Introduction
Even though I love working in public relations (PR), it can occasionally feel lonely. You're always on the go and meeting new people, but forging solid relationships with these new contacts can be challenging—especially when you're trying to get them excited about your company. It's not an easy feat! But that doesn't mean you should give up. In fact, there are a few simple ways to make friends in PR and influence people without really trying:
How to work a room.
You can work a room by being friendly, engaging and memorable.
Being friendly is the most important part of working a room. It’s not always easy to be friendly when you’re nervous, but if you can fake it until you make it then that can help your confidence level rise so that you actually do become more genuine. Being friendly means making eye contact with people who are around you and acknowledging them in some way (e.g., saying hello or smiling). If someone is having trouble introducing themselves to someone else in the room, offer to introduce them by saying something like “Hey Jane! Let me introduce you two – Jane this is Amy; Amy meet Jane.”
It also helps to be engaging with people in conversations so they remember how great of a time they had talking with you later on down the road when another friend wants their opinion on whether certain brands would be good for their PR agency or not!
Don't be sloppy.
Dress to impress.
Make sure your shoes (especially the soles) are clean and polished. If you're wearing a suit, make sure it's pressed and free from wrinkles; if you're wearing a casual outfit, make sure it's clean and ironed.
Make sure your shirt is ironed: no matter what level of importance you have in the company or organization (or if you're even working there at all), people will notice if it looks like you just threw on whatever came out of the dryer first thing in the morning—and that impression could be very hard to shake off for any potential friendships down the line.
Make sure your hair is combed: don't wear hats indoors unless they're part of an official uniform; otherwise, keep them off unless another person asks about them (or seems interested). If someone asks about something on/in your head/face/body that isn't visible at first glance, don't hesitate to explain why—but do so politely! No need to overcomplicate things by being defensive or defensive-seeming; just say what needs saying with confidence and gracefulness! This can help build rapport quickly because then everyone knows where they stand without having had any time wasted trying not saying anything wrong without knowing what might be “wrong” at all... which brings us back around full circle again."
Be prepared to talk about your company with pride.
Credibility is a big component of PR, so you need to be able to talk about your company with pride.
Talk about the company's mission. What does the company do for its customers? What are its products and services? How many people does it employ? Why is this important to them (and to you)?
Talk about your career at the company. Did they hire you right out of school? Did they promote you quickly? Are there plenty of opportunities for professional growth at this point in your career? Would someone with more experience than you be considered well-qualified for a position at that firm? How would others in your industry describe working at this particular firm as compared to other firms in general—is it better or worse than most places where people work these days (or both)?
Talk about achievements or success stories from within the company that show how well it performs compared with similar companies out there—or maybe even how innovative/uniquely useful its products are! It can also help highlight how much market research went into making those decisions so everyone knows there's real substance behind what they're doing instead of just throwing darts at walls until something sticks."
Be brave and take the lead.
You are in PR. You know how to network, you’ve got your elevator pitch down pat, and you’re ready to take the lead at a networking event or meetup.
You can do this by simply asking questions of others. Remember that people like talking about themselves and their interests, so ask them questions about those things. It doesn’t have to be anything too personal—just ask someone what they do for work or where they lived before they moved here. By being friendly and engaging with others at events like these, you will quickly become known as someone who is willing to lend a helping hand when needed (or just help out in general). And once people see how helpful you are with others, it won't be long before they start reaching out themselves!
Finally… re-read this post every morning when getting ready for work until it becomes habit!
Be kind and generous. Treat people, even if you barely know them yet.
Be kind and generous. Treat people, even if you barely know them yet.
Give more than you take in the conversation
Ask questions to show your interest in the other person and their work
Remember that building a relationship takes time—don't expect results right away (or maybe ever)
You can make connections with people by focusing on listening and being generous with your support and encouragement.
The best way to make friends in PR is to be a good listener, and the best way to do that is by being generous with your support and encouragement.
As you are talking with people, listen to them carefully and make sure you understand what they’re saying—don't just wait for your turn to talk! This will show that you care about what they have to say and make them feel heard on an important topic. Also, when someone shares something personal or expresses an opinion that's different from yours (or even if it isn't), don't automatically try to change their mind. Instead of arguing with them or trying prove them wrong, share some other thoughts about the matter at hand that may differ from theirs but still show respect for their perspective—and remember: if you disagree with something someone said, don't tell everyone around you! If there's any chance of making new friends here at work, keep those opinions between yourself and one other colleague who understands where they're coming from too (because chances are pretty good this person will have similar views). Just remember not everyone has time each weeknight so maybe try calling up old friend instead? That should solve both problems."
Conclusion
Making friends in PR can be intimidating, but there are lots of ways to do it. If you focus on listening and being generous with your support and encouragement, you'll find that many people will come to like or even love you!
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