6 #PRSSANC Takeaways for Student Run Firm Directors

 

This weekend as PRowl represented our firm, Temple PRSSA and Temple University at PRSSA National Conference, we all had the chance to meet members of other student run firms and their leadership. It quickly became apparent to me that the chance to network and learn from other student run firm members would be one of the most valuable parts of National Conference.

As a Student Run Firm Director, members within your firm and even those outside of your firm automatically have a set of expectations of you. These known and expressed expectations often cause us to react in certain ways: try and control every situation, micromanage, stay as on top of things as possible. These 6 takeaways that I brought back from National Conference help put the position into greater prospective, and may help current or future Firm Directors to do the same.

1. Understand and appreciate your team.

All student run firms are not created equal, and neither is the leadership within them. Over the weekend, I met at least a dozen student run firm directors, all with differently structured executive boards and leaderships. Understanding where each leader in your firm excels, and knowing what they aspire to do will determine the entire flow of your firm. If you aren't linked tight to the other team in your firm, no matter how strong of a leader you are as a Firm Director, the firm will always be missing something.

2. Always be learning.

You will never know it all, and you never should. Always be willing to listen to others, and reevaluate the way that you currently do things. While something may be working, that does not mean it is the most effective means of getting things done. Always be open to hearing new thoughts and suggestions, and really follow through to show you don't want to run the firm as a dictatorship.

3. Trust your expertise.

While you should always be learning from others, you should also speak about your own experiences and expertise with great confidence. If another Firm Director is struggling, don't second guess offering your own words of wisdom or piece of advice. You likely know much more than you ever thought you did.

4. Remember your goals.

Throughout conference weekend, sessions that had nothing to do with student run firms directly brought me back to the goals I'd set for PRowl. Always be on the look out for how a lesson you learn in everyday life can translate into helping you accomplish something for the firm. And if you haven't set concrete goals for your firm and position, use the stories and experiences of others to create your own.

5. Know you are not alone.

While our experiences are unique, many student run firm directors are battling similar issues. When asked what the greatest problems in our firms were, the majority of us responded with the same or similar answers. Don't put more pressure on yourself then necessary, and reach out for help when you needed. More often than not, someone else will be going through a similar trial, or has already overcome it and able to help you do the same.

6. Get connected, stay connected.

Student run firm directors have to stick together! As previously stated, we cannot do this alone --and there are so many of us, we shouldn't have to! Join Facebook Groups, or start your own, to connect with Firm Directors in your area and beyond. Host meet ups, or meet virtually with a few other Firm Directors to share your common experiences and grow together.

#RealTalk: Crisis Communications

"In the middle of difficulty, lies opportunity."

This is a quote from a session at the PRSSA National Conference called From the Crisis Trenches: Blazing a New Trail in Communications. Speakers from the Mach 1 Group discussed the crisis the Livestrong Foundation was faced with when the Lance Armstrong scandal broke.

No matter how prepared we try to be, crisis will always knock us off balance.  Only so much can be learned about crisis communications in a classroom but it is something that will most likely face all of us one day. Here are some key takeaways that I learned in this PRSSANC session that made me feel more comfortable in my ability to handle a crisis situation.

• Work your company's mission statement into any answer you're giving the press
• Think "how can we turn this around?"
• Remember: we are more than the sum of the actions we take
• Be sure to show the big picture, not just focus on the problem at hand
• You always want to be the one to break the news so you can shape it
• Ethical and transparent communication is essential

Keeping these things in mind when handling a crisis situation will help ensure that it goes as well as possible. 

What tips do you have for dealing with crisis communications?

Public Relations Program Receives Certification At International Conference

The following article was published on SMC News and Events on October 26, 2013.

The public relations industry has converged on Philadelphia this weekend and Temple University is playing a starring role.

The city is playing host to the International Public Relations Society of America Conference Oct. 26-29. A silver-level sponsor of the conference, Temple has secured its place as an important part of the future of public relations. On Saturday, the PR program within the School of Media and Communication’s Department of Strategic Communication has officially earned the PRSA’s Certification in Education for Public Relations. Only 32 other PR programs in the world have received this certification.

“Our public relations program is approaching a level that can be described as exacting, compelling and rigorous,” said Professor Cornelius B. Pratt, department chair.

The certification is something to which future students should be attracted as they search for a college program that fits their needs.

“It should offer a high level of confidence in the quality of the education that we will provide them,” Pratt said.

He said the depth and breadth of the department’s five full-time public relations faculty members, two of whom are accredited in public relations, were key factors in receiving the certification. All five have practical public relations experience.

Brianna Rooney of Ambler, Pa., is a senior in the public relations track. As president of the Temple Chapter of the Public Relations Student Society of America, she understands what the certification means for her degree.

“Hearing that PRSA is offering its support to our program is beyond exciting,” she said. “It brings great and necessary attention to the program and everything that it offers to students. It is a huge testament to the program, department and school and makes me so proud to be part of something so great.”

Strong SMC presence
Temple will be visible throughout the conference. On Monday, SMC Dean David Boardman will make introductory remarks at the all-conference networking luncheon. This opportunity will enable the new SMC dean to introduce himself to more than 2,500 international communications professionals, and tell them a little bit about Temple and its undergraduate and graduate programs. That same afternoon, adjunct instructor Amanda Bednar will be presenting a workshop on non-profit and association PR at the Public Relations Student Society of America conference, which is being held concurrently with the professional conference.

On Tuesday morning, Heather LaMarre, assistant professor of strategic communication, will present a workshop on “Defining Corporate Character Advocacy on Character Reputation and Relationships” at the professional conference.

More than 40 of SMC’s PR students have registered for the student conference. Members of Temple’s PRSSA chapter, student-run PR firm PRowl Public Relations and the Temple chapter of the Black Public Relations Society have been intimately involved in planning ways to get the most out of the school’s sponsorship. They are staffing tables throughout both conferences, promoting SMC’s graduate and PhD programs. Additionally, student are surveying conference attendees to see what they know about Temple and are exploring future opportunities to speak in classes and perhaps even teach.

Kaitlyn Sutton, PRowl firm director, said she and her fellow students are focused on networking this weekend.

“For many of us, this will be our first time interacting with professionals within the field,” Sutton said. “I think the other main benefit is the chance to explore new realms for the PR world that we may have not thought about before. Being exposed to professional development sessions at such a young age, I feel that we will be gaining an advantage over other students who do not have this opportunity during their college career.”

Perfect Match: PRSSANC Student-Run Firm Workshop

The count down to the PRSSA National Conference is officially in the single digits and I couldn't be more excited.  I'm looking forward to meeting other eager PR students and industry professionals and obviously I'm beyond thrilled about the Gatsby-themed welcome night celebration, but I'm also really excited about the workshops and lectures that I'm going to attend. One that I'm particularly interested (and I'm sure you can guess why) is the student-run firm workshop.

The workshop is slated to provide information about all aspects of a student-run firm.  Here are some highlights listed in the brochure for national conference:

• Attendees will hear from a panel of current firm directors, PRSA representatives, and Nationally Affiliated firm directors
  
• Topics will range from how to start a student-run firm to how to apply for national affiliation
  
• Another crucial topic of discussion about how to build your firms relationship with PRSA

I think my excitement is understandable.

Which PRSSANC workshop or event are you most looking forward to?