Have you ever been asked to make something pretty at your job? Have you ever rolled your eyes at this request? Maybe you grumbled or groaned or bemoaned to your colleagues about this request.

I've been asked this, although maybe not in those exact words, and I've always been confused about why the response from our industry is one of annoyance.

Our response every single time should be, “heck yeah, I can!”

We should get excited when someone in our workplace approaches us for help. This means, if nothing else, they’re comfortable enough with us to ask for help. And they know how to get ahold of us. This is fantastic! This means that you’re known as someone who can help (and maybe that your company directory works!)

Your colleague might be saying, “make it pretty” but what we should hear is:

Can you make this poster more engaging?
Can you make this article more interesting?
Can you make this document easier to read?

And can we do all of this? Heck yes we can!

Internal comms pros are not graphic designers (though I do love me some Canva) but we can do so much to improve materials. If your frustration is that you're being asked to do something that you perceive to be too tactical or “below” your role as a strategic advisor, I would encourage you to explore what it means to be strategic and what it means to be tactical. Making something more engaging IS strategic.

If you're worried about the scope of your role then this is a great opportunity to set some expectations. Need some words for that? Here you go:

“I would love to make this poster more appealing and easier to understand. However, I don’t have the skills to use our design software so we’ll need to bring in one of our graphic design colleagues for the logo and print setup.”

You’re welcome ;)

Repeat after me: “I can absolutely be the person to lead this project and achieve the outcomes you’re asking for.”

We have discounted tactical activities like this to our detriment. The request to make something “pretty” sounds trivial, no question. But internal communication as a practice should be at the crossroads of strategy and execution…and that includes making things pretty.

I hope you make everything prettier today and always.

~ Kristin