Tuesday, March 10, 2020

3 Common Habits That Are Destroying Your Credibility At Work

3 Common Habits That Are Destroying Your Credibility At Work A successful career in public relations is dependent upon forming strong working relationships (go figure, given the name of the industry). And some of the fruchtwein important relationships PR professionals need to cultivate are with members ofthe media, the gatekeepers of the ever-important third party validation that so many marketers are seeking. The PR/journalist relationship is symbiotic we need each other, but also recognize that the balance can be fragile. And believe it or not, some of your seemingly minor everyday communication habits could be destroying your professionalism and undermining your credibility, no matter what industry youre in, when trying to keep that balance in check. Here are three of those common habits and how to put a stop to them. 1. Not meeting deadlines.One of the best ways to become an indispensable resource to journalists is to deliver when you say you will the earlier, the better. Writ ers are on deadline more often than not, so getting them the client quote, infographic, fact-check confirmation or other piece of information theyve requested by the time theyve requested it is key to succeeding in PR. After all, PR is about relationship building, so one of the surefire ways to destroy your credibility and ensure that journalists will steer clear when you reach out to them in the future is to blow by their deadlines.If theres a holdup thats hindering your ability to deliver on time, let the reporter know sometimes they have a little wiggle room. At the very least, providing a heads up will signify that you understand the importance of meeting their deadline, and will increase the likelihood that theyll be willing to work with you again.This applies to your colleagues, too. Being respectful of deadlines, even those tischset internally, is a crucial to maintaining your professionalism. Think back to group projects in college where there was always one slacker you do nt want to be that person at your job, do you? If youre having trouble prioritizing your projects or have multiple coinciding deadlines, ask your manager for help. Chances are he or she will be able to help you shift things around so youre not pulling your hair out in frustration--and so that you wont have to write emails that begin with Sorry for the delay on this. No one likes being the recipient of that email.2. Being overly casual in emails. While public relations and advertising agencies are known for being laidback workplaces, theres such a thing as being too casual when it comes to communicating with the media, particularly those youre pitching for the first time. Doing some research on who youre targeting to ensure your story is a good fit for their beat is always a good idea, but how you use that information can make or break your chances of success. Mentioning how a piece they recently wrote resonated with you for a specific reason? Go for it, but keep it brief. Commenting on their weekend activities that you spotted on Instagram? Not a good idea. Creeping journalists out by acting like theyre your BFF when youve never emailed, let alone met, them is a good way to ensure your pitch ends up in their trash folder.Tone is important, as well. You dont want to sound like a robot when you communicate via email, so infusing your personality in your writing is A-OK. But its probably best to hold off on the use of internet slang, GIFs, and the like until youve developed a solid working relationship. When in doubt, err on the side of being straightforward.Again, heeding this advice with your coworkers as well is wise. While youre undoubtedly on friendlier terms with those you work with day in and day out, its best to save the emojis, abbreviations and other super-casual communication for those youre closest with. 3. Not speaking confidently. Public speaking is a key component of a career in PR, and not just when it comes to client presentations or new business pitches. Being able to communicate confidently and articulately applies to working with the media, too. While fruchtwein pitching happens via email ansicht days, phone calls and in-person meetings still play a role in the PR/journalist ecosystem. Reporters are short on time, so stumbling over your words, using fillers like um and you know, or freezing up entirely will diminish your professionalism and will likely mean youll hear a dial tone pretty quickly.To avoid this scenario, whether youre in the aforementioned client presentation or youre at a media event, think about the three to four key points you want to make. Write them down for reference if you need to, but dont agonize over memorizing the exact wording--overly scripting will only trip you up. Remember that a few beats of silence isnt the end of the world, and in fact, silence is far better than filling the gap between talking points with a drawn-out ummmmm.While these habits are seemingly innocuous, they can do big-time damage to your professionalism. Awareness is half the battle, so if you can catch yourself before you slip into your old ways, youll be on your way to becoming a well-respected, credible PR pro in no time.--Kaitlin Bitting is vice president of public relations at Allen and a certified health & wellness coach.

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