Dear GiGi: Starting out at a larger corporation that boasted many resources and now leading a smaller but successful company, I know that there are potential benefits and drawbacks for each when it comes to size. In regards to working with a PR team though, does size really matter?

April 22, 2014

Dear GiGi: Starting out at a larger corporation that boasted many resources and now leading a smaller but successful company, I know that there are potential benefits and drawbacks for each when it comes to size. In regards to working with a PR team though, does size really matter?

April 22, 2014

Dear Morgan –

Realistically, the size of the firm with whom you are working may not necessarily have the greatest impact on the types of results you ultimately receive. Quality, not quantity, is paramount. Your communications partner should be intelligent, creative, and perseverant, and, to that end, firms big and small can both perform at a high level.

The people you choose to hire should also be as willing as they are able. You shouldn’t settle for a team that is either very thoughtful in their planning but slow to perform, or incomplete in their approach but aggressive in execution. The team should exhibit both of those qualities in a constant synchronization that is always fixated on your strategic goals. They must be prepared to listen to and understand your perspectives while constructively challenging the status quo for an even better outcome. There might be a better chance of consistently achieving those types of outcomes with a smaller firm for whom client retention is just as important as client wins. Those firms may not only commit at the beginning of a relationship, but also stay committed throughout the course of it.

Ultimately, organizations of all sizes have the ability to be effective. So long as you focus on the track record of a firm, and the personality, know-how, and work ethic of its people, you should be OK.

Thanks and stay on message!

-GiGi