“Communication is not the answer to all problems”

For over 25 years, we have been connecting organizations with the best marketing, communication, and content professionals. We find suitable assignments or positions for junior, medior, and senior professionals. In Spot On, we would like to introduce them to you. This time, Spot On: sisters Ilse and Vicky Puls.

“Communication is not the answer to all problems” – Vicky Puls

Ilse and Vicky Puls are sisters and coincidentally they both work via Babbage. Ilse is an interim Communications Advisor at the Corridor-oriented Operation and Guidance (CBB) program of Rijkswaterstaat. Vicky is an interim Communications Advisor at the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Climate (EZK) and at the State Supervision of Mines. They are happy to tell you what their projects entail.

Introduce

Before the conversation begins, the Puls sisters briefly introduce themselves. Vicky starts: “I am Vicky and I graduated as a psychologist in 2000. After that, I worked in communication positions as an employee for ten years and have been self-employed for twelve years. 

My first projects as a freelancer were mainly focused on writing texts, for example for websites or books. Gradually I started to focus more on communication, especially internal communication and change communication. I do that mainly for the government and non-profit organizations.”

Ilse continues: “I am Ilse and six and a half years older than Vicky. I studied Text and Communication Science at the University of Tilburg. After my education I worked for commercial companies, for example Proctor and Gamble and Pon's Automobielhandel.

Sixteen years ago I started my own business at the municipality of Rotterdam. After that, like Vicky, I mainly did non-profit projects. Because of the many different communication projects I worked on, I am a real generalist in the field and I quickly find my way in a new organization. In addition to my interim work, I also coach communication advisors.”

Working in the non-profit sector

Non-profit seems to be the preference of both sisters. How does that work? Ilse begins: “When my children were just born, I was ready for socially relevant work. I worked at Proctor and Gamble and wanted to focus on more than just the sales figures for detergents and shampoos. I really like non-profit, because it is about something.”

Vicky responds: “That wasn’t the only motivation for me. I had several jobs as an employee that were related to real estate in one way or another. One of my first jobs was focused on internal communication about a new office. It has become my specialty to do that within non-profit and government.”

The assignment at the EZK…

Vicky says about her assignment at EZK: “I work for the 'HRM in the purchasing domain' program. This is a government-wide program aimed at the professionalization of government purchasers.  

From the program we support professionals within the government procurement column in HR. This includes attracting new talent, developing procurement training and ensuring that procurement professionals can continue to develop.

In addition, I work for the State Supervision of Mines via Babbage. The organization supervises and advises on the safety of people and the protection of the environment in energy production and the use of the subsurface. It deals with subjects such as wind turbines in the North Sea, drilling platforms and gas production in Groningen.” 

And Ilse's assignment at RWS…

Ilse works at Rijkswaterstaat in Shipping and Water Management. “I take care of the communication for the Corridor-oriented Operation and Guidance program, or CBB. 
Rijkswaterstaat wants to facilitate shipping optimally and therefore works towards serving and guiding skippers over the entire route they travel. This is called Corridor-oriented Service and Guidance.

It is the transition from local operation and guidance to full support on the largest shipping routes (corridors) in the Netherlands. In this way, Rijkswaterstaat wants to contribute to the further development of shipping. For RWS, this means a new way of working with new information systems.” 

The challenges of both

Every assignment has its own challenges. Ilse says: “Corona makes it all more difficult. In these times it is quite a search for the right means to communicate. I want to involve the people on the work floor in the changes.”

"I do this, for example, by means of interviews. We also support managers with tools that they can use to share information about the program. I try to give it an interactive form."

Vicky recognizes this. “It is difficult to keep people connected in these times. Especially when new things are happening that were not happening before corona. People are not always connected yet.”

“You also want to involve people who are new to the organization. In the beginning, there is a lot of attention for the new colleagues, but you would like to keep that. That is a challenge for me.”

Not the answer to all problems

The sisters quickly agree on a piece of advice. Ilse: “Communication is not the answer to all problems. What is crooked, you cannot straighten with communication. I sometimes say 'communication follows policy'. We do need to know where we are going.”

Vicky agrees: “That and in addition, problems are not automatically solved when someone from communications is involved. If the organization's story is not in order, you can't do it with communication alone. It is important that organizations understand that.” 

Are you also looking for a new challenge? We would love to talk to you and find your next step together.