The opening ceremony of the Winter Olympics is only a few days away. While the number varies, an Olympic athlete trains multiple days a week and multiples times a day, and dedicates years of training before making an Olympic team. Here’s what we as public relations professionals can learn from the work ethic of an Olympian to pursue our own dreams.
Put in the time to train and practice
We have all heard the saying practice makes perfect, or better. In the ever moving and changing PR field, PR pros would do well to take a moment and step back to see where there is an opportunity to put in more time training to develop their existing skills. Maybe it is ordering the most recent edition of The Associated Press Stylebook or taking an online Microsoft Excel course to help you organize your media lists better. There are so many possibilities to practice skills you already have or add to your toolbox; doing so will only make for better results (more medals!)
Find a coach/mentor
All Olympians have a coach, or two. PR folks can find themselves someone within their companies or in their networks. or even a client can become a mentor. Just like an Olympic coach, a mentor can provide advice, help make connections, and share past experiences. We all learn from those who have been there before us.
Plan ahead
Olympians plan their training schedules far in advance so they can hit their peak at the right time and not overwork themselves. In PR, things happen unexpectedly, but try to anticipate what you need to do ahead of time as much as possible to avoid unwanted stress when a quick deadline occurs. Write a press release a few weeks in advance if you have all the materials to craft the messaging instead of waiting for the night before you are releasing it. Prioritize items in a way that makes sense for you and don’t schedule too many meetings or projects for the same day.
Learn from your mistakes
Olympic athletes make mistakes every day in training but learn to be better athletes from their failures. While our mistakes impact more than just us, there is always a lesson to be learned. If a pitch lands flat, think about why, re-write and try again. If a news piece doesn’t turn out as expected, revisit talking points and see where the miscommunication was. Athletes don’t keep training using gear and strategies that don’t work for them. Instead, they transition to another brand or method to see what works best. Continue to make small adjustments when an approach doesn’t land the way you hoped. Take those adjustments with you to the next pitch or release and continue to learn as you go.
Make connections
Olympians build a network to connect with and learn from, just like us. Take some time to learn more about the public relations networking groups in your area, such as the Public Relations Society of America, or join an existing community on LinkedIn. While an Olympian may go to a member of the same sport who has won gold in the past, we can go to those in the field holding positions we hope to be in one day.
Prioritize your mental health
Olympians put so much time into being the best at what they do, but they also take the time to recognize what their body needs. Public relations can turn into a 24/7 job, with a media crisis popping up at 8 p.m. on a Friday night. We can learn from Olympians in the way that they schedule out their day and make sure there will be time for other things that make them happy. Be sure to put up boundaries, take a daily walk to get some vitamin D, and prioritize sleep. Take a note from Mikaela Shiffrin, who gets a minimum of nine hours every night. While it may not be possible all the time, avoid burnout and refresh to put your best foot forward for your clients.
