This week I received a call at my office that caught me off guard, but probably shouldn’t have. It was a clear signal of the shifting change that is occurring in my professional life.

I’ve made the move from editor/graphic designer to communications manager, and after only three weeks, the contrast is obvious. It has taken some adjustment, I will freely admit that. I’ve had to alter my perception of what “work” means and the way that I think about projects – it’s a much bigger picture now and it’s taking some getting used to.

So, back to this phone call. It was from a radio reporter looking to do a quick interview about an upcoming event. My immediate thought was one of panic, but I quickly regained composure and remembered that this is my job now. All in all the interview went well. It was quick and relatively painless, but it got me thinking. Media relations is a whole new ballgame for me and I need to polish my act. It’s the sort of stuff they don’t teach enough of in school. I did take a 100-level media relations course in college and we did one TV interview that semester, which was horrifying, but I now realize we should have done one a week just to get comfortable.

The next day I joined PRSA (Public Relations Society of America). I need all the support I can get, and I’ve been wanting to join a professional organization for awhile now, I just wasn’t sure which group was the right fit. With time and practice I think I will hit my professional stride and find situations like this to be commonplace.

How have your handled professional change? What kinds of professional development measures have you taken to support your new or changing role? I’m happy to hear your comments.