There aren’t many things in life that really get under my skin. But, trips to the dentist and reviews at work, now there are two events that drive me batty. Here’s the irony: I receive good marks in both places. I was just at the dentist last week and she said my teeth look very healthy. That makes sense, since I brush them when I’m supposed to and I try to floss (not as often as I should, but who really flosses as much as the dentist suggests?).
As for the review thing, reviews are this week at work, which always puts people on edge. For no good reason. I was talking about this today with some of my co-workers. We work hard, take pride in what we do, and, as a result, our work is top-notch.
So, why do reviews drive me crazy? Part of it is the fear of the unknown. Just like when I’m sitting in the dentist chair, I can’t control what the doctor is going to say about my mouth. Likewise, despite all my hard work and effort, I can’t control what I hear during my review. With both situations, I just need to do everything I can leading up to the “check up” to obtain a positive report.
Why on earth am I blogging about reviews and the dentist? This fear of the unknown — and the inability to control what others tell you — is very relevant for PR people trying to wrap their heads around social media. We can devise the most brilliant, innovative strategy. But, when push comes to shove, we can only control so much. We can’t control everything bloggers write or tweeters tweet about our clients. AND THAT’S OK. Our role is to influence outcomes … to shape the dialogue … to encourage people to take action.
When you properly brush your teeth, the dentist dismisses you until next time. When your work hard at the office delivers results for your clients, your bosses recognize this with a positive review. And, when you implement a smart social media strategy — one that’s well thought out (e.g., focused on sparking conversations, real engagement, etc.) — your clients can thrive in the social media space.
Photo credit: Conor Lawless