Even starting this blog post left me staring blank at my screen for some minutes.
Working in PR and communication requires a lot of creativity on a daily basis. If your creativity generator, whatever it is, breaks down, you can't fire up the engine like you should.
What clients in fact purchase from PR agencies or communication executives, are original and innovative ideas.As frustrating as it may sound, out of your 5000-words PR plan, your prospect client is mainly interested in the few lines of your strategies and the way to implement them through your tactics. An original idea is an intangible, yet important asset as our (future) clients need to stand out of competition. With the growing importance of communication, whether in the form of branding or reputation management, the key is building a distinguished image.
A lack of creativity in Public Relations is like a lack of water on agricultural lands. This is the primary factor that helps us grow.
But then, what nourishes our creativity? The first word to my mind is Inspiration! Unfortunately, inspiration-killers threatens our work as a PR officer each day. Fear of failing, little control over information going out, the clustery behind office walls, lack of motivation, stress and the routine cut down our ability to think about the box. The struggle is real!
Moreover, it's safe to say that one is on the path of creativity when "normal" people, that is non-risks-takers, call them CRAZY. That's right. Remember that revolutionary Albert Einstein was commonly perceived as a fool. This is because of the fear of the unknown, fear of taking risks or worst, being imprisoned for caring about what society thinks of us. It is worth inserting here, William Shedd's inspirational quote, “A ship is safe in harbor, but that's not what ships are for.”
So you need to get out of your shell and say out loud or publish those ideas you've locked up in the back of your head. I'm not telling you to be controversial. Although it's ironic how the word "controversial" sounds to me like another label used to serve the communist system. But then, this is another debate!
My point is, sometimes, daring may also bring the best of your upcoming career. My mother always told me that staying camouflaged among the mass will never bring you to the top. Quite obvious.
I hope you take time to reflect on this matter and let me know what you think about creativity issues.
I would love to know how creativity impacts on your internship tasks and how you deal with it.
Hear you soon
Wendy




4 comments:
Hello Wendy. This was a really entertaining blog post.
We all have to face this really unnerving issue called ‘lack of inspiration’ at some point or the other.
Having written two speeches for the CEO of the company I intern for, I can understand what you’re going through.
However, I’d advise you to just put on paper all of your thoughts even if at first it does not make sense. You’ll see that at one point, there will be a flow.
In any case, our friend Google is always ready to give us some inspiration.
I hope it helps.
All the best,
Haddiyyah
Hi Wendy !
Agree to Haddiyyah Tasneem. Put idea or words to paper so that you will not over-looked at any important points.
Personally, like me, I will do a mind map for introduction, body and the end part. Any ways you like so long as you are comfortable.
All the best !
Atiya NJ
Hello friends!
Thank you for your comments and tips.
Mind mapping practices at uni is indeed very helpful in the professional practice when inspiration stocks out.
I hope you are coping well with the internship/courses juggling.
All the best to you too
Wendy
Hi Karen,
Hope you enjoyed your internship.
Your blog is very interesting as most of the time thinking outside the box helped people, especially in the PR field, to stand out the crowd and to have that one great idea which will make the difference. However, with time our will to think outside tends to vanish as we are stuck in routine and we forget the amazing of PR and we behave like anybody else.
So it's our duty to keep this love for PR just to not be like the others.
All the best
Cedric
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