Riley Ersek The fast-paced world of Public Relations is constantly changing and it is important to always be ready to adapt. Add in the twists and turns of the Sports Industry and it is easy to get lost in the hustle. These 10 skills will help you pave your way to success.
- Excellent communication skills
Being able to communicate both orally and on paper effectively is the most important skill to have as a public relations specialist. It is your job to communicate to the public and convey a positive image of the team and the players/coaches.
- Ability to multi-task
There will rarely be a time where you only have one task to complete so staying on top of your work while completing side tasks/situations that arise is important. In the end multi-tasking saves time and keeps situations less stressful.
- Ability to work in high pressure situations
There will be times where your stress will be through the roof. It is important to be able to work calmly and quickly in any situation. You will have more than one client, so that means multiple projects and plans a day, usually with a deadline.
- Strategic
Strategy is extremely important in public relations. Being strategic helps the client’s message reach the public in the most effective ways that can be communicated. Having a good strategy when it comes to any project will give you a roadmap to success.
- Knowledge on crisis management
Things change quickly in the world of sports and in the world of entertainment in general. As public relation specialists it is important to stay calm in crisis situations and know how to continue through it with a clear mind. COVID-19 for example was an unforeseen crisis that affected every professional sports league. Their PR teams worked through the unknown.
- Writing ability
As stated before communication is a big part of PR. However, part of that communication includes writing emails and letters to clients and partners to get the job done. It is important to know the appropriate writing style for each situation and audience that is being reached.
- Creativity
You never want to blend into the background. PR is all about standing out in a crowd. What makes you special? New ideas on how to be unique and stand out need to be thought of each day so that your clients image/brand can be promoted properly.
- Adaptability
Like I said before things are always changing and so are your clients. You need to be able to work quickly and efficiently on your toes. In PR you need to think like your clients and think about what they would like and that could change at any time and moment.
- Active Listening
Active Listening is an important skill to have because more often than not you will be working with partners on projects. You will also be working with people in other departments closely, so it is important to work well and take what they have to say in so the job can be delivered.
- People Management
You will be dealing with anyone from reporters to co-workers to clients themselves, all of which have different ideas and emotions so it is crucial to know how to manage people in a calm and effective way.
