We’re pleased to announce our most recent Accredited Business Communicators (ABCs), Barby Grant and Liam O’Mahony. They join the ranks of our 37 active and accredited members.  We recently caught up with Barby and Liam to learn more about their accreditation experience.

What was the most challenging aspect of earning the ABC designation?
For me the time restrictions during the written exam proved most challenging. I’m very analytical and thorough. I like to mull things over carefully before embarking on a course of action. The written exam doesn’t allow you the luxury of time to do that. You have to think and write quickly because the four hours you’re allotted go by really fast.

Do you need a specific level of experience before you undertake the accreditation process?
You’re eligible to apply for accreditation if you have at least five years of professional communication experience and a four-year degree. I’ve been in the profession for 30 years and have a master’s degree, and I still found the process challenging. If you have experience in different business sectors and/or a variety of functional areas, you may be ready sooner than those with less-varied experience. Just make sure you understand what’s required before applying. Review the portfolio work plan outline and think about what projects you’ve done that will meet the criteria. Also look over the sample exams to get an idea of what they involve.

Did you gain a better perspective on your skills and/or weaknesses as a professional communicator while going through the process?
Yes. I think my strong writing and organization skills helped me with the portfolio portion. Conversely, studying for and taking the written and oral exams made me aware of how limited my professional experience was, having spent almost my entire career in the public sector. I had to rely on textbook learning, rather than experience, to prepare for questions involving mergers and acquisitions, investor relations, corporate social responsibility and other private-sector communication issues.

Anything else you would like to share?
The accreditation process is not easy. In fact, it’s rather arduous. But when you finally get to put those three little letters after your name, you know you’ve earned them. And that brings a great deal of satisfaction. So if you’ve been thinking about pursuing accreditation, go for it!

Liam O’Mahony, ABC
City of Chandler Community Services Department and Recreation Division

Pursuing the ABC is clearly a personal and professional choice for IABC Phoenix members as they assess if they want or need it, and if they can take on the lengthy process and “academic commitment” needed to see it through while balancing everything else in their careers and lives. It is something that can extend your knowledge and multidisciplinary skills beyond your daily job roles and responsibilities.
It is a long process than can take a year or two, but it will feel great upon completion and having the designation can help you exert you leadership skills more through IABC or other professional pursuits.

What was the most challenging aspect of earning the ABC designation?

Probably having the patience to see it through as it took just over two years for me, and I kept pushing back on headquarters for the results turnaround. It was hard to be motivated to wait several months between the steps of turning in the portfolio, receiving the feedback, resubmitting one work plan, waiting for the written test and retaking one section. Writing the portfolio was challenging for one of my work plans to meet all of the criteria for measurable S.M.A.R.T. (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Realistic and Time-Bound) objectives, as the research part was not fully available at times.

Do you need a specific level of experience before you undertake the accreditation process?

I would recommend seven to 10 years of communications experience would probably be a good stage for someone to seriously embark on the process, which can effectively fit it into their work/life schedule. It helps if one has performed some or all of the four major steps (identify opportunity/research, developing the plan, executing the plan and evaluating the established measurable objectives) for a couple of large campaigns.

Did you gain a better perspective on your skills and/or weaknesses as a professional communicator while going through the process?
Indeed. I realized that I have done much more executing of strategies and tactics over the years than research and evaluating specific objectives. It was a challenge to write all of the pieces for the portfolio when each step of the established four-phased process may not always be as fully developed as the other parts. Depending on the campaign or a candidate’s sector or expertise, some sections may be more developed and concise that other.

Anything else you would like to share?
If someone has the ABC in their sights in the next few years, be meticulous about storing or cataloging your best pieces of plan writing and work samples in Word and PDFs. Having this toolbox of materials will expedite the written portfolio of two work plans and make it easier to polish the plans to prepare for the rigorous four-hour written and oral exam. The written and oral tests are generally held on a Saturday morning (or at an IABC conference), which can be good or bad. It’s good if you have been diligent in preparing and stay in to relax on Friday night, so you can unwind Saturday afternoon after you are worn out from typing 10-plus pages for four hours.

Become accredited
If you are interested in pursuing accreditation, please visit our webpage or contact Danielle LeBlanc for more information.

Also note that the Southern Region of IABC is offering accreditation scholarships. The scholarship will cover half of a member’s application fee once the member has earned accreditation. To learn more, read the latest accreditation article on the IABC Phoenix website.