Comments on: Government communications is interesting, dammit! http://canuckflack.com/2006/10/12/government-communications-is-interesting-dammit/ ... it's about public relations, marketing, retail quirks, government communications and oddities ... and written in Canada! Wed, 07 Jan 2009 21:38:07 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.7 hourly 1 By: Chamika http://canuckflack.com/2006/10/12/government-communications-is-interesting-dammit/comment-page-1/#comment-38615 Chamika Sun, 10 Jun 2007 16:25:02 +0000 http://canuckflack.com/2006/10/12/government-communications-is-interesting-dammit/#comment-38615 Working in government communications does offer great learning opportunities, but it's hard to be patient and wait for senior management to want to invest in innovation and for policy changes to occur. There is also a sense of 'accountabilism', where nobody wants to be held accountable for any decision made and a never-ending approvals process requiring multiple levels of sign-off on banal bits of information results. Although government communications does offer the possibility of a multi-stage career, given the various levels of bureaucracy during the job advertising and hiring process (in the Canadian context), it takes time to switch departments or even have different opportunities show up. In the end, most of the skills I've learned through my job in government communications aren't being put to good use, most of my colleagues are not interested in changing the communications landscape, very few managers are true leaders and the levels of daily frustration dealing with surrounding mediocrity aren't worth it. I don't want to have my communications skills or my creative impulse go to waste so I am looking elsewhere in the private sector where the approvals process doesn't hamper innovation and where creativity is encouraged and not stifled. It's nice to see that government communications works for some people, but it's definitely not for everybody. Working in government communications does offer great learning opportunities, but it’s hard to be patient and wait for senior management to want to invest in innovation and for policy changes to occur. There is also a sense of ‘accountabilism’, where nobody wants to be held accountable for any decision made and a never-ending approvals process requiring multiple levels of sign-off on banal bits of information results.

Although government communications does offer the possibility of a multi-stage career, given the various levels of bureaucracy during the job advertising and hiring process (in the Canadian context), it takes time to switch departments or even have different opportunities show up. In the end, most of the skills I’ve learned through my job in government communications aren’t being put to good use, most of my colleagues are not interested in changing the communications landscape, very few managers are true leaders and the levels of daily frustration dealing with surrounding mediocrity aren’t worth it.

I don’t want to have my communications skills or my creative impulse go to waste so I am looking elsewhere in the private sector where the approvals process doesn’t hamper innovation and where creativity is encouraged and not stifled. It’s nice to see that government communications works for some people, but it’s definitely not for everybody.

]]> By: SoSaidThe.Organization » Blog Archive » Government communications: a multi-stage career http://canuckflack.com/2006/10/12/government-communications-is-interesting-dammit/comment-page-1/#comment-34790 SoSaidThe.Organization » Blog Archive » Government communications: a multi-stage career Sat, 17 Mar 2007 14:41:47 +0000 http://canuckflack.com/2006/10/12/government-communications-is-interesting-dammit/#comment-34790 [...] [fade to studio] Hello. My name is Colin McKay. I’m an evangelist for government communications. You may remember me from such popular posts as Government Communications is interesting, dammit! and Government Communications doesn’t suck: I mean it. Thank you for taking time out of your busy day to spend a few minutes with us. [...] [...] [fade to studio] Hello. My name is Colin McKay. I’m an evangelist for government communications. You may remember me from such popular posts as Government Communications is interesting, dammit! and Government Communications doesn’t suck: I mean it. Thank you for taking time out of your busy day to spend a few minutes with us. [...]

]]> By: Canuckflack / Government communications: a multi-stage career http://canuckflack.com/2006/10/12/government-communications-is-interesting-dammit/comment-page-1/#comment-17365 Canuckflack / Government communications: a multi-stage career Thu, 02 Nov 2006 01:34:35 +0000 http://canuckflack.com/2006/10/12/government-communications-is-interesting-dammit/#comment-17365 [...] [fade to studio] Hello. My name is Colin McKay. I’m an evangelist for government communications. You may remember me from such popular posts as Government Communications is interesting, dammit! and Government Communications doesn’t suck: I mean it. Thank you for taking time out of your busy day to spend a few minutes with us. [...] [...] [fade to studio] Hello. My name is Colin McKay. I’m an evangelist for government communications. You may remember me from such popular posts as Government Communications is interesting, dammit! and Government Communications doesn’t suck: I mean it. Thank you for taking time out of your busy day to spend a few minutes with us. [...]

]]> By: Joseph Thornley http://canuckflack.com/2006/10/12/government-communications-is-interesting-dammit/comment-page-1/#comment-13188 Joseph Thornley Sun, 15 Oct 2006 19:38:38 +0000 http://canuckflack.com/2006/10/12/government-communications-is-interesting-dammit/#comment-13188 Colin, I have split my work week between Toronto and Ottawa for most of the past 20 years. In Toronto, i find corporate clients who appreciate my help as a consultant, who have adequate budgets and who are keen to innovate. In Ottawa, I have government clients who work on issues of importance to Canadians and Canadian society. But unfortunately, they too often lack adequate budgets, are unable to innovate and very often resent the consultants with their perceived freedom and bigger paycheques. I think we need to challenge our political leaders to recognize the potential for honest, two way communications (did anyone say social media?) to engage Canadians and restore faith in our public institutions. That means being willing to share information about how government arrives at decisions and trusting Canadians and government employees to act responsibly. Sadly, until that happens, I think that you will continue to have to write posts like this. Keep pushing the boundaries. /Joe Thornley Colin,
I have split my work week between Toronto and Ottawa for most of the past 20 years.
In Toronto, i find corporate clients who appreciate my help as a consultant, who have adequate budgets and who are keen to innovate.
In Ottawa, I have government clients who work on issues of importance to Canadians and Canadian society. But unfortunately, they too often lack adequate budgets, are unable to innovate and very often resent the consultants with their perceived freedom and bigger paycheques.
I think we need to challenge our political leaders to recognize the potential for honest, two way communications (did anyone say social media?) to engage Canadians and restore faith in our public institutions. That means being willing to share information about how government arrives at decisions and trusting Canadians and government employees to act responsibly.
Sadly, until that happens, I think that you will continue to have to write posts like this.
Keep pushing the boundaries.
/Joe Thornley

]]> By: Colin http://canuckflack.com/2006/10/12/government-communications-is-interesting-dammit/comment-page-1/#comment-12881 Colin Fri, 13 Oct 2006 23:35:05 +0000 http://canuckflack.com/2006/10/12/government-communications-is-interesting-dammit/#comment-12881 Greg: Sure - but you could have that problem at any large organization with a strong union. Greg: Sure - but you could have that problem at any large organization with a strong union.

]]> By: Greg Brooks http://canuckflack.com/2006/10/12/government-communications-is-interesting-dammit/comment-page-1/#comment-12879 Greg Brooks Fri, 13 Oct 2006 23:05:05 +0000 http://canuckflack.com/2006/10/12/government-communications-is-interesting-dammit/#comment-12879 You know, I've never actually worked as a government employee. But despite that, I've done enough consulting work for government agencies that I think I could anecdotally validate every point you're making. Curious: What are the protections like for civil-service workers in Canada. The one downside I can see to working in pub-sec communications is that at the management level, you may very well have underperforming team members you just can't get rid of. You know, I’ve never actually worked as a government employee. But despite that, I’ve done enough consulting work for government agencies that I think I could anecdotally validate every point you’re making.

Curious: What are the protections like for civil-service workers in Canada. The one downside I can see to working in pub-sec communications is that at the management level, you may very well have underperforming team members you just can’t get rid of.

]]> By: Colin http://canuckflack.com/2006/10/12/government-communications-is-interesting-dammit/comment-page-1/#comment-12825 Colin Fri, 13 Oct 2006 15:19:26 +0000 http://canuckflack.com/2006/10/12/government-communications-is-interesting-dammit/#comment-12825 Thanks for the comments, guys. I think I'm on a bit of a roll on this issue - and I could go on for months. Thanks for the comments, guys. I think I’m on a bit of a roll on this issue - and I could go on for months.

]]> By: Lorne burger http://canuckflack.com/2006/10/12/government-communications-is-interesting-dammit/comment-page-1/#comment-12817 Lorne burger Fri, 13 Oct 2006 14:50:34 +0000 http://canuckflack.com/2006/10/12/government-communications-is-interesting-dammit/#comment-12817 I couldnt agree more, Colin. Government communications work doesnt suck, nor is it boring! i got my start in pr working for a federal crown corporation and it was a very interesting and challenging time in my career. I was able to dip my toe in to many facets of pr (including most of the ones you mention) and never felt like I was missing out by not working in an agency or the corporate side. great post! eager for the next one I couldnt agree more, Colin. Government communications work doesnt suck, nor is it boring!

i got my start in pr working for a federal crown corporation and it was a very interesting and challenging time in my career.

I was able to dip my toe in to many facets of pr (including most of the ones you mention) and never felt like I was missing out by not working in an agency or the corporate side.

great post! eager for the next one

]]> By: Ian Ketcheson http://canuckflack.com/2006/10/12/government-communications-is-interesting-dammit/comment-page-1/#comment-12719 Ian Ketcheson Fri, 13 Oct 2006 00:33:34 +0000 http://canuckflack.com/2006/10/12/government-communications-is-interesting-dammit/#comment-12719 Hey Colin. Way to stand up for the team. Hey Colin.

Way to stand up for the team.

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