One of the most impactful lessons I’ve learned since studying Public Relations is how to relate to and empathize with others. Coming into college, I was extremely outspoken about my beliefs, values, standards, etc. and didn’t care who heard, what people thought, or how it made them feel. That all started changing when I realized that some of those beliefs I held so near and dear were shifting a little.

As I began my PR journey, I was taught to look at perceptions of companies, of people. What does (blank) thing say about them? What does (this one thing) give the impression of? All kinds of questions would race to my mind as a way to “protect” whatever brand it was from any doubts of their target audience. If I could think of every possible negative thing that could be said or questioned, I could do my job of protecting their image and brand. This was ingrained into the way I looked at companies and at people I interacted with on a daily basis — trying to see what they were doing that could be done better to give them the best perception possible.

After shifting my mindset this way when it came to brands, I unintentionally shifted my mindset the same way for myself. How did (such and such thing that I said) make this person feel? How could I have used my words better to explain how I felt? What can I do to place myself in their shoes and understand them better? These are the types of questions that have changed the way I interact with people on a daily basis. Sure, there are days I slip up and I don’t filter myself or my actions, but I’m constantly trying my best to improve upon my communication with others. And it’s all thanks to this little (or big) thing called public relations.