Bonjour! A Little PR from Paris

At this very moment I'm across the pond being captivated by the beauty of France. In addition to visits to cultural landmarks, tours of the most beautiful landscapes, and dining at divine restaurants, I've also been to visit several different companies. We've been to see the French Fashion Institute, Hermes, and Peugeot and are set to see many more.

On these visits I've noticed some serious cultural differences in conducting business that any aspiring public relations professional will want to know if they're considering doing business abroad.

Dress

In the United States, "business casual" is generally the norm and "business formal" is saved for fancier occasions.  In France, "business formal" is the norm and the French take great pride in how they dress. Americans always need to look their most professional and very best when doing business in France.

Time

The French look at Americans as "always in a hurry". If you're going to do business with the French, you need to be prepared to slow down and go at their pace or you'll risk looking too aggressive.

Language

In France, it's common to use 'terms of endearment' in business conversation.  You'll hear "mon cheri" used and at first thought it may seem sexist or politically incorrect. The French don't view it that way and it's best to just accept the cultural adjustment.

It's your job as an American business-person and PR professional to be prepared for the cultural differences you'll face when doing business abroad. France is just a drop in the bucket of cultural clash.

What are some other cultural differences you can think of? We want to know!

Escape the Echo Chamber

Our tendencies as humans are to seek information that we will agree with or is well known and not pay any attention to opposing views. Partaking in the echo chamber and aspiring to be a PR professional is not a good match. In this world filled with news, information and different media, it's not wise to solely depend on only one source of media. I know everyone has their specific likes and favorites but it's advisable to get familiar with the different outlets.

If you are victim of partaking in the echo chamber I challenge you to escape it and open your mind and seek out other sources that will offer new perspectives and challenge your own postulations, instead of reinforcing  your existing opinions. It's understood you mightn't agree with some media but its always refreshing to hear or read someone else's views.

I am from the Republic twin island of Trinidad and Tobago and coming to America to pursue my degree was my first step of escaping the echo chamber. I made the decision that i didn't want to learn in a setting I'm accustomed to or learn a culture I already knew. My escape has definitely broaden my beliefs and changed my perspectives on a few things, even PR.

The following are other ways to escape this effect:
1. Read from media outlets you never experienced.

2.Learn from people who have a totally different culture from you. Observe their writing and views on certain topics.

3. Pay attention to people who have contrary views to one of your favorite outlet's positions.

What other ways you can escape the echo chamber? Let us know!

Public Relations, an Adventure Abroad.

Wagwan, fellow aspiring public relations professionals! Last week at this time I was teaching children at White Horses Primary School, an Elementary School in St. Thomas, Jamaica, about sustainability. Every year, my universtiy sponsors service immersion trips to locations which include Jamaica. So last week, I found myself in Jamacia with 12 other students completing service projects and fending off wild life. I couldn't use my phone and I had no access to the internet. As both a public relations student and college student, I found it hard at first to detach from my work and my online social world. However, by the end of the trip, I learned invaluable lessons about public relations which I couldn't have learned in the classroom or even in my student and professional organizations.

As aspiring public relations professionals it's our job to be informed. Traveling to Jamaica opened my eyes to different cultures and issues that impact those around the world. This is important because the context which we live impacts the way we communicate. I have also learned how culturally, social media is used differently. For example, unlike in the United Staes, social media sites aren't visited every hour on the hour. So, culturally a strategic public realtions plan involving social media for a company or organization in Jamaica would not be successful.

In all, I highly encourage every student, especially public realtions students, to study and to volunteer abroad. The more we understand about the world and how those around us communicate, the better and more strategic communicators we become.

Have you ever studied or volunteered abroad? If so, how has it impacted you professionally?