{"id":38762,"date":"2024-05-29T15:42:19","date_gmt":"2024-05-29T15:42:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/prowly.com\/magazine\/?p=28634"},"modified":"2024-09-23T11:15:14","modified_gmt":"2024-09-23T11:15:14","slug":"how-to-manage-stress-in-pr","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/prowly.com\/magazine\/how-to-manage-stress-in-pr\/","title":{"rendered":"What Stress Looks Like When You Work in PR (and How to Manage It)"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Our recent survey focused on understanding stress levels among PR professionals. It provided us with valuable insights into the industry\u2019s challenges that might affect our mental health and well-being. With close to 200 respondents, half of them were agency employees, followed by in-house positions and consultants. This activity is a part of the 2nd edition of our Perfectly Imperfect PR Pros campaign<\/a><\/strong>.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The findings were suspected but still shocking: 92% of respondents reported that work-related stress has wreaked havoc on their mental health<\/strong>. They\u2019ve said the stress sometimes infiltrates every aspect of their life and affects not only their emotional and psychological health but also takes a toll on them physically.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWorking in the field of communications is both rewarding and challenging. On the positive side, it's engaging, rarely boring, and often financially rewarding \u2026 On the negative side, it's demanding, the news cycle is 24\/7 so there are rarely any breaks, and much of what PR pros are trying to achieve is outside of their complete control. All of these aspects can lead to burnout, difficulty sleeping, higher blood pressure, etc. I have experienced all of these negative aspects\u201d - Tricia Payer, Sr. Director of Executive Communications for Microsoft<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Feelings of loneliness, anxiety, and burnout. Those were the most common comments we\u2019ve received, which make it nearly impossible for PR specialists to disconnect from work and have a work-life balance. The physical toll is equally harrowing, with numerous professionals suffering from sleep disturbances, stress-related illnesses, and chronic pain including headaches, stomach aches, and back pain<\/strong>. Need more?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

57% of respondents experience stress-related symptoms either daily or very often<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We\u2019ve compiled all the key information from this survey for you so that you can read more about the stressors others face in PR and practical solutions based on other professionals in the field on how to mitigate these challenges. Because after all, there\u2019s more to life than a job \u2013 and our mental health and overall well-being are the most important.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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LEARN MORE ABOUT MENTAL HEALTH IN PR<\/strong><\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

Things PRs stress about the most (and what to do about it)<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

It\u2019s a high-pressure world we live in, and for anyone who has a job in public relations, stress is a constant companion. Read on to find out what takes the biggest toll on PRs health, and what solutions you might want to implement to take care of your well-being better.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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1. Predicting work outcomes<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

An overwhelming 61.2% of respondents<\/strong> said predicting outcomes was the most stressful part of their job. This isn\u2019t surprising, considering how little control we have over the many external factors that can make it unpredictable to control the public\u2019s perception and most importantly of all, media coverage<\/a>. That uncertainty makes it really tough for anyone who works in PR to assess the impact of their work, especially when stakeholders or clients are demanding concrete answers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2192 Solution<\/strong>: To overcome this issue, start by focusing on what\u2019s controllable<\/strong>. It sounds stupid simple, but it helps. Make a list of what you can and can\u2019t control, and just make sure you\u2019ve done everything that\u2019s possible on your part. Set aside some time for reflection as well: think about what you could have done differently (realistically!), and what was without any doubt truly unpredictable. This will help you \u201cvisualize\u201d the area of control you have. Also, don\u2019t forget about forecasting tools, and upskilling your data game. Both can make a big difference in showing a concrete strategy that works.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Managing client expectations, delegating tasks, and having daily to-do lists with a dedicated mindset that most items on it must be completed are other major keys to keeping stress levels moderate while working in PR.\u00a0However, being used to tight and short deadlines for media interviews, PR campaign launches, and events is just a part of the business. If someone can't deal with that, it is best to be self-aware, understand this, and perhaps pivot to another industry\" - Samantha Savory, CEO and Founder of Savory-PR<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

2. Securing media coverage<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Getting that mention<\/a> was chosen as a significant stress factor by 57% of the respondents<\/strong>. This comes as no surprise, given the competitive nature of media attention and the constantly new ways PRs need to come up with to break through all the noise. Additionally, if you\u2019re working with clients or stakeholders who don\u2019t understand how public relations work, and expect to get the best of the best on a tiny budget, this can take an additional toll on your mental health.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2192<\/strong> Solution<\/strong>: To address this, try something called cognitive restructuring<\/strong>. It sounds complicated, but it isn\u2019t. Sit down and identify all the challenging negative thoughts, and replace them with positive, realistic ones. Allow yourself to give up the \u201cblack and white\u201d thinking scheme, and instead of telling yourself things like \u201cIf I don\u2019t get that coverage, I\u2019ve failed\u201d, reframe it to \u201cThis is just one opportunity, and there\u2019s many more out there\u201d. Such a shift in your mindset can help you reduce stress and improve your approach to securing media coverage.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"On many occasions throughout my career, I have worked nearly 24\/7 for days at a time and managed communication in extremely sensitive situations, including individual safety, loss of life, and substantial operational disruptions. Early in my career, these incidents would burn me out mentally and emotionally, impacting my personal relationships and overall mental health.\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Over time, I developed skills to help manage stress and maintain more emotional distance from work. The first step (as with many things in life) was just acknowledging that it was affecting me\u2014that I wasn't emotionally invincible.\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

I picked up hobbies that took me away from my email (kayaking, for example), adopted a dog, started regular and consistent talk therapy, and began meditating daily. Not one of these things was a magic bullet fix, but combined with other self-care practices, they collectively created \"safe spaces\" for me to decompress\" - Jessica Whidt, Managing Director at\u00a0Warner Communications<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

3. Reporting and proving work value<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Demonstrating the value of PR activities<\/a> was identified as a major source of stress by 45% of respondents<\/strong>. To put this in perspective, half of those who work in PR claim proving their value is a stress factor, which is a huge red flag for the industry in general. This highlights the need for clear metrics<\/a> and effective communication about the PR ROI and is impact on business goals.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2192<\/strong> Solution: To tackle this, focus on open communication and educating your clients and stakeholders on media relations<\/strong>. How it works, what it is, and what it\u2019s not before you start a project. Then, together, you can shift to more meaningful KPIs that align PR activities with the desire outcomes. It will help you reduce the pressure to meet metrics that don\u2019t reflect any value and barely make sense.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Personally, I've experienced burnout and stress that have led me to not be fully present in my personal life. Having someone in your life you can turn to and talk to is helpful, but zooming out and identifying areas to streamline your workflows so that you don't always feel the need to keep it all in your head is a saving grace.\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

I recently implemented a slew of improved systems and processes for documenting, tracking, and reporting on all of our PR firm's efforts, and it's done wonders for my mental health and stress levels\" - Mike Mejer, Founder and CEO at Green Lane Communication<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

4. Coming up with creative campaigns<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

There\u2019s not one person in the world that runs on creativity juices 24\/7. Nearly 35% of survey respondents<\/strong> said coming up with innovative ideas for campaigns was a factor contributing to work-related stress. Time pressure can stifle inspiration, and having to be creative on demand puts a lot of pressure on PR professionals. Combine that with all the other tasks you need to do, and you\u2019ve got yourself a stress bomb in the making.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2192 Solution: Encourage collaborative creativity by setting up team brainstorming sessions to make it all a shared effort<\/strong>. This approach reduces the burden of doing things individually, with no outside help. What\u2019s more, it not only sparks ideas but also helps ease the stress of having to come up with creative solutions all on your own. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

5. Contacting journalists<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Make no mistake, this isn\u2019t even about being an extrovert or having more stress tolerance than others. 27.2% of<\/strong> respondents<\/strong> said that reaching out to journalists<\/a> is a significant stressor in the PR industry, especially when faced with tight deadlines and the ongoing pressure to secure media coverage. The fact that journalists\u2019 responses are often unpredictable, critical, or dismissive doesn\u2019t help either.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2192 Solution: To better deal with this, it\u2019s important to recognize that negative responses or rejections are never direct reflections of your value or competence<\/strong>. Basically, it\u2019s not you \u2013 it\u2019s them. Try shifting your mindset and viewing those interactions as opportunities to better understand journalists\u2019 needs, their wants, and what expectations they have. It\u2019s a mindset shift, but with a bit more thought, you can practice self-compassion this way and making sure you\u2019re setting up realistic expectations for yourself.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

6. Managing social media channels<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Working in PR means becoming the Jack (or Jill!) of all trades. Since public relations has been meshing with marketing even more, there\u2019s an additional stressor put on us to manage social media and 25.1% of respondents<\/strong> say it adds to their daily stress load. The constant monitoring and quick responses create a persistent sense of urgency, especially since social media never sleeps. The scrutiny, negative feedback, cancel culture, and everything else \u2013 it\u2019s a lot to take on. Let\u2019s not even talk about ever-changing algorithms.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2192 Solution: Hands down, automation<\/strong>. Use tools<\/a> that will help you schedule posts, manage social media, and alert you when there\u2019s a critical mention you need to take care of. This will greatly reduce the need for constant monitoring<\/a>, and help you effectively delegate tasks, making it easier to share the workload.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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FIND OUT MORE<\/strong><\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

What needs to change in the PR industry?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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