It’s that time again when we reflect on the year behind us and attempt to improve the year ahead – or at least until early February, when research shows 80 percent of New Year’s resolutions meet their doom.
In the world of public relations, we know it often takes time to see measurable payoffs. That’s why this year, instead of making short-lived resolutions, we are striving to meet our everyday goals year-round.
We’ve translated this list of Time’s Top 10 Commonly Broken New Year’s Resolutions – some of which you may have previously made yourself – to reflect the “Top 10 New Year’s Resolutions for PR Pros” to help PR-savvy professionals find success through January and beyond:
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Lose Weight & Get Fit:
During the holidays we’re saturated with cookies and sweets, but in the everyday we’re stuffed with emails. Strive to “trim the fat” by organizing your inbox and deleting hoarded emails. And of course, give little to get little: only send those emails that are truly necessary.
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Quit Smoking:
We all have less-than-perfect habits, whether slow typing skills or poor name recall. Whatever the case, focus on your bad habit and dedicate time to reverse your thinking. And don’t forget to use your co-workers as your support group!
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Learn Something New:
While PR pros pride themselves on being “in the know” about news and trends, there’s always opportunity to learn more. Research publications outside of your scope and actively apply your knowledge by generating new ideas for clients.
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Eat Healthier & Diet:
Everyone needs variety in their diet – and in their vocabulary. Mix up your writing by incorporating new words within your communications – from news releases to client emails. This can easily be done by subscribing to daily word-of-the-day emails or putting the Shift F7 keys to good use.
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Get Out of Debt & Save Money:
When considering the bottom-line for your clients, look beyond traditional tactics and utilize a connected approach to discover equally effective alternatives that stay within the boundaries of your budget.
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Spend More Time with Family:
The most effective PR pro (and any pro for that matter) is one who successfully balances work and play, as it helps them to better focus on their list of to-dos. Make sure to make time for your loved ones (and you!) to recharge your batteries each day.
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Travel to New Places:
The best way to get to know your client is through face-to-face interaction. Seize the opportunity this year for onsite visits and dinner meetings to truly understand client needs, challenges and opportunities.
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Be Less Stressed:
Is being less stressed possible for a PR pro? Not always – but there are ways to manage it. From social gatherings to colleague lunches, get involved with activities beyond work to relieve stress and better prepare for whatever task comes your way.
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Volunteer:
Community service is an opportunity to give back to those who may need it most. See some ways you can take to connect to your community by watching this video.
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Drink Less:
Don’t overindulge in the negative; instead drink in the opportunities that arise with every new challenge. By seeing the bright side, you’ll be less likely to drown in the details.
Benjamin Franklin is credited with saying “Be always at war with your vices, at peace with your neighbors and let each new year find you a better man,” a quote that reinforces confronting your personal challenges and setting new goals to improve yourself, your relationships and your work as a lifestyle, not just a month-long concept.
Embrace this mindset by turning your own commonly broken resolutions into the building blocks of 2012, proving to yourself, your colleagues and your clients that it’s not just another year, but an opportunity to exceed expectations throughout.