The tough call between staying neutral and staying true to yourself
In today’s world, it feels like everyone has an opinion on just about everything. And as PR pros, we’re often in the thick of it, tasked with championing our clients’ perspectives—even when they don’t always align with our own. Some days, if we’re managing multiple clients, we might even find ourselves promoting conflicting viewpoints the same day. Navigating this constant tug-of-war with opinions can be draining.
This constant wrestling with opinions can weigh on you. While I want to say that you should always stay true to your principles, this is overly simplistic. I have walked away from clients when I was uncomfortable with their values, actions, etc. but I have also stayed on with others and hid my dissatisfaction. Let’s face it, we have bills to pay. Not everyone can afford to be righteous. That idea wreaks of privilege.
This balance is tricky, and it’s something I wrestle with often. I try to remind myself of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s words: “The ultimate tragedy is not the oppression and cruelty by the bad people but the silence over that by the good people.” Silence is a friend of injustice. But, as a member of the Canadian Public Relations Society, I’m also bound by the Code of Professional Standards. One of the principles is that “A member shall practice the highest standards of honesty, accuracy, integrity and truth, and shall not knowingly disseminate false or misleading information.”
These last few weeks, especially watching the intensity of the U.S. election coverage, I’ve felt the weight of this responsibility. Regardless of where you stand politically, it’s hard not to get swept up in the frustration, the anger, the noise. And yet, in my work, I’ve committed to fairness. I don’t bring politics into my professional relationships, even if my personal beliefs don’t align with every client’s stance. I focus on doing my best work—but I also have boundaries. There are some issues where I will always take a stand, unapologetically, because integrity means being true to yourself, too. That being said, taking a stand does not mean that I have the right to disrespect or harass those who don’t share my views.
We all have a right to our opinions, but I remind our members that we also have a responsibility to uphold CPRS policies and values. The CPRS Policy on Harrassment clearly states that all members will: “Refrain from any behaviour that constitutes harassment, where harassment is defined as comments or conduct directed toward an individual or group, which is offensive, abusive, racist, sexist, degrading, or malicious.”
These are incredibly polarizing times but I ask you all to continue working and interacting with integrity and professionalism. Be kind to yourselves and to each other.