4 lessons military and civilian PR pros can teach each other

Civilian public relations (PR) professionals, on the other hand, obsess over the latest social media trends, fly by the seat of their pants, and tout experience over education. Over and over again.

Like all stereotypes, they are unfair to many. But there is often truth behind the broad brushstrokes. Both communities, to break free of their stereotypes, would do well to study and learn from each other. The field of public relations, despite lacking commonly accepted rules and best practices, does not lack for common sense behaviors or best practices. Recognizing these commonalities will ultimately lead to improved campaigns for all PA and PR professionals.

Today’s post will cover four lessons military PA pros can take away from the civilian world, and in a follow-up post, I’ll cover lessons civilian PR professionals can learn from observing the military.

1. Don’t check your creativity at the door. As a military reservist, I attended Defense Information School, the military’s advanced training ground for its PA professionals. It was a fascinating and useful experience, but the primary lesson is that there is a strict set of rules and structures governing the art of military public affairs.