What do you do if your clients have conflicting interests in PR?

1 Assess Risks

When you identify a potential conflict of interest between your clients, the first step is to assess the risks involved. Consider the implications for each client's brand reputation, legal exposure, and financial outcomes. It's crucial to determine the extent of the conflict and whether it's manageable within the scope of your agency's policies. Sometimes, conflicts may be superficial and resolvable with strategic planning, while others might necessitate more drastic measures.

2 Set Boundaries

Once the risks are assessed, it's time to set clear boundaries. You must establish firm lines of confidentiality and ensure that information is not inadvertently shared between the conflicting parties. This might involve creating separate teams within your agency to handle each client or implementing strict communication protocols. It's essential to maintain trust by demonstrating that you can manage each client's interests independently and without bias.

3 Communicate Openly

Open communication with your clients is paramount when handling conflicts of interest. You need to discuss the situation with each client separately, explaining the nature of the conflict and how you plan to address it. This is where your negotiation skills come into play; you'll need to mediate between the parties and find a common ground or an alternative strategy that mitigates the conflict. Ensure that all parties feel heard and that their concerns are taken seriously.

4 Explore Alternatives

Exploring alternative strategies is a proactive way to manage conflicting interests. This could involve re-evaluating campaign goals, adjusting timelines, or finding new angles that align with each client's objectives without causing friction. The aim is to provide solutions that allow both clients to thrive independently. Creativity and flexibility are your allies here, as they can lead to innovative approaches that sidestep potential issues.

5 Maintain Integrity

Maintaining your professional integrity is non-negotiable. You must adhere to ethical standards and best practices in PR at all times. This means being honest about what you can and cannot do for your clients and refusing to take actions that could harm either party or your own reputation. Your role as a PR professional is not just to serve your clients but also to uphold the integrity of the industry.

6 Review Regularly

Finally, regularly reviewing the situation is essential to ensure that the measures you've put in place are working and that the interests of both clients continue to be served without compromise. This ongoing process involves monitoring campaigns, checking in with clients, and being prepared to adjust your strategies as needed. It's a dynamic approach that requires vigilance and responsiveness to change.

7 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?