The Real Purpose of a Face Mask

This past fall I was sitting in the stands at a high school football game with one of my best friends Jill. We had a very interesting conversation that went somewhat like this:

Jill: When I was young, I thought the purpose of a face mask was so that the coaches had something to grab when talking to the players.

Me: BAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA! 

In all reality, her perception regarding face masks was in a twisted sort of way... logical. I'm sure we have all heard the saying "look at me when I'm talking to you" at some point in our lives. Well in a little more abrupt way, that is exactly what the coaches were doing. By grabbing the face mask of the player, the coaches were able to make certain they had the players complete attention. By grabbing hold of the face mask, a coach was able to re-direct the players attention and encourage him to "zone in" on what was being communicated to him. Granted there might be a less abrupt way, but I'll save that discussion for another day.

Last week, more than ever, I realized how appropriate and important it sometimes is for a PR Pro to grab a hold of a face mask (or two, or three) within their organization when certain situations arise. When it is absolutely necessary for a PR Pro to engage in tough conversations with not-so-willing individuals, we have to have the courage to grab them by the face mask and communicate in a way that ensures the accurate message is both conveyed and equally received. Sometimes it takes grabbing individuals by the face mask to make sure they are zoned in to what you are saying, but more importantly that they understand at the same time.

Because buzz words are big in PR, I'm going to share how some are fitting for this post:

• Transparency: It's best to tell people the truth, no matter how uncomfortable your message might be. This is especially true during challenging situations. So grab their attention and lay it ALL out.
• Big Picture: It's human nature to focus on "the now," but sometimes individuals need to be gently reminded that their actions, messages and behaviors are not what is best for the big picture organizationally, no matter how pretty the personal picture might seem.
• Urgency: As PR Pro's we need to determine the urgency of a message and determine if action is immediately necessary or if it can be delayed. If we (PR Pro's) over use the sense of urgency with organizational leaders, when a valid, urgent situation arises, they might not be as quick to embrace the perceived urgency.

Special Note: As many miles as I have gotten out of the previous conversation with Jill she deserves some kudos...introducing Capelli Design Group. Jill and her husband are a dynamic duo as a licensed landscape architect and licensed interior designer. Check out their website at http://www.capellidesigngroup.com/ and keep them in mind for your next project.

Picture: Jill and I after we ran the White Rock 1/2 Marathon in December 2009.  Look like crap, but you would too after 13.1 miles...just sayin!