Public Relations Professionalism - Report Example

Public Relations Professionalism Integrity and honesty In the practice of public relations, a pubic relationspractitioner is expected to abide by some of the principles which are under the Chartered Institute of Public Relations Code. A public relations practitioner is expected to exhibit acts that depict integrity and honesty. Being a person of integrity entails that, a person is honest and responsible when it comes to matters concerning the public interest. This means that a practitioner under pubic relations must uphold behaviour that is deemed to portray integrity as well as honesty. Their role expects them to check constantly the reliability or rather truthfulness and accuracy of any information before releasing it to the public (Robert 2003, p389). This shows that they have the good of the pubic at heart. Releasing of unreliable information would further bring about conflicts and innocent people may come to harm. Thus to be a public relations practitioner, one has top be very accurate and clear in their task as it a lot depends on their efficiency. In addition to the above information, public relations practitioner is also expected to display or rather reveal any information concerning acts of malpractice as well as unprofessional conduct. This is what is required of them when they follow the CIPR principles. Hence one is required to be true to their job description and avoid any wrongful act which would undermine the effectiveness of the CIPR code of conduct. Practitioners are thus called upon to be their own watchdogs as well as of others and are encouraged to bring to light any illegal acts. Misleading clients is taken as a serious offense as it shows lack of professionalism and a sign of poor work ethics (Straughan 2004, p55). More so the code of conduct is broken when one decides wrongly manipulate their position. Due to occurrence of such instances practitioners are thus warned against engaging in such kind of behaviour. It does not show their integrity and honesty. Capacity, capability and competence By being a person with capacity, capability and competence leads to enhanced professionalism and promotion of good work ethics. A practitioner is called upon to display all the three characteristics so as to be effective in their work. Capacity basically entails that one is up to task and they have the required skills to foresee the successful completion of that specific task. Therefore, with reference to this, a public relations practitioner is required to be at full capacity, upright and has clear and innovative thinking which can greatly impact their performance. Being capable is more or less the same as being a person with capacity. A capable person is one who can engage in a task with the correct mindset and hence propel its effective completion. Competence entails one being always on time or rather on schedule and taking their work with the serious that it deserves. Abiding by the CIP code of conduct is covered under competence. A public relations practitioner is expected to know that professional capacity and capability has limitations. An individual cannot have the capacity and capability to tackle any task that they are assigned to. At times they need help from other employees who happen to be more skilled than they are in that specific task. The basic thing is a display of realism whereby the practitioner shows good professionalism by accepting to delegate work to other employees who have the right skills and resources for a specific task. In addition to this, they are also required to promote team work by collaborating with their colleagues so as to foster competition of a certain project. By displaying such characteristics at work, a practitioner would be abiding by the requirements of the CIPR code of conduct. In addition to this, good work ethics is also displayed. Transparency and avoiding conflicts of interest This principle which is under the CPIR code of conduct entails that any practitioner has the responsibility to disclose to clients, potential clients as well as employers of any financial interests in a supplier who is being recommended or engaged. This shows that the practitioner is practicing transparency which in simple terms refers to being open without hiding any important information to the public (Lee 2004, p65). By doing so, a public relations practitioner would be conforming to the requirements of the code of conduct. Hence all practitioners are encouraged to abide by such principles. While administering public services, practitioners are, even if not always, faced with a situation that is characterized by conflicting interests. It is the duty of the practitioner to make known to any concerned person or body of the conflict of interest at that moment or notify them of any instance that may give rise to one (Margalit 2006, 470). Conflicts of interests usually bring about complications as one is torn apart between achieving one interest and leaving the other. In the execution of their duties therefore, a practitioner should inform clients, potential clients as well as employers of any circumstances which may give rise to conflicts of interests. These should be avoided at all costs. In public relations, services rendered are usually not for free. It is the work of the practitioner to make sure that the proper procedure or rather process is followed regarding service rendering. Any service rendered should be costed, delivered in the right way or in a manner that ensures that business practice and ethics are upheld (Harrison & Moloney 2004, p213). This is to avoid instances where services might be overcharged or rendered in the wrong manner not appealing to the client. The practitioner is hence expected to make sure that such incidences do not occur and if they do, the management should be notified at once. Confidentiality This refers to the art of safeguarding information. Not all information is supposed to be made known to the public unless a go ahead or permission is given. There are reasons for this such as the consequences which may follow if information was by mistake disclosed to the public. In the act of performing their tasks, public relations practitioners are required to pledge their loyalty to the organization in which they belong to or work for (Anderson 2004, p189). This loyalty entails that they are bound by oath not to go against the set principles of the company. The principle of confidentiality is practiced by many organizations and this means that practitioners are bound by it. Failure to follow this code of conduct is taken as a breach of their loyalty or oath. Any information therefore concerning both clients and employees should not be disclosed. Practitioners have access to a wide field of information which if let out would may be, be discriminating to a client or an employee. In the event of having knowledge about some discriminating information, practitioners are advised not to disclose or use it for their own selfish gain. Instances may occur whereby a practitioner may choose to blackmail a client or an employee demanding pay for discriminating information that they may have on them. In case such an incident occurs, the practitioner involved would be going against the code of conduct. They would not be displaying professionalism in any way (Hallahan 2003, p411). It is a requirement that practitioners stay true to their job description and all that it entails of which confidentiality is part. The only instance where a practitioner is required to disclose information is when the law orders it or permission is given by the management. In such a situation, they will not be liable for any consequences experienced after the information has been made known. Personal and professional development plan The CPIR code of conduct displays a couple of principles which should be applied by all people in the professional arena. These principles are aimed at fostering both personal and professional goals. It is due to their effectiveness that these principles have been incorporated in the CPIR code of conduct. Therefore any individual is encouraged to employ them in their daily task execution. Their application does not only foster personal development but also professional development (Brown 2004, p392). They ensure that one does not go against what is required by the organization that they are working for. For instance an individual who displays integrity and honesty at work gets many opportunities or chances for a promotion as compared to an individual who does not apply such. Personally an individual experiences growth through application of such values as they get to mould or rather shape ones character thus making it appealing. Organizations in turn look for people with such appealing characters. As mentioned thereon earlier, professional development is also determined by these principles. Organizations are easily lured by individuals who show good and exemplary character at work. There are individuals who have nurtured their careers and become great people in the society through professional development. If one wants to be successful in their career, they have to abide by the set codes of conduct (Calisson 2004, p380). They have to be people of capacity, capability as well as competence. Organizations admire people who are on time in completing any task assigned to them. More over showing transparency and avoiding any conflicts of interests depicts an individual as being responsible and reliable. Responsibility and reliability are virtues that organizations look for in employees. Hence if one depicts them, they get high chances of getting a promotion thus leading to further success in their career. With reference to this, it can be seen that personal as well professional development are determined by these principles. References Anderson W. B. (2004) "We can do it!" A study of the womens field army public relations efforts, PRR, 30(2), 187-196. Brown R. E. (2004) The propagation of awe: public relations, art and belief in Reformation Europe, PRR 30(4), 381-390. Callison C. (2004) The good, the bad and the ugly: Perceptions of public relations practitioners, JPRR, 16(4), 371-390. Hallahan K. (2003) W.L. Mackenzie King: Rockefellers other public relations counselor in Colorado, PRR 29(4), 410-415. Harrison S. and Moloney K. (2004) Comparing two public relations pioneers: American Ivy Lee and British John Elliot, PRR, 30(2), 205-216. Lee M. (2004) A public relations program even Congress could love; Federal Information Centers, PRR, 30(1), 61-74 Margalit T. (2006) Challenging accounts: Public relations and a tale of two revolutions, PRR 31(4), 463-470. Robert E. B. (2003) A matter of chance: The emergence of probability and the rise of public relations, PRR (29(4), 385-399. Straughan D. M. (2004) "Lift every voice and sing": the public relations efforts of the NAACP, 1960-1965, PRR, 30(1), 49-60 Read More