{"id":7326,"date":"2016-09-07T08:00:29","date_gmt":"2016-09-07T12:00:29","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/progressions.prsa.org\/?p=7326"},"modified":"2018-08-20T15:02:44","modified_gmt":"2018-08-20T19:02:44","slug":"10-lessons-pr-pros-can-learn-from-hamilton","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/progressions.prsa.org\/index.php\/2016\/09\/07\/10-lessons-pr-pros-can-learn-from-hamilton\/","title":{"rendered":"10 Lessons PR Pros Can Learn From ‘Hamilton’"},"content":{"rendered":"

Like so many across the country, I\u2019m hooked on \u201cHamilton: An American Musical\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

From the moment the musical premiered off-Broadway, the country has been abuzz with \u201cHamilton\u201d mania. Tickets sell for several hundred \u2014 if not thousand \u2014 dollars a piece; hordes of fans swarm its home, New York\u2019s Richard Rodgers Theatre, hours before the curtain rises for the chance to win a seat; and its soundtrack, a blend of R&B, rap, rock and traditional Broadway ballads, peaked at No. 3 on the Billboard Top 200 charts and inspired countless karaoke videos, lip-syncing sessions and Tumblr accounts.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"Courtesy<\/a>
Courtesy of giphy.com.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

It\u2019s easy to see why, too.There\u2019s something in this show for everyone, including public relations practitioners. Its core themes \u2014 those of legacy and storytelling \u2014 are still relevant to the world today and form, in their own ways, part of what public relations professionals do. Here are some of the many lessons that public relations practitioners can learn from the musical incarnation of the \u201cten-dollar Founding Father.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

    \n
  1. \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Build and maintain strong connections.<\/b><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    As \u201cHamilton\u201d makes its way through the first act, we see some of his most important relationships take form, and all of these connections play a vital part in Hamilton\u2019s rise. This is the reason why networking is such an important element of public relations: Knowing a lot of people in a lot of different places and having a good relationship with them can make a profound impact on the path you take, professionally and personally. As the second act of \u201cHamilton\u201d shows, however, we have to take care of these relationships and connections, because while they help, not maintaining them can leave you in a difficult spot.<\/span><\/p>\n

      \n
    1. \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Be friendly in competition.<\/b><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

      In this industry, turnover is frequent. Practitioners switch agencies or sectors, move to different cities and rise in the hierarchy. There\u2019s constantly an influx of new faces and places. But it\u2019s just as important to remember that while public relations is a big, competitive world, in a way it\u2019s also small: your next boss or colleague could be someone you know. Each of us has our own ambitions and dreams for our careers, just like Burr and Hamilton did, and that means that we may end up competing with friends or teaming up with previous competitors. That being said, stay friendly and don\u2019t let things become combative or uncomfortable, because in this field, you never know who may cross your path again.<\/span><\/p>\n

        \n
      1. \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Timing is everything.<\/b><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

        One of the key themes \u201cHamilton\u201d is time itself: learning how to manage it and how to treasure it. In our media-driven society, we treasure our time more than ever before. Knowing the best times to post on social media or time of year to launch a new campaign can make or break a venture into the public relations realm. <\/span><\/p>\n

          \n
        1. \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Be ready for backlash.<\/b><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

          For every success the public relations field has, there are plenty of ideas or concepts that don\u2019t make it past the drawing board or face backlash when put into action. It\u2019s important to know, then, that not every strategy or tactic is going to work. But remember: Even Alexander Hamilton had his own misfires. (The Reynolds Pamphlet, anyone?) Chances are backlash is going to happen at some point, but knowing how to react to it is what can diffuse a situation or make it worse.<\/span><\/p>\n

          \"Courtesy<\/a>
          Courtesy of giphy.com.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
            \n
          1. \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Don\u2019t sacrifice one principle to achieve another.<\/b><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

            In public relations, values and ideals are essential. Every organization has a mission statement of some kind, as well as an ethical code that outlines how things need to be done, principles that must be held and procedures to follow. Every person, too, has their own code of values, morals or ethics that they live by. However, maintaining one code does not mean betraying another. As Hamilton learns, making this sacrifice can do more damage instead of repairing it. The balance between these codes is vital to how we conduct ourselves professionally and personally.<\/span><\/p>\n

              \n
            1. \u00a0\u00a0<\/b>Know when to step in and when to step back.<\/b><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

              Often times, this industry gets hectic. It\u2019s important to know when something needs to be said and when it doesn\u2019t, which trends to follow or engage and which trends to avoid. Engaging the right trends can pay off. However, \u00a0jumping into the wrong conversation can open you up to criticism or controversy that could have been avoided. An Alexander Hamilton-style rapid response works at times, because you may be running out of time to capitalize. However, it can also pay off to take Aaron Burr\u2019s approach and wait for the right time or conversation to make your move. Knowing that distinction, of when to write like you\u2019re running out of time or when to take a break, can speak wonders about your organization and either strengthen your relationship with audiences or hurt it. <\/span><\/p>\n

                \n
              1. \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Work hard to get noticed.<\/b><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

                It\u2019s no secret that public relations is hard work. It\u2019s a complex industry with many different sectors and aspects, so it can be overwhelming at times. It\u2019s also an industry in which hard work can pay off fast with upward mobility, inching closer and closer to leadership and executive positions. \u201cHamilton\u201d is about this type of ambition, of someone wanting to make their mark on the world. While Hamilton\u2019s ambition may have proved an obstacle once he made it to the top, there\u2019s no denying that he worked hard to get there.<\/span><\/p>\n

                  \n
                1. \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Every move matters.<\/b><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

                  Of the many themes \u201cHamilton\u201d explores, the idea of legacy is chief among them. Its characters are obsessed with memory, especially Hamilton himself. With this in mind, each character\u2019s choices are made knowing that they will make an impact of some kind, even if they don\u2019t know what that impact will be. In public relations, every move you make can make a difference. It\u2019s important to flush out your strategies and tactics, nail down your approach to achieve your objectives and to be confident in those approaches.<\/span><\/p>\n

                  \"Courtesy<\/a>
                  Courtesy of giphy.com.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
                    \n
                  1. \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Be open and inclusive to other opinions and ideas.<\/b><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

                    Public relations is an industry built on ideas and concepts that can change the face of a brand or organization in an instant. There\u2019s no shortage of creativity or concept generation. However, there\u2019s always the chance for conflict. It\u2019s important to remember that not every idea you have is going to gel entirely with the ideas others have, but there may be a compromise. Welcome debate and lively conference room battles, a la the cabinet battles in \u201cHamilton.\u201d Be open to new ideas, new mindsets and new opinions.<\/span><\/p>\n

                      \n
                    1. Know the story you\u2019re telling inside and out.<\/b><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

                      \u201cHamilton,\u201d in the end, is not only about memory, legacy and ambition, but also about storytelling and the responsibilities and privileges of being a storyteller. <\/span><\/p>\n

                      \u201cWho lives, who dies, who tells your story?,\u201d sings the company in the show\u2019s heart-rending finale. In short, as public relations practitioners, we do. It\u2019s our responsibility and privilege to tell these stories in the best way we know how. Stories are diverse, precious, complex and meaningful, and as public relations practitioners, we help tell these stories to the world. \u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

                      \u2014<\/span><\/p>\n

                      Drew Pendleton is a senior at The University of Alabama (UA) majoring in public relations and Spanish. He is currently the editorial director for <\/span><\/i>Platform Online Magazine<\/span><\/i><\/a>, the freelance editor for Mosaic Magazine and the director of media relations content creation for Capstone Agency, the university\u2019s student-run firm. He\u00a0also\u00a0serves as the publications committee leader for UA\u2019s PRSSA Chapter. Connect with him on Twitter <\/span><\/i>@drew_pendleton<\/span><\/i><\/a>, <\/span><\/i>LinkedIn<\/span><\/i><\/a> or by email at <\/span><\/i>ampendleton1@crimson.ua.edu<\/span><\/i><\/a>.<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n

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                      Like so many across the country, I\u2019m hooked on \u201cHamilton: An American Musical\u201d From the moment the musical premiered off-Broadway, the country has been abuzz with \u201cHamilton\u201d mania. Tickets sell for several hundred \u2014 if not thousand \u2014 dollars a piece; hordes of fans swarm its home, New York\u2019s Richard Rodgers Theatre, hours before the curtain rises for the chance […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":24,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"_uf_show_specific_survey":0,"_uf_disable_surveys":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[2558,2557,40,120],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/progressions.prsa.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7326"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/progressions.prsa.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/progressions.prsa.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/progressions.prsa.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/24"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/progressions.prsa.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=7326"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/progressions.prsa.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7326\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":7390,"href":"https:\/\/progressions.prsa.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7326\/revisions\/7390"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/progressions.prsa.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=7326"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/progressions.prsa.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=7326"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/progressions.prsa.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=7326"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}