Attaining Buoyancy: Reclaiming Your Optimism at Work

How can PR professionals attain "buoyancy" and optimism?

The relentless pressure of brand protection and crisis management constantly threatens a public relations professional’s mental health. By rigorously setting boundaries against 10-hour work sprints and deliberately modeling healthy vacation habits, executives can reclaim their professional "buoyancy"—an optimistic, resilient disposition.

It’s a warm Tuesday morning in the middle of summer. You’ve given yourself the flexibility to have a little rest and relaxation in-between meetings and deliverables. It’s just you on a giant flamingo float in a swimming pool. Suntan lotion applied, sunglasses on, drinks in hand as you tune out the world and tune into how you’re feeling. Positive, upbeat, energized.

You’re attaining – literal and metaphorical - buoyancy.

Lately, I’ve been fixated on the word buoyancy. Typically, we think about the word in terms of floating or as it relates to the economy or stock market. But I’ve been focused on a third definition: “an optimistic or cheerful disposition.”

At times it’s a challenge to be optimistic or cheerful. Many challenges are thrown at us as public relations professionals, parents, children, friends, volunteers, and other groups close to us. For some of us, our jobs are about sharing positive messages with our publics. For others, we’re brand protectors. For others, it’s to handle crises every day. The diversity of our work is one of many things I love about our profession.

At the same time, our work can and does impact our well-being. Whether it’s the long hours, the people we work with, or the work itself, it can be emotionally, mentally, and physically draining.

In this Strategies and Tactics issue focusing on health and wellness, you’ll read articles giving you many great ideas on prioritizing your well-being.

As you go through the ideas in the issue, please consider how taking action will help you this summer and beyond attain buoyancy. Examples might include:

- How to set boundaries so you’re not working 10 hours straight without a break.

- Taking actionable steps to build trust with your key stakeholders so you feel confident you can be away without fear of retribution.

- Feeling empowered to look for a new job or take on a new set of clients you advocate for.

- Creating a mindset of how your actions – whether it’s taking a vacation or prioritizing your mental or physical health - show up in front of your family, friends, bosses, colleagues, and clients.

- Learning how to help the next generation of PR professionals become trusted advisors while at the same time protecting their well-being.

My goal for you this summer is to use the great lessons in this issue to find your path to attaining buoyancy.

Please reach out this summer and let me know the steps you’re taking to prioritize your well-being.

In the meantime, have a safe, healthy, and buoyant summer!