All of Us Are PR Workers

When one thinks of a public relations practitioner, they usually associate a communicator who strives to provide their client or organization with creative and strategic guidance in the areas of putting forth a positive image, generating am ongoing stream of visibility and establishing ties with others. These goals are largely the results of professional communicators whose work it is to provide those they represent with guidance and leadership in those areas. This work, however, is not just unique to those in public relations. It is a challenge that all of us strive to meet every day even if our only client is ourselves.


We are our own public relations practitioner. An easy example of this are actors. Yes, in order to establish and maintain a steady career they must have talent and do good work when they are hired to do so. But in addition to that, their success is heavily contingent on how well they are accepted by the paying public. This means they must be vigilant when it comes to presenting themselves in an appealing light. They are always "on" even when not standing in front of a camera or before an audience. This ongoing challenge is not unique to those choosing to be in the public eye. It very much applies to us "regular folk," too.


If we are married, for example, we want our spouse to remain in our corner. On the job, we wish to keep a paycheck. With neighbors, we strive to get along. The best way to achieve these every day, yet oh so important goals is to keep doing all we can to promote a positive image of ourselves. This reality very much places us in the realm of promotion; only instead of promoting a thing, we are promoting the vision of being valued, liked and admired. It is as much of a constant in our lives as anything else we may undertake. This means all of us are public relations practitioners whether we like it or not.