Ariel Kramer: 3 ways to improve the confidence in your communication
Ariel Kramer, founder of PR and marketing firm Klover Communications, works with creating specialized content, and increasing the outreach for companies of all industries and sizes. She has bylines in Business Insider, The Wall Street Journal, and The Huffington Post along with a background in tech. She served as the Chief Communications Officer of CELLINK, and now as a communication advisor for AOA Inc.
To truly believe in yourself and your skillset, is according to Ariel Kramer one of the secrets behind great communication. However, with over a decade of experience in both tech and communication, she has found that succeeding in your communication also means to remain curious, continue to educate yourself, and to be receptive to the guidance from others within your field.
Tell us a bit about you and your work. What made you start working in communication?
—My first step toward a career in communications was working with my father's startup at the time. I was unhappy with the career path I chose in law at the time and had always had an interest in communications.
My father had been working with a PR firm but did not feel they could accurately tell his story in the way he had hoped. I had always taken a lot of interest in what he was working on and we decided I would take a stab at creating communications material to see if we could get the results he was looking for.
Fast forward, we got a lot of great coverage in outlets like Fast Company, Fox, and INC. It was then I decided to go off on my own and try to make a career in communications. Today, I have a boutique marketing and PR agency called Klover Communications where I primarily work with companies in the biotech, healthcare, and tech space. I have worked with companies of all sizes ranging from startups coming out of Y Combinator to publicly traded companies.
What's the most important insight you've gained throughout your career?
–The most important insight I have gained through my career is to overly communicate with everyone I work with to ensure I understand the deliverables and expectations. I've worked with a variety of clients from all over the word and there are many hurdles to conquer, especially when it comes to cultural differences and understanding how to best communicate.
“There is really no such thing as asking too many questions”
–There is really no such thing as asking too many questions. I’d rather ask too many questions than assume I know what they’re looking for and end up in a situation where the client isn’t happy. There have been times, especially early in my career, when I was afraid to vocalize my thoughts and refrained from asking too many questions because I thought it would reflect poorly on me.
What has been a challenge in your career? Has it changed throughout the years?
–Underestimating myself and lacking confidence. When you combine these two, you end up not only feeling down but not putting your best foot forward with those who are depending on you for your expertise. I have been in many situations where I did not voice my professional opinion to avoid push back and confrontation.
“I have been in many situations where I did not voice my professional opinion to avoid push back and confrontation.”
–I know I’m not alone in feeling this way, especially as you grow into your career. Now, I make it a point to vocalize my thoughts in a way that I feel I can best be heard and understood by those I work with. It's impossible to always be right but if someone is hiring you for your competency in an area where you have a proven track record, it’s your job to guide them in the right direction and voice your opinion even if they aren’t receptive from the beginning.”
What are your top three pieces of advice to other comms professionals?
1. Ask questions when things aren’t clear, the key to good communication is understanding what needs to be communicated and why.
2. Seek out mentors who you can go to for advice and guidance. I’ve had several mentors throughout my career who have helped me understand the world of communications on a deeper level.
3. Never stop educating yourself. The world of communications never stops evolving. Take a few hours out of your week to go read news on what’s happening in your industry and the industries you serve.
Who inspires you in your work?
–I have had the privilege to work with so many impressive clients who are really making a positive impact. When I take on a new client, my main focus, aside from compatibility, is what they are actually working on. I love being able to work with companies where I share that passion for what they’re doing and help them share their story.
Lastly, who do you think should be our next Great American Comms Professional?
–Instead of pointing to one person, I’d like to point to the younger generations. Social media has provided so many platforms to effectively communicate to the masses. Topics that were barely discussed before, such as mental health, have become a popular topic of discussion and a variety of changes have started to take place to advocate for mental health largely due to the communication around it. There are so many positive things that can happen because of good communication. I look forward to seeing how the world of communication will evolve and what will be accomplished.
GREAT AMERICAN Comms Professionals - A Content Series
What is it that makes great communication great? We live in a time where distractions are everywhere. Studies show that the average American gets exposed to between 4.000 and 10.000 ads every day, and they all have one purpose in common – getting our attention.
So, how do you stand out from the crowd, and create impactful communication that cuts through the noise of the fast media landscape? All Ears decided to ask the ones who know. In our content series “Great American Comms Professionals” we have interviewed some of the leading US communicators about their winning strategies for creating communication that matters.
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