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Five Skills You Need You Won’t Learn In PR Class
In our quest to continue experimenting and mix things up a bit, we are going to continue Facebook question of the week (clap, clap, clap), but we are not going to devote a blog post to it.
Instead, it will air every Thursday and you can find it in the sidebar of the blog, on YouTube, on Facebook, on Google+, on Pinterest, and on the Arment Dietrich home page (phew!).
We’re going to test how much fame and fortune that brings to those of you who dare ask us a question. Which can still be asked by leaving it on our Facebook wall.
That said, you can find today’s question from Jason Konopinski by clicking here, if you’re not actually on the blog and don’t see it in the sidebar.
And now…today’s actual blog post.
The Five Skills You Won’t Learn in PR Class
An interesting thing happened the other day. A new business prospect asked us why he hadn’t come across a PR professional before who knew the right questions to ask about his business.
It’s a gross generalization, but as a rule we joke that we went into PR because we hate numbers.
And numbers are just one thing you need to know that you won’t learn in PR class.
- The business dashboards. Do you know the difference between a P&L and a balance sheet? Do you know how to read them both? Do you know the difference between revenue and the bottom line? What about the difference between gross and net margins? Do you know how your efforts can affect revenue and margins? If you don’t say yes to every one of these questions, I recommend befriending someone in your accounting department. Learn it. It will benefit you in the long run.
- Traditional marketing. The lines between PR and marketing are becoming even more blurred. In a comment on yesterday’s blog post describing the difference between PR and advertising, Ken Mueller lamented that the term “PR” may eventually go away because everything is integrating. Learn how to generate, nurture, and convert leads. Work with your sales team to understand how they use the customer relationship management software. Learn how to automate some of your reporting, as it relates to all the good work you’re doing.
- Budgeting and forecasting. As you move up in your career, you’re going to be charged with budgeting and forecasting. Learn how to budget conservatively and aggressively. Learn the difference between accrual and cash statements. Learn how to adjust your forecasting, based on trends, the industry, and even accounts receivables.
- Management and leadership. There is a difference between the two and it’s necessary for both to exist in your career. Particularly if you work on the agency side, you’ll find you are managing client accounts by the time you hit account supervisor level. But you might also be leading an internal innovation team or mentoring younger colleagues. Management skills need to be learned so you can lead a team that works together in the best interest of the clients.
- Willingness to learn something new. Again in yesterday’s blog post (it brought out all the smarties!), Suzi Carragher commented, “A former colleague was often asked if she was in the medical profession, because she could hold a conversation about open heart surgery with any surgeon on the planet. She advocated FOR the medical profession as a public relations practitioner.” My friend Mimi Meredith was to join an agency that focuses on automotive PR. She worked at a car dealership, selling cars, for 90 days. Learn the business you’re counseling. Everything about it. Go on sales calls. Work on the floor. Do what you have to do to know everything you can.
There are many, many other skills you need as a PR professional that you won’t learn in the classroom, but I’m out of writing time for the morning.
So, you tell me, what else is there?
Love this list -- and regret I didn't get here sooner; the "PR and marketing difference" post is still awaits ;-). You know I totally agree - it's why I where many hats - just wish others in business weren't so stuck on the old organizational chart paradigms.
I've had way too many 'head, meet desk' moments w/ those who refuse to believe that I in fact do understand a little something about budgets, about results, about business. And part of that comes from #5 - If you don't know what's on the menu, how can you possibly sell the food or provide any service of value? I work to learn as much as I can about industries and clients I represent. Pesky time/money, it's WORTH the expense to do that, to let me learn more about your business.
One change I'd make: "traditional" marketing - and PR. The 'name' may change, but I don't think the practices are going anyway; there's no school like the old school. In fact, I'd almost argue it the other way as I've seen many traditional advertising/promotion heavy marketing initiatives shift to more PR, integrated social media, stakeholder and influencer relations, etc. The lines are being blurred, often more old-style relationship marketing, via newer tools.
If I'd add only ONE skill to this: adaptability. That'll require critical thinking and the skill to put all these other skills to good use; the ability to adapt, to changes, ups, downs, crises, real-time pressures and real, long-time project development. FWIW.
Hi Gini, just finding your post here. A Marketing guy myself, always saying, "two things I don't do, AR and PR..." but those things you note above are so smart for anyone(!). Right on...Cheers!
Gini, this is an excellent, helpful post. Proof once again that anybody with even the slightest interest in working in PR or hiring a PR firm should follow you. Thanks once again for your thoughtful approach to blogging and sharing your expertise.
I have officially ARRIVED!!!! Getting mentioned in a Gini blog post! Highlight of my day! I have so much yet to learn, and I've been doing this for a while!
Suzi_C I was wondering if you'd see that. YAY!
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All in all, your 5 lessons can be applied to just about any line of business.
The only addition I can offer is remembering that sometimes less is more. In this era of information overload, it's easy for consumers to get lost and tune out the message. Yet I still see experts throwing-up TMI all over themselves. Simplicity can be genius.
Enjoyed this one, thanks Gini!
SociallyGenius "Simplicity can be genius." Amen.
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What Leon said...
Mark_Harai Thanks for helping increase our comment numbers with this one comment. :)
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ginidietrich You are very welcome! hehe
G'Day Gini,
I've run a business for over 30 years. A few things I've learned outside classrooms....
Marketing isn't everything, but everything is marketing
Do only those things to which you bring a uniqe perspective. Buy everything else around the corner
Nothing is so important as the proper execution of the fundamentals
A manager's prime responsibility to his or her employes is to put systems in place that make it impossible for them to fail
The main thing you learn in classrooms is how to pass exams
and naturally,
If your job isn't fun, change your job.
One more thing: never forget the words of John Wooden, "It's what you learn after you know it all, that counts."
Regards
Leon
Leon Agree wtih all of us this but ESPECIALLY the fun part. We work too many hours of our lives for it not to be fun/ or at least something we enjoy.
Leon The only thing I don't agree with is making it impossible for them to fail. I think the biggest lessons are in failures and I make it comfortable for my team to fail. But other than that, totally agree.
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Who is jasonkonopinski and why would he be asking you questions?
Great post Gini. Love the strategy, teaching and how to posts. I think this list scares most people who will say 'My degree is in Finance' or I didn't go to college and just want to run a business. Reminds me of the guys in Auto Shop in High School who didn't expect to go to 'college' to be able to fix todays cars.
HowieSPM Just some underemployed schlub.
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HowieSPM I will tell you, when I started my business, I had NO idea about #1. I thought the race to high revenues and lots of employees was the key to success. Turns out I had a very hard lesson.
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Gini, I agree in general and argue that an even broader understanding of organizations and how they operate is critical for professionals. See my related blog post athttp://mitchellsfriedman.blogspot.com/2012/02/when-publicity-is-not-public-relations.html.
mitchellfriedmn Totally agree. That's why #1 and #5, combined, are so important. Without it, you're operating in a vacuum.
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I married someone in our accounting department, so I agree with #1.
AdamTevye Wow, you took Point #1 really really seriously. LOL.
AdamTevye LOL! That is awesome!!
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allenmirelesJohn_Trader1KenMueller
One of the most powerful thing the PR industry has shown us is to demonstrate you are invested in getting to know those who support you -- across relationships. Thank their husband or wife when they offer you hospitality and welcome you into their home and/or office. As businesspeople, our job does not end with building rapport, likeability and trust purely for the agency or client end.
It must permeate all affected and invested partners: their families and personal communities as well.
Echo all your sentiments -- we have to learn by practice and results, not cheap words or good intentions (which translate to empty or worse, broken promises)
allenmirelesJohn_Trader1KenMueller *things ;)
#5 strikes me as one of the most important pieces of advice you can pass on--to PR students, PR practitioners and anyone else. Really diving into your client's business is essential so that you can understand it and look at it from their perspective; something many of us have learned through doing and not from our time in school.
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allenmireles Hi Allen! :) 5 and 1 actually sort of play hand in hand. Not only knowing the industry but understanding the business model.
Lisa Gerberallenmireles When I worked more closely with boutique ad agencies in a previous career, #5 was something that many of them took very seriously. Learn the product. Pick it up, test it, understand how it fits into a customer's experience.
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jasonkonopinskiLisa Gerberallenmireles Precisely. Know what it tastes like, feels like, smells like, looks like. If you drop it on the floor, will it break or bounce?
Like serving or bartending: how can you recommend anything if you don't know every item on the menu? What wine to eat with their meal? How drinks pair with food? What the prices are?
Either you Know your Shit or you don't ...
Lisa Gerber Hi Lisa. You are so right. Point well taken. :)
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allenmireles Someday I will show you this skill I have from working with both Bayer and BASF. I can walk into a corn or soybean field and tell you which weeds are growing there...just by looking at them. It's a neat party trick (OK, not really).
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ginidietrich
jasonkonopinski
For me? It has been learning how to maintain and stick to scheduling, especially editorial calendars. Timelines, benchmarks, milestones, deadlines. One of the challenges noobs to agency ownership and accountability face is balancing the line between fun/play and serious bizness, for the betterment of your clients, peers and colleagues.
Keeping everyone happy is a constant challenge, but also pretty kickass opportunity to muster mettle and fortitude, so we can stretch our abilities to effectively and efficiently manage/produce both our and others' Time.
I get fresh perspective every day, and it reminds me I'm just a kid in a candy store. I just have to choose the ones that won't make me sick ;)
Byron Fernandezginidietrichjasonkonopinski like the red swedish fish.
Lisa GerberByron Fernandezginidietrichjasonkonopinski Teehee, yes. Migraine material. I tend to snag Bit o' Honey, Laffy Taffy or Haribo Coca-Cola, gummy bears
"Kids and grown-ups love it so, the happy world of Haribo..." ;)
Byron FernandezLisa Gerberginidietrich I <3 Swedish Fish. Only the big honkin' ones, though.
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Byron Fernandez Keeping everyone happy, at the same time, is impossible.
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KenMueller is spot on - submerging yourself in your client's business is such a must for today's PR pro. How many of us actually take the initiative to spend time shadowing our clients for a period of time to really learn their business as opposed to an initial hour or two discovery meeting and then get started on the "plan." Not only does it show respect, but it shows commitment and intelligence that you don't plan to lift a finger to the keyboard until you know everything there is to know from the inside out. Stuff you certainly can't figure out through a verbal discussion.
All growth in life comes from getting outside your comfort zone. Dropping yourself inside the world of your client may at times seem uncomfortable, but will pay mega-dividends to develop PR initiatives that are successful.
John_Trader1KenMueller and this is EXACTLY why I got into PR for the ski industry. It was my JOB to test the product. :)
But in all seriousness, I was out skiing with an editor from Skiing Magazine one day and she said she loved working with me because, well, I actually love the industry. She once tried to write a story about a helmet but the representing PR agency based in NYC didn't know Jack about skiing and couldn't respond to her questions.
Lisa GerberKenMueller You know, I'm wondering. When bidding out a PR job to different agencies (through RFP or whatever) during the vetting process, should you only seriously consider agencies that respond to the question, "What steps will you take to learn our business to more effectively help our PR?" with a plan that involves spending time with you and observing the business on a day to day basis rather than responding with "we will set up a discovery call or a discovery meeting?" Maybe this could help weed through the agencies a lot faster.
Lisa GerberJohn_Trader1KenMueller Oh she's not joking. She is serious about why she got into PR for the ski industry. And, really, who can blame her?
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#5 is critically important, I think. We need adaptable, nimble professionals with ever-widening skill-sets, not one-trick ponies. :)
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jasonkonopinski Have to know the industry. But it's nice to know others at the same time - some of the best ideas come from outside of the industry.
You know what? I need your email address. I wonder if we're on LinkedIn.... i need to go check.
Lisa Gerber I think we are - but I just sent you an email. :)
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jasonkonopinski It's a tough job we have - we have to be specialists AND generalists.
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Some great ideas, and I'm going to pass this on to the PR prof who teaches where I teach. I'm betting she covers at least some of these in her classes. I'll be curious to see what she says. I especially like point 5 - get in the trenches and learn about your clients and their industry.
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Conversation from Twitter
joeldon I had someone tell me they married a girl in the accounting department. That works too!
RT @PublicityGuru: 5 PR skills you won't learn in a classroom http://t.co/eSPrHqj2
joeclarkson13 thanks mister PRSSA 👏
ginidietrich agreed! Will e-mail link to my forthcoming blog post that supports your main points.
RTRViews Thanks for sharing the PR lessons article!
ginidietrich -I've seen a real lack in #4 lately, hopefully that will soon change.
ginidietrich Love the last one especially. I learned a LOT sitting in on PR presentations in the early days of my business.
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