Part One
Dear PR Matters,
One of the reasons I like reading your column is that you and your colleagues give us many tips on how we can become better PRs and better persons.
Developing our skills is one, and broadening our knowledge about the industry is another. Public relations work involves a lot of challenges, and we frequently find ourselves overwhelmed with the many things we have to do and the many day-to-day tests we have to face.
Apart from knowing more about our job, what are the other ways we can prepare ourselves for day-to-day challenges? Your thoughts on this would really be helpful.
Sincerely,
Jocelyn G.
Dear Jocelyn,
We are happy to be able to share with you some bits of knowledge that can help you become better in your work, and better in the way you live.
That PR is challenging is an understatement, and every day brings about things that will surprise even the most seasoned practitioner. When athletes prepare for a major race or competition, it is important that they not only hone their skills, but constantly watch what they eat, work out and keep in shape to win. Some athletes like Tiger Woods have also talked about how, along with the physical training, they also prepare themselves mentally when they compete. Yes, mental strength is just as important as physical strength.
In PR, it is essential not only to be physically, but mentally fit to face challenges. In an article, 10 Exercises That Will Help You Develop the Mental Strength You Need to Crush Your Goals in Inc.com, Amy Morin shows us how building a little mental muscle could have a big impact on your life.
“If you want to be able to tackle bigger challenges, and overcome more obstacles, you need more mental strength” she says.
Like physical muscles, your mental muscles require a good workout. Here, she shares with us 10 exercises that can help you start developing the mental strength you need.
1 Reframe negative thoughts. The problem with negative thoughts is that they have a way of becoming sad realities. And while it’s true that everyone has bad days that lead to negative thoughts, Morin believes that it is by “searching for positive and realistic expectations that you can eliminate these damaging pessimistic thoughts and better equip yourself to manage the bad days.”
Her suggestion? Replace what she calls “catastrophic thoughts like this will never work” with something more realistic like “if I work hard, I’ll improve my chances of success.”
2 Create goals. “It’s fun to aim high and dream big,” says Morin. “But setting your sights too high will likely lead to disappointment.” The key is being realistic in setting our goals and expectations.
For example, “rather than set out to lose 100 pounds, focus on losing five first. When you crush that goal, you’ll be motivated to lose the next five pounds.”
In aiming for goals, it is essential to know yourself, your strengths and your weaknesses. Otherwise, you’ll be clutching at straws, shooting at the breeze.
“Every goal you achieve gives you confidence in your own ability to be successful, “says Morin. “This will also help you identify which goals are not challenging enough and which ones are unrealistically ambitious.
3 Set yourself up for success. Morin believes that we can modify our environment from time to time to make life a little easier. And it doesn’t take much.
Little things like “putting your running sneakers next to your bed if you want to work out in the morning or removing junk food from your pantry if your goal is to want to eat healthier” will go a long way in keeping you from exhausting your own mental energy and setting you up for success.
4 Do at least one difficult thing a day. “Improvement doesn’t come about by accident,” Morin says. “You need to challenge yourself on purpose.” This is so true.
Begin by analyzing your own boundaries as “everyone has a different idea of what is challenging.” And then, “have the courage to pick something outside these boundaries. And then take one small step every day.”
Some things we can do to break through our comfort zones? “Enroll in a class you don’t think you qualify for,” she says. “Speak up for yourself when it is uncomfortable. Always push yourself to become a little better than you were yesterday.”
5 Tolerate discomfort for a greater purpose. I have seen how many people are immobilized because “I am so swamped with work”—which, of course, is relative—or “it’s too hard” mindsets. Someone I know has difficulty getting around the Metro even if her life depended on it because “have never been there before.” While technology has been made to make us more efficient, it can also make people slip into sluggishness and laziness the moment they experience discomfort. Tragic.
Morin says that the next time you feel you are lapsing into this, “remind yourself of the bigger picture. Finish that work even when you are tired. Balance your budget when it gives you anxiety. Tolerating uncomfortable emotions can help you gain the confidence you need to crush your goals.
We will discuss the next five exercises in next week’s column.
PR Matters is a roundtable column by members of the local chapter of the United Kingdom-based International Public Relations Association (Ipra), the world’s premier association for senior professionals around the world. Millie F. Dizon, the senior vice president for Marketing and Communications of SM, is the former local chairman.
We are devoting a special column each month to answer the reader’s questions about public relations. Please send your comments and questions to askipraphil@gmail.com.
Image credits: Dreammasterphotographer | Dreamstime.com