In this issue...

Leading in Adversity:
A Message from the MHI President, Teresa Carale

Feature Article
Women Helping Women: The Rosedale Center for Girls  
 
Women Transforming Culture
Do you have a minute?  
By Allison Elliott
 
Cultural Corner
Coming This Spring: There Be Dragons
By Alice Trimmer

News and Upcoming Events

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Spring 2011 Newsletter

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Murray Hill Institute Newsletter
Spring 2011
Vol. 8 No. 2

Women Transforming Culture
Do you have a minute? 
By Allison Elliott

Interruptions can be one of the more irritable aspects of the workday.  As someone who works in Public Relations, my job requires a lot of writing and it can be very hard to concentrate when there are constant interruptions from co-workers, clients and impromptu callers.  I find myself jealous of my more senior colleagues who have offices with doors they can close when they need to hunker down and work.  One of the things that helps me not get too stressed about interruptions is when I think of all the times I am interrupting someone else.   When I call or email a contact, I have to keep in mind that my urgent need is not necessarily an urgent need of theirs.  That’s why it’s always so happily refreshing and surprising when someone does take the time to assist me.  I also know how frustrating it is to keep getting your message or question passed on and forwarded on because no one wants to take a few minutes to understand what you need and who best can help you. 

One of the first things I noticed when I started at my current job, is that one of the vice-presidents would always take the time to answer a survey or marketer who was calling to get his response as a PR professional.  I was impressed that instead of just cutting them off, he would take time to answer their questions, with answers that would ultimately benefit his industry.  It showed that he cared about his work and he cared about people, even though technically he was handling an “interruption.”  I once read an article about a man who complained to his friend about interruptions at work and his friend responded, “Perhaps your interruptions are your work.”  Thinking about that response helps me to manage my annoyance at distractions and expand my idea about what work is. 

Allison Elliott is an Account Supervisor at Gibbs & Soell PR in New York City.

Do you have an experience you would like to share about changing the culture in your workplace? Email us at info@murrayhillinstitute.org