What would happen if you switched places with your colleague?

When you trade places with your communications co-worker, everyone learns something

Many internal editors don’t get involved in the PR side of the communications biz, but that appears to be changing. The folks in our workshops seem to be taking on all manner of communications duties, from writing internal publications and maintaining intranets to managing external Web sites, writing speeches and dealing with reporters.

Whether you’re communicating inside or out, you’ve got issues. That’s no surprise to anyone, though life always seems more interesting on whatever end of the operation you’re not working.

That’s why writers, editors and other communication thinkers in any organization need to do the unthinkable once in a while.

They need to trade places.

This idea may never survive as a pilot for the house and garden network, but it could prove somewhat entertaining, and everyone might learn something in the process. Grab a person (or two) from the employee side, have them switch places with their colleagues on the media relations end and see what happens.