What do you do if your Public Relations clients are resistant to embracing innovation?

It's understandable, change is scary and resistance accompanies fear in many situations. I would: - Take time to understand their fears - Assess their fears/concerns - Educate / Provide them with successful examples of how innovation can assist in enhancing their business or strategy. - Discuss what aspects of innovation they are open to and those they are completely against - Create a strategy that slowly introduces innovation and give time for the client to see the success - Set timeline for feedback after agreed innovation is executed - Set timeline to revisit previous conversations about innovation that they are completely against. - Repeat points above

It's imperative to navigate their fears with empathy and strategic insight. Take Kodak's well-documented hesitation to pivot towards digital photography, fearing it would cannibalize their film business. This resistance led to a missed opportunity to lead in digital, a space they ironically helped pioneer. Contrastingly, Netflix's willingness to evolve from DVD rentals to streaming, despite initial skepticism, showcases how understanding and addressing fears of change can catapult a brand to new heights.

Sure thing, you are way more professional in PR than your clients are. But try to not push sale your services, be it a new AI-based bot or whatever. Instead, make yourself clear on how your innovation might help adress client's pain points. Never press, but be convincing with sound reasons.

- Educate clients on the benefits of innovative PR strategies - Showcase successful case studies and proof of concept - Tailor solutions to align with client goals - Foster a culture of experimentation and adaptability - Drive impactful outcomes in a dynamic landscape

As Clayton Christensen (author of The Innovator Dilemma), I would advise handling resistance to innovation even if clients are hesitant to adopt new approaches, it's crucial to illustrate how failing to innovate could result in missed opportunities and eventual obsolescence. By demonstrating the potential benefits of embracing innovation, such as gaining a competitive edge, reaching new audiences, and staying relevant in a rapidly changing landscape, clients can be encouraged to overcome their resistance and explore new strategies that align with their long-term objectives.

Education is crucial for overcoming innovation resistance. Offer clients clear insights on how innovation can address their issues and improve PR results, using simple explanations and success stories. Avoid overwhelming them; emphasize benefits and provide reassurance.

Wouldn't it be an option to do a joint workshop with an expert in a different industry or on a subject? This way it's not the agency that wants to educate the client, but we're learning something as a team.

Sometime clients just don't know what they don't know. So I believe it is our responsibility as the experts in the field to be providing our clients with the insight that will allow them to understand and embrace innovative ways of doing PR that can have a positive impact on their brand. Showing them the benefits, and how these strategies can be implemented.

To address resistance to public relations (PR) innovation, demonstrating the success of novel strategies with tangible examples can be highly persuasive. For instance, consider the implementation of an internal awards program. Although this initiative may initially seem resource-intensive, its benefits often outweigh the costs. Not only does this approach secure free media coverage, but it also strengthens customer relationships by showcasing the company’s commitment to recognizing excellence. When executed well, this strategy can lead to a notable increase in brand loyalty and customer engagement. Through this example, leaders can see the direct correlation between innovative PR tactics and their positive impact on the company's image.

It's all about offering assurance and striking a chord with real success stories. For me, the FOMO works like a beauty. Let's consider the local restaurant that hesitated to utilize social media for promotions, fearing it might not resonate with their clientele. Once they saw a competitor's success story and were reassured about the process, they gave it a shot and witnessed their reservations double in just a few months. It's about showing them that the leap isn’t as scary as it seems, with concrete examples and a little bit of hand-holding, proving innovation isn't just a buzzword but a pathway to tangible success.

Encouraging clients to start small is a smart, strategic approach allowing them to test the viability of new ideas and observe tangible results. By doing this, they'll gradually build confidence in innovative approaches--and, build trust in your advice. As clients experience success on a smaller scale, they'll be more open to embracing data-driven, larger-scale changes down the road, paving the way for transformative growth and progress.

In these unstable times, start small.? Small changes where the client can see the benefits of the change builds trust and lead to bigger and better changes.? Compare results from past initiatives?whether or not it was 100% successful (maybe it was 75% successful) and show the potential how this change staying the course can benefit in the big picture.