Three of the most important traits for an individual to be successful in the field of Public Relations

I believe the most important trait to be successful in Public Relations is passion. Public Relations cannot be regarded as a 9 to 5 job. It is a lifestyle, something you go to sleep with and get up with. To be able to develop the proper strategy, along with the 360° communication mix, you need to have excellent knowledge of every aspect of the discipline, as well as insight in the business and industry of the client.

Next to that, you need to combine a hands-on mentality with excellent team member skills. Proactive work allows the PR manager to react faster and more accurate when an organization is in need. Hence, a hands-on mentality results in added value for the company as well as for the team. Nonetheless, developing PR strategies and communication plans is not an individual task. It is something you build in team. When successful, you share the glory. In hard times, you share the trouble.

Finally, you need an analytical mind. When an organization seeks advice about certain communication issues, you have to be able to extract the precise problem, as well as putting things into perspective and respecting the broader context. In this way, you will develop a more accurate communication strategy, which is a necessary basis for the creative part of the solution.