By the Landis Team
Over the years, I’ve found some interesting “common denominators” among PR people…many were active in school plays and/or debate teams; we all love to eat and criticize bad grammar…the list goes on. One constant is travel. PR folks have to travel for business, yes, but they are also invariably adventurous travelers in their “real” lives. Travel is a great teacher, and seeing different places/people/cultures is enjoyable for all. But what does travel teach PR people? I put that question to my colleagues here at Landis.
Learn your client’s language.
“When I travel, I try to communicate in the native language or at least learn a few key phrases. I’ve found that when you’re in a new country, the locals will appreciate your efforts and are often (not always!) more likely to point you in the right direction. Plus, it’s a sign of respect, which is always a good thing when traveling. Learning the “language” is also a key part of PR work – know your client’s jargon to effectively translate to PR-friendly messaging.”
Gain perspective.
“I love to travel and always try to review local media, understand the local news of the day and learn how the people of that country think of news and media – particularly their views on the U.S. The photo I’m sharing is from Buenos Aires about five years ago. A notable figure (sports, movie star, etc.?) was entering the hotel where we were staying, and a big news crew was interviewing him. His companion saw me taking this photo. It made me happy to see the media asking questions freely. It seems a good metaphor for PR; ask questions, prepare your messages, be observant and look around – you’ll find a great story.”
Travel teaches you to be open-minded.
“When I travel, I always go with an open mind to learn, absorb and enjoy new cultures, foods, people and sights. Keeping an open mind in public relations allows for new ideas, plans and successes!”
Photo courtesy of Pixabay