From Muted Moments to Resounding Success: Life in PR, a daily dose of a strategist

Past couple of days I was so sick that i felt muted, as i felt talking was harder than anything ever... As I lay in my bed, staring up at the ceiling, I couldn't help but feel the weight of my illness. My throat was raw and my voice was barely a whisper. Every time I tried to speak, it was like my vocal cords were being dragged across sandpaper. But as the days wore on and my body began to recover, I started to see things differently.

As a PR professional, I often found myself in situations where I felt muted. Maybe it was because I was working with a difficult client who didn't want to listen to my ideas. Maybe it was because I was trying to navigate a delicate situation where any wrong move could be disastrous. Whatever the reason, there were times when it felt like my voice didn't matter.

But just like my illness, I knew that this feeling of being muted would eventually pass. I had to keep pushing forward, keep advocating for my clients and their interests. Even if it felt like nobody was listening, I knew that my words would eventually make an impact. This parallel between my recent illness and my daily life as a PR strategist got me thinking about the difficulties I often face in my profession.

Dealing with clients and sometimes Industry seniors who might not completely see the value of public relations or of yourself as a public relations expert is one of the most difficult aspects of being a PR strategist for me.

When you have an idea for a strategic PR campaign that can help the client but they are hesitant to invest in it, it can be difficult. It's simple to feel as though your knowledge and insights are being ignored at this time. It's crucial to keep in mind, though, that educating your clients and assisting them in seeing the wider picture are both parts of your work. Patience, perseverance, and the capacity to persuasively articulate the potential advantages of your strategies are necessary for getting through this obstacle.

Managing crises and poor public perception is another challenge that PR practitioners frequently face. Our jobs become even harder if the client is not ready to accept 'if' and 'when' the fault is really in their hands. This is often when the 'holding statement' fails to HOLD, while the PR person may have drafted many releases that sticks to the basics of crisis management, a 'know-it-all' client might just want a watered down holding statement, that would probably increase the public anger, and in today's world of two-ways comms, its always the PR person who will be accounted in the angry keyboard worrier comments.

The pressure is great when a crisis occurs, whether it be a product recall, a scandal, or a backlash on social media. Every phrase you use and every action you perform under these circumstances could have a big impact on the client's reputation. It's a high-stakes game where any error could have serious consequences. You may experience a sense of muting as a result of the pressure to formulate thoughtful comments and successfully navigate the media ecosystem. We have to always keep in mind to tread carefully to avoid exacerbating the situation, monitor, analyse and react, are my mantra in such cases.

Additionally, PR strategists face challenges due to the ever evolving dynamics of the digital landscape. The way information circulates has changed as a result of social media platforms, online news sources, and digital influencers. It might be difficult to keep up with the newest trends, algorithms, and platforms. Sometimes it seems like you're always playing catch-up while trying to get your client's message out over all the digital chatter. Believe me, every passing day I have a client asking me for something 'new' ; but often times when i do give the client a whole new DIGITAL PR pathway, clients revert to me saying, that is NOT PR. Its always a struggle with 'WHAT client perceives as PR' and 'WHAT PR is actually capable of' also mind you, Influencer content is a PR tactic, but lot may beg to differ.

Whats more, you must deal with the unpredictable nature of public opinion in your role as a PR strategist. What formerly worked for one client might not currently work for another. The mood of the population can quickly alter as trends change. One of my collegues always used to ask me, can't you just keep one basic PR plan for every new client, my reply; I WISH, but realistically I cannot. Just like every product is different, every PR plan is different, We put a lot of thought process and research to each small deck we end up presenting in mere 10 mins. Just to be rejected cos there was somebody's so-and-so in other team, so let's give them the job mentality. It can be difficult to keep your strategies current and effective in a constantly shifting environment, and you might feel like your efforts are being ignored, and that is when your PR strategist start to really BURN OUT.

If it comes with all such evil spirals, why still struck being a STRATEGIST, one may wonder?

Well, a PR strategist's existence is not without its challenges. My recent illness made me appreciate having a voice and made me aware of the difficulties I encounter in my line of work. I keep working hard despite the times when I feel like I'm being ignored because I have faith that my knowledge and efforts will eventually shine through and benefit my clients. The secret is to maintain your resiliency, adjust to the shifting environment, and never undervalue the influence of good communication in the field of public relations.

You continue to be a PR strategist because you are the maestro of messaging and the conductor of the symphony of communication. Your enthusiasm for the persuasiveness of language strengthens your resolve among the clamour of difficulties. You enjoy the thrill of turning crises into opportunities and the art of changing narratives. It's a vocation where you craft perception and influence reality, not just a job.

Every day is a blank canvas in this exciting PR industry, waiting for your artistic strokes. In addition to being a strategist, you are also a good storyteller, problem solver, and relationship builder. You, the PR virtuoso, remain at the centre of everything by mastering the skill of making your voice heard in a congested world.