If Leicester City Can Do It Then So Can You!

As a Southampton FC supporter I can’t help look at the phenomenal achievement of Leicester City this season, without despondently asking why it couldn’t have been my team. However, it has also given me and supporters of teams the hope and belief that actually it could be us. What is more, this optimism is infectious. 

Leicester has shown that with a combination of great team spirit, strong leadership, talent, hard-work, the right strategy and tactics, and a touch of luck, the seemingly impossible is possible.

The world of PR and media relations may be far removed from the glamorous world of premier league football (despite what some would have you believe), but many PR professionals, whether working in-house, or agency, should look at what Leicester City has done and ask themselves, what seemingly impossible goal can I try to reach. For many it will be hitting the front-page of a broadsheet newspaper, an interview on Newsnight, or a stint on the BBC Breakfast sofa. For others the aspiration may not be so bold but similarly challenging, whether it be to get a prized customer to agree to a case study, or winning a top industry award.

Often the greatest challenge is being brave enough to challenge yourself. Have the courage to build a compelling story and then pitch it to a forward-planning team, producer, editor or reporter. Yes, you will get knocked back, but Leicester didn’t win every game they played! However, every time they were beaten they learned from their mistakes, prepared and played again.

Often, PR professionals can become a little too battle weary, cynical and sceptical. Put us in a room together and we are often own worst enemies, discussing why certain things simply won’t work (why won’t the client understand!) before even giving them a go.

Leicester couldn’t win the Premier League but they did. Think about what you want to achieve and start working towards it. You will learn more, enjoy more and hopefully win more. 

Author: Graham Thatcher, Director at Chief PR Ltd

Cyber war - High Level Fireside Briefing

Next Tuesday evening the Chief PR team is looking forward to the first EEMA High Level Fireside Briefing of 2016. The topic for the two-hour debate will be Cyber Warfare – the softer targets – public, private & civilian casualties.

Kicking off with a drinks reception at 6pm and finishing at 8.30pm this event hosted by ATOS in London is highly topical, given George Osborne's pledge in November to increase spending on cyber security to £1.9 billion by 2020 and the announcement of the US government  last week to increase federal cyber-security spending by $5bn, in the hope of reaching $19bn in 2017. 

This debate will explore and explain the hidden Internet  (otherwise known as the Dark Web, Deep Webm or Deepnet) that you cannot find using search engines and how the occupants can dramatically affect our everyday lives and economy.

Last year these High Level Fireside Briefing's were amongst the very best events we had the pleasure of attending. Not only are they informative, but also provide fantastic networking opportunities with people at the very top of the game.

If you are interested in coming along on Tuesday 23rd February you can register at: www.eema.org