We had a wonderfully enlightening discussion in my PR for Nonprofit Organizations class today. A student asked what I thought were the necessary personal traits for success in a communication/PR/IMC career. I threw it open for class discussion, and after a lively interchange for most of an hour, this is what the class came up with:
A gregarious nature.
Confidence.
Drive, motivation.
Flexibility.
Creativity.
Quick thinking, quick on your feet.
A professional demeanor.
Communication skills.
Organization/management skills.
Accessibility, approachability, openness.
Good list. I would add to that a high tolerance for chaos and a healthy sense of outrage.
I’ve learned “patience” Uncle Lester.
Writing skills!
Hi Les, thanks for sharing the list. I plan to share it with my students as well. I would add the generic “hard working,” because 60-80-hour weeks are more common than many students would expect. Also, “intellectual curisity,” which I think is essential. It is my belief that communicators have to be the smartest person in the room — no matter what room that is. What other role in an organization is responsible for the internal and external culture AND must be able to assess personal motivations instantly?
–Bob
During my 30-plus years in corporate communication management, and later, in my consulting practice, I regularly worked the 60-80 hours that Bob mentions. I know communication consultant Robert J. Holland, comments above, is working those hours now.
From those days I, too, learned patience as Marcia advises, because it was as Ron says, a time of having to develop a high tolerance for chaos.
Students need to realize that this is the way it is in the world of work in our profession. You must pay your dues. These hours are not optional. If you are serious about being successful in this profession, you must put in the hours our type of work demands.
A thick skin and a nose for news helps, too. You have to be able to fight the tendency of your bosses or your client to force you to put your reputation on the line for a story that’s not newsworthy, and you have to fight the tendency for all media to think that PR is nothing but propaganda.
Somewhere in the middle is a good place to be on this one.
-Mark
I just gave this presentation to freshman PR students yesterday (not my usual class, a guest lecture) … these are the points I always use, from a slide titled “Who/What You Should Be”
A quick study
Flexible
Strong at communicating (written, verbal)
Aware of the world around you
Able to ask questions
Able to see connections
Good at follow up
Good service demeanor
…
I might also add “willing to stay to make sure the job gets done right” and “possessing a sense of humor and/or perspective” (often the same).
Add intellectual rigor to the mix. Think. Think. Think before you give the same answer, the same solution, the same suggestion. Show me there’s some depth to your thinking.
Several of Philip’s traits add up to my nominations: insatiable curiosity and a good memory. Never assume you know it all, or overlook any opportunity to investigate and something, whether it’s a skill, a news item, a fact, or even a word. In two hours, two weeks, or even two years, it may prove helpful to advancing your cause and your career.
I’m dismayed not to see “business sense” in your list or in any of the comments. Non-profit or not, our work must support the business strategy of the organization, and it’s our job to ensure communications do so in an efficient and effective manner.
What a wonderful list! Coming into college I was not exactly sure where I wanted to go in life. Public Relations was a class that I thought could be very interesting. Now being in my 3rd year of studying Public Relations and Advertising this list is extremely helpful. This major has so many different areas that you could go into and getting ready to start an internship this list really helps!
I’ve always been taught that in order to succeed you need to make sure you are fully aware and confident of what you are doing. The more confident you seem the more comfortable people working around you will feel. Motivation for what you do is also extremely important, if you don’t like what you are doing in the long run it is just going to cause you to be even more unhappy in life. A main part in PR is creativity, being able to think of something fast, possibly on the spot and go with it and really believe in what you are saying.
In order to be successful in the end you also really need to be open to many different ideas, conflicts because everyone knows they will arise in your organization in one way or another. Even though this was discussed in your non-profit I believe that these are really helpful no matter the type of work. Thanks for these Les, SO HELPFUL!!!
May 2009 Graduation is around the corner and I am still trying to figure out where I belong in this world. I have my likes and dislikes, strengths and weaknesses, but deciding who I want to be, is difficult. There is so much I want to do and experience in this world. Choosing only one track would create a crutch in my adventures. I want to travel the world, learn new skills, be successful, and learn new trades. Would this be possible if I was only a PR professional?
I am a confident, strong, female individual. I believe in being happy and always doing my best. I am an avid car and motorcycle enthusiast, though I don’t like Nascar at all. I enjoy writing but only if it’s a topic of interest. During sixth grade I wrote a speech on the history of the Dodge Viper. My class and fellow students were confused and surprised. They didn’t know what to say. I will never forget what my teacher told me after class, “You are a great speaker and show passion when speaking about cars, keep that in mind as you grow up.”
When an individual admires your qualities, you become more in touch with whom you are meant to be in the world. I took her comment as a sign that I belong in the car business. I am not sure how, but I know I will be happy once I smell race gas or see the glassy luster of an exotic sports car.
Do I belong in PR? I would say yes, but I also believe that I belong in others professions as well. I am a quick learner. I love trying new things. The list of qualities presented above not only fall under the category of a PR person, but applies to a multitude of other professions. Those characteristics identify a well-rounded person.
I am a well-rounded person. I can go anywhere.
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