Michelle joined our remote growing team 3 months ago and has hit the ground running, managing several accounts as an Account Manager.
With more than 10 years of experience under her belt in the marketing industry, we have asked Michelle to give us her candid thoughts on pursuing and adapting to a new and remote environment – with all the good and challenges attached to it.
We also want to make sure that we give her a massive shoutout for all the work and great effort that she is putting into her work – Michelle, we are thrilled to have you as part of the IMWT team!
It’s commonly known that the beginning is the hardest. What was the hardest thing for you to overcome when starting at IMWT?
In this position as with any new position, the hardest thing has been not to become overwhelmed with the amount of information that needs to be learned. It’s really important to be patient and kind to yourself in this learning period and if you can do one task a week better than the previous week you’re on to a winning start!
With IMWT being a remote agency has meant having to be super self-motivated and learning to “reach out” to others via electronic means. The staff at IMWT have been so supportive, understanding, and more than willing to help so it’s been a really easy transition into the team.
I’ve had to become more confident in my own abilities and self-sufficient but it’s been a great ride and I’ve enjoyed every moment. Plus I’ve met some great staff from all over the world with amazing insights into the marketing industry from all over the globe!
What motivated you to pursue a remote job?
I’ve worked remotely for the last five years at another remote marketing agency and before that, I had my own agency where I did the majority of my work from my office/study/house. It allows me the flexibility to look after my young kids, go to the gym, do a load of washing, and all that house stuff while also working full time. It’s liberating how much time you have when you’re not tied down with logistics; trying to find parking, commuting, and office hours!
Remote working has its challenges but the positives outweigh the negatives. I’m typically a night owl anyway so it suits my lifestyle to have flexible hours. I love to jump online when my creative juices are flowing later in the day and have the flexibility to do the hours when you want (within reason 🙂 )
It’s a win/win for everyone.
What are your best tips on working remotely?
- Be self-motivated and proactive, it’s work, not leisure, and setting a definite line between the two is imperative.
- Don’t be afraid to ask questions and set a defined space to work and make that a dedicated work zone!
What is the most challenging part of your role?
IMWT is all about trust. It’s even in our business name! A challenging part of this role is that trust is often built over time, since I’ve only been at IMWT for a few months I don’t have time on my side. I do have a focus on high-quality output, a natural ability to be empathetic, and the drive to always go above and beyond for my clients.
One way to deeply develop your relationships with your clients as an Account Manager is for them to trust you. Trust that you’re there for them always, trust that every move you make is for their best interest, and trust that we are sincere, positive, and most importantly realistic in what we can achieve.
Most recently at IMWT, we’ve gone above and beyond to build that trust with our clients by aligning our services and the work we do with the needs and wants of the businesses we work with. We emphasise that we’re an extended part of our client’s marketing department and we show we can be trusted to support them with their business goals by continually ensuring that we’re aligning our services with their business goals.
What is the most rewarding part of your role?
The most rewarding part of my role so far has been seeing my clients achieve their targets through the work we do. Seeing the hard work paying off, working with some amazing staff and some cool clients.
It’s a diverse role with so many elements and it’s great to see the business progress and in turn, watch our clients profit from our evolution.
I like that trust, dependability and humility are core business values for IMWT as it illustrates real human emotions to the business. It’s so rewarding working within a remote agency yet feeling so close, to the human side of an organisation.
