“The new normal.” “Social distancing.” “COVID-19.” “Remote work.” “Pandemic.” 

Less than a year ago, these words wouldn’t have provoked much of a reaction. Yet, after months of life in an ongoing pandemic, these phrases are now ingrained into our vocabulary and daily lives. 

American actor Jimmy Dean once said, “I can’t change the direction of the wind, but I can adjust my sails.” When the pandemic hit in early 2020, our agency, like many other businesses, moved entirely virtual — but our dedication to continued learning didn’t stop. 

Our commitment to continuous professional development through our peer-led Sage U program remained intact: We found new, better ways to engage. As Sage U continues to evolve, we’ve been able to successfully pivot to a virtual experience through new initiatives aimed at transcending the computer screen and forging the more familiar connections of our in-person sessions. To that end, here are a few examples of what we’ve rolled out so far:

Fireside Chats

Several months ago, we began a new Sage U Fireside Chat Q&A series where various Sage team members share life lessons and professional tips in a casual, conversational interview. Recent chats include Sage Communications Co-founder and CEO Larry Rosenfeld, who shared his journey and rise as a government marketing legend; and PR Senior Account Executive Ryan McDermott, who shared insights from his previous career as a journalist.

Team Knowledge Shares and Sage U Minutes

At Sage, we believe ideas can come from anywhere: every team member brings unique experiences and insight. As part of every weekly team meeting, two Sage team members present a brief knowledge share on professional and personal topics.Topics so far range from “How to Smoke a BBQ Pork Butt” to “The Best Times to Schedule a Press Release.

During every weekly Sage all-hands meeting, one team member takes the floor to present a “Sage U Minute” on a topic of their choice. This initiative has led to engaging minute-long sessions where team members have shared everything from their favorite books and travel spots to leading a company-wide desk yoga session! NAMASTE!

Grammar Breakfasts and Writing Workshops

On the first Wednesday of every month, the Sage team gathers virtually for a BYOB (Bring Your Own Breakfast, of course) session focused on grammar tips — we can all use a refresher sometimes. 

The team also gathers routinely for quick-hit writing workshops led by Sage’s former-journalist team members. These sessions offer a chance to discuss writing strategies and techniques — as well as a chance to put them into practice, as we continue work to make our virtual meetings as engaging and valuable as possible. 

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Through these initiatives and others, we were able to successfully pivot as we continue to ingrain learning in everything we do. Whether a one-minute, 15-minute or 30-minute training, it’s vital to prioritize the continued education of team members and apply that knowledge to our strategic planning, storytelling, pitching and more. This will help us better service clients and make us more well-rounded communicators. 

Mike Atkinson is a public relations senior account executive at Sage Communications.

At Sage Communications, we’re committed to professional development. This commitment to ensuring our employees are engaged and never stop learning is manifested through our Sage U program: an all-learn, all-teach model focused on knowledge sharing.