Tuesday, July 28, 2020

Here's to Imperfection!

What could be labeled as an unavoidable trend in communication since the field's beginning days over 100 years ago is the matter of perfection. Communicators, including scholars and professional practitioners, have stressed perfection. No no mistakes. No typos. No misspellings. No misstatements. This, I quickly note, is completely understandable. After all, imperfection in the worlds of professionalism and academia, for instance, represents a clear threat to one's credibility, professional standing and how their level of competence is viewed. In those settings, I for one have strived for perfection though I have not always been perfect in that regard.

As perfection is the focus of this blog entry, it is important that it be given the recognition it deserves. After all, the level of damage imperfection can and does cause is practically immeasurable. This can be especially true when it comes to communication. Having said, that, however, it is also worth noting that perfection, in the context of communication, can be a bit overrated. To begin, let us look at those who do the communicating: people. These are living and breathing creatures who are imperfect by design., As much as they strive to hit the bulls-eye with each action, including attempts to communicate, much of the time they fall short. In other words, their efforts are consistently less than perfect.

Thus, imperfection is the order of the day. As much as all of us may strive to be perfect in all that we do, it is important that we not turn our backs on imperfection or treat it like an uninvited guest to a party. Let us be clear: imperfection is going to make its presence known at any social or professional gathering. The only unknown is how much of a "bang" it is going to make. All this is not to say we should no longer strive for mistake-free days. Of course, we should. At the same time, when imperfection does pop up, it is not necessarily something that should automatically be shunned or scorned.

Saturday, July 25, 2020

The Competent Press Secretary

There are two key elements to a press secretary's job: communicating the desired message of the big boss or organization and doing so in a way that either maintains open lines of interaction with those on the receiving end of the messages or, if possible, improves upon those channels. Such a dual challenge may sound difficult but, nevertheless, this is what the competent press secretaries do. Anything short of that represents failure on their part as professional communicators and a short-sightedness that does a serious disservice to the profession, themselves and the persons, including their boss, with whom they are attempting to connect.

This dual challenge never changes regardless of the message. Even if a press secretary has to speak harshly to a reporter, for example, they must do so in a way that is straight-forward, understandable and honest while maintain open lines of communication. For press secretaries to be at their best, these two objectives go hand-in-hand. Every time a press secretary steps up to the podium, it should be with the intent of achieving both ends. They should never sacrifice one objective at the expense of the other. The competent press secretary recognizes that one is not more important than the other, regardless of what direction they may be getting from their organizational superiors.

Granted, this may not always be easy, particularly if a boss is of a mindset that their message is more important than any one segment of the intended public. As a professional communicator, however, the press secretary must hold-strong to the communication truism that interactions are at their best when the thread connecting all parties involved remain viable and open. Yes, at times this can be a real tightrope walk for the press secretary. But that is why their job is both important and difficult. That is also why there be a lot of press secretaries these days but there are only few that are truly competent.

Wednesday, July 22, 2020

"Relational Mojo"

Take a couple that generally is compatible. The two as individuals are decent and, normally, are very much committed to their union. But what happens when outside challenges seep into their relationship?  What happens when these outside forces begin diverting their focus away from each other? Instead of striving each day to strengthen their relationship, each one begins putting more and more of their energy on contending with the outside elements. The more their attention is directed away from their relationship, the less satisfied each feels with their partner - as if the partner is getting in the way of contending with those outside challenges.

In these times of the coronavirus and economic shortfalls, such a scenario is not all that far-fetched. Not only are many good people being stricken with the virus and are having to scramble to make economic ends meet, they are also finding themselves emotionally isolated as a direct result of having the stability of their worlds upset. It is one thing to be sailing in a ship when the waters are smooth, but quite another when those same waters become violent, unpredictable and life threatening. How are couples to cope? How they are to survive as twosomes? How are they to keep their union as perfect as possible?

There is no way, of course, that I have the wisdom to offer-up specific solutions to any couple currently sailing in rough waters triggered, in large part, by the coronavirus and the economic turmoil that has followed. Nevertheless, one point I will make here is that for those same couple to have any chance of righting their ships, they must jointly acknowledge their challenges. They must be willing to sit down and identify whatever tension they may be feeling as a couple. Once their problem has been outed, then it is easier to address. When it comes to dealing with problems, silence is not golden. Taking such action represents an active commitment to regaining their "relational mojo."

Saturday, July 18, 2020

Robert Owen

Robert Owen was not a public relations pioneer. In fact, Owen lived his life before the term "public relations" was first uttered or used in any way even close to regularity. Owen, who was born in Wales and died in 1858, was a manufacturer who had the idea that if people would, in the words of historians Will and Ariel Durant, "practice mutual consideration and aid they would enjoy a peace and content such as they had never experienced before." In adapting this perspective - deemed a bit far afield at the time - Owen believed a successful bridge between capitalism and socialism could be established that would result in greater harmony among all.

I turn this spotlight on Owen both because of his commendable notion but because without realizing it, he identified the ultimate goal of public relations. In the early twentieth century, Edward Bernays, called the Father of Public Relations, defined this social science within communication as the harmonious adjustment between peoples. In doing that, Bernays, probably without realizing it, was building on what Owen first set in motion approximately one hundred years before. Yes, Owen was all for making money. But he was also a strong advocate of folks acting for the benefit of others. To do both, he believed, people need to pursue their own self interest along with the needs of others.

At its best, public relations is all about the vision of Owen and, later, Bernays. The ideal way to work toward one's goal is to link it to the needs and hopes of others. This way, the possibility of conflict is minimized as people are conducting themselves with both their own interests and those of others as part of their mind set. Granted, at times achieving such a balance can be formidable. But when one operates under the banner of harmony, then the chances of encouraging others to do the same, increase. And when that happens, then we are all that much closer to peaceful co-existence. Fun fact: In 1825, a group of German-Americans and the town in which they lived in the Indiana Territory were faced with the unwanted prospect of bankruptcy. Owen bailed them out. The residents renamed their town New Harmony.

Wednesday, July 15, 2020

The Universal Goal

There are and will continue to be lots of public relations strategies. This, of course, is a good thing when it comes to communication. It is, in fact, the essence of the act of attempting to relate to a public. All the strategies add up to one basic goal: building bridges. If one wants to persuade a particular public to take a certain action, then they must connect with that public. If one wants to establish lasting ties with a particular public, then they must also connect with that public. The connection involves establishing a two-way means of exchange or interaction between the one doing the outreach and the one on the receiving end; in other words: bridge building.

Without the essential element of bridge building, then public relations does not occur. Instead, whatever communicating is taking place is designed to manipulate or maneuver others into taking on certain beliefs or actions. As it has been defined hundreds of times over the pat century, public relations is about one entity devising strategies to create some sort of connection with another. While the connection may be in limited or vary in terms of scope or length of time, it must occur. Bottom line: if there is no such building of a metaphorical bridge or connection between two publics or entities, then whatever has led to the two coming together is not public relations.

Public relations is about the identification of commonalities shared by multiple publics. This is very much as it is when two individuals come together and try to determine what they might have in common. (Perfect example: a blind date.) Such a joint effort is public relations as its most basic and simple. In such a scenario, the participants are practicing public relations. Their shared goal is the construction of a bridge by which they can communicate and, ideally, build on their evolving relationship. For any long-term success to be achieved, that bridge must be built. No bridge, no successful public relations.

Saturday, July 11, 2020

Growing a Beard

Given the pandemic and the fact that we are being encouraged to stay home unless necessary, a challenge many of us share these days is, "What to do?" For me, I have been reading more than usual, watching television (of course), yard work (not my most fun thing), and I have even returned to trying to play the piano. It's fun but slow going. At this point, given my progress, the only way I am ever going to get into Carnegie Hall is to buy a ticket. That aside, something else I have being doing for slightly over a month now is grow a beard. At this point, one thing I can attest to is the fact  watching facial hair grow is not the most exciting thing in the world to do.

Yet here I am. My beard is almost 100 per cent white. Despite that, I do not see working as a department store Santa Claus any where in my future. In fairness, that was never a goal with this venture of mine any way. Mainly, I have gone this long without shaving more out of laziness than anything else. It is just something not to do each day. With our stay-at-home existence these days, not shaving has, in a strange way, become one thing I "do" each day now. Any one reading this right now may be wondering, "So what?" Who cares whether I have a beard or not? And, either way, what does this have to do with communication? All good questions.

Regarding the communication-angle, this beard has given me a new perspective on my face. I look at myself in the mirror differently now. Same face, of course, only different. Do I look older? (Yes.) Better? (No.) More distinguished? (You gotta be kidding.) One thing I will say is it has made the times I do check myself out in the mirror more fun. Also, this new look, regardless of how much longer it continues, has reminded me that change can often be a positive experience as it heightens one's appreciation of what used to be and strengthens one's ability to be open to new experiences and perspectives. This beard of mine has broadened what I communicate to myself.   


Wednesday, July 8, 2020

Caregiving

There are few - if any - bigger points of responsibility than having someone under one's care. Whether it is a child or another adult, to be responsible for another's well being, including their safety, health and ability to deal with their own challenges on any given day, this is a major weight to carry and one not to be taken lightly. I admire all caregivers and the effort they make to do well by others. Such effort, in many ways, represents the best of all of us because it showcases a willingness to look beyond one's own needs and wants and give those of others at least equal if not higher priority. Full-disclosure: I share this philosophy of mine as one who subscribes to the notion that we are all "our brother's keeper."

As it is with all relationships, the caregiver/caretaker dynamic is not without challenge and comes with no guarantee that it will be smooth or successful. Effective communicating must occur for that to happen. Having said that, we must not forget the reality that no effort to communicate is successful all the time, regardless of how well-intentioned or thought-out it might be. Another noteworthy point of reality is that communication between a person who is needy and one who is able to meet those needs is tricky because the balance between the two is not equal. One has power over the other due to a range of variables, including age, experience, expertise, health, and how others perceive them.

The first and perhaps primary ingredient in such a relationship is respect. The caregiver is not better than the person they are striving to help. Even if the person that one is striving to care for is a five-year-old child, that little boy or girl or is just as valuable as the adult who is watching over them. It is the same if the person being cared for is a 90-year-old invalid. The circumstance of each does not lessen their value or worth. They deserve respect just as much as the caregiver. Respect, in this dynamic, must include a commitment to maintaining an ongoing and full dialog - speaking with and not speaking at. That may not be easy at times but it is vital.

Saturday, July 4, 2020

Today's Tension

As I write this, it is America's birthday. Number 244. Not bad at all. Definitely worth celebrating in big ways and little ways. One thing that strikes me on this special day is that despite our country's over two centuries of existence, we very much remain a work in progress. We are still growing, evolving, feeling our way along, and, if I may, taking baby steps. Yes, we are great. Yet for a country that is great, we sure seem to fall down a lot. At least that is how it has seemed lately. The fact our landscape seems to be ripe with so much division and turmoil is a picture of a people that are unhappy, troubled and unsettled. For an entity as old as us, I confess to being as concerned as I am surprised.

After all this time, does it not seem that we should have our act together and be able to reconcile our differences with not nearly as much turmoil as we are seeing?  Upon first blush, I would respond to that with an emphatic "Yes!" But taking a step back for a moment from the headlines of the day, maybe what we seeing and experiencing right now is who we are. Maybe all this head-butting, arguing, protesting, acting-out, etc. is us. Maybe it is who we have been these past 244 years. Maybe our greatness is the direct result of a non-stop, unwavering level of discontent among Americans. Maybe what is going on these days is a continuation of our beginning days when discontent and debate ultimately led to our becoming the United States of America.

Such a realization may be worth pondering as we try to make sense of the tension of the day. To put it another way, has there ever been a time in our nation's history when there has not been a level of disagreement similar to what we are seeing here in 2020? I think not. However, in making this observation, it is not my intent to minimize the issues that are driving our current conflicts. They are serious. Still, it is the arguing, debating, etc. that is not new. Further, what is going on is receiving greater exposure as a result of the advanced level of communication tools, including social media and television, that we now enjoy. So, on this year's birthday, to Americans I say, let's keep being who we are while at the same time keep focusing on being civil about it.