Don’t feel you must have a plan. Stay open to opportunities. Be yourself and know intuitively that you can do it.”
Misconceptions About Women in Communications
There are several misconceptions about women working in internal and change communications:
- “Internal communication is often referred to as the ‘fluffy stuff’. It’s a misconception that women succeed because they are good with the ‘fluffy stuff’. Effective communication is crucial for business success.”
- “There’s an expectation that women are only interested in, or good at, softer skills like talking and listening.”
- “The biggest misconception is that these skills are less important than number crunching, when success depends on good communication with employees.”
Benefits of Being a Woman in Communications
Women in internal and change communications bring unique strengths to the table:
- “Diversity brings different ways of thinking and a great balance to the workplace. Women can be themselves and gain respect, challenging traditional norms.”
- “Women tend to have stronger emotional intelligence, providing inspirational leadership and coaching skills. This emotional awareness is powerful in internal communications.”
- “Women generally have high EQ and can read the organisational mood well.”
From my experience and conversations with many inspirational women, Internal and Change Communications is a positive environment for women to make a real difference. A recurring theme is to be brave and believe in yourself and your creativity. Success also requires a supportive organisation and a diverse team.
I’d like to thank everyone who took the time to share their insights and to all the candidates and clients I have met over the last six months. Let’s celebrate the women in our lives today!
Leila McCausland is a Principal Consultant with VMA GROUP’s Interim Internal and Change Communications team. For interim hiring requirements or career development in internal communications, contact Leila at +44 (0)203 327 7603 or email LMcCausland@vmagroup.com.
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