🏥 Claudia Ball: Vice President, Employee Communications & Engagement, GoodRx
Community, Connection and Relationship Building at Work
Hello, It’s Julia, Founder of The Switchboard, a newsletter exploring the ways we communicate and connect at work and beyond. Thank you for being part of our community. I’m grateful to you for reading, reacting and commenting. If you enjoy this edition, consider sharing it.
In This Edition
The power of connection and community
Lessons learned from planning an executive coffee program
The importance of relationship building
What sparked your path into your field?
I worked at Disney for three years. At the time, I wasn't in Communications, I was on the Facilities and Operations team at TV Animation. I was literally answering the phones and helping to coordinate office moves. Then, I was laid off and I made the decision to go back to school after many years away. I wanted to finish what I started and get that degree!
Serendipitously, I changed my major to Communications. When I graduated, Disney called me with a job offer in internal communications. At the time, I had no idea what internal communications was or what I would be responsible for, but it felt like a no-brainer to take the job and here I am many years later, loving this work.
What is a value that drives you personally and professionally?
Connection and Community. I think from our earliest days, we want to be accepted, seen, validated and connected with others–made to feel part of something and that sort of inner longing is what I believe to be a “built in” feature of humanity and it drives most people personally and professionally. I try to ground my communications work in this thesis and go from there to communicate in meaningful and impactful ways.
As you look back, is there a pivotal project that's shaped your career?
Early on in my career, I was asked to create an executive coffee series. I didn't have a ton of experience and felt a level of imposter syndrome, but I remember thinking I needed to do it well and with purpose and I allowed myself to figure it out along the way. It’s still one of the single most important projects I’ve led. I learned how to work with and understand senior-level leaders, cultivate strong relationships, harness the power of storytelling and build up my event coordination skills.
It was a great way for employees to connect outside of their own function or department, meet senior leaders in an informal environment and have fun. I learned a tremendous amount about the TV business, and the importance of authenticity. I built trust with those leaders, which helped me to establish valuable relationships that have helped me in my career many years later.
My biggest lesson learned — never host on a Monday! Workplace environments have shifted quite a bit since then and there’s much more of a hybrid approach that makes Fridays slightly more acceptable now.
What are the skills needed for great communicators?
Relationship building and building trust go together. It’s about authenticity, honesty and transparency in the work we lead. You must be agile and able to pivot under different circumstances. You have to be willing and able to give honest, constructive feedback. All of these skills can make you successful whether you're writing, planning an event or creating a comms strategy.
What's a hack or habit that grounds you in life and/or work?
I love to run. It's great for mental and physical health. It gives me both the physical space from my laptop or phone and the mental space to find new ideas or take an unexpected approach. Sometimes, I'll do a really short run to ignite a fresh perspective.
This career profile is based on a live interview. I’m grateful to you for reading, reacting and commenting. If you enjoyed what you learned, consider sharing it with a colleague or friend. Signing off for this edition. — Julia
I love the idea of a “coffee series.” I think that would work in a lot of settings—and not just for executives. Also thought the “never on Monday” point intriguing.