In addition to the
many reasons that show why PR people should be part of Management, I have this
one:
When he comes up with
something intended for external publics, for example, a media statement, a
simple statement, a PR person who is not part of Management needs approval from
some top guy before publication. Now, top Managers have their own work to
attend to. Their priority, therefore, is their core work. Attending to a PR
person’s statement just appears to be ‘extra work’ for the top guy. The statement
therefore cannot be their priority.
What happens? The PR
person’s work suffers as the review of the statement is left ‘waiting’ for
decades. Meanwhile, the PR person cannot proceed but wait until the much
sought-after approval is granted.
This wouldn’t be the
case if the PR person had a greater amount of authority within the
organisation. If he were a Manager he would simply proceed to get the statement
published and explain the same later to his fellow Managers. The practitioner's autonomy would help. Some statements
are just so straightforward that they do not require a CEO’s approval. But that
is only when the PR person is part of Management, not when he/she is out.
What’s the point,
therefore? Keeping a PR person outside of Management is one sure way of robbing
an organisation of some efficiency. As simple as that.
Of course, as alluded to in the opening, there are a myriad reasons for PR people to be part of Management. What has just been discussed here is just one of the numerous.
Of course, as alluded to in the opening, there are a myriad reasons for PR people to be part of Management. What has just been discussed here is just one of the numerous.
