By Taylor Dilley
Dealing with a tough professor can be disheartening; especially when it’s a class you should love. Harsh criticism, unfair grades, and daily quizzes can wear down your self-esteem. While it may not seem like it at the time, pushing through with determination and grace can be extremely beneficial to your future. Who knows, you may end up learning more from that professor than you ever imagined.
You will even gain skills necessary for handling troublesome PR clients who might make the job you love a little less loveable.
Stay Positive
Negativity from a professor day after day can really put you down in the dumps, but nothing will ever be accomplished with a crummy attitude. The same goes for working with a difficult client. When addressing issues, it is important to remain calm and friendly. This way, it will be much easier to reach a mutual conclusion.
Make the Extra Effort
Nothing is more valuable than your time. Putting a little extra time into your client will go a long way. Just like going to office hours impresses a professor, scheduling extra meetings demonstrates your commitment to the client. This shows that you are willing to make the effort to give them the best results possible.
Prevention is key!
The best way to deal with a problematic professor or client is to not let them become a problem in the first place. Homework assignments will be coming left and right; organization is key. Stay on top of things, keep a planner, and outline everything clearly. Keep open, constant communication. You should always be one step ahead of the client. This way it’s nearly impossible for them to have anything to complain about!
The hard work and daily struggles will be worth it in the long run. So chin up, stay positive, and get through the semester. You are one step closer to living the PR dream (even with the inevitable difficult clients).
Taylor Dilley is a Freshman majoring in Strategic Communications, Minoring in Marketing, and a Specialization in Visual Communications. After graduating she would like to work for an agency or in corporate PR. Follow her on Twitter @taylor_dilley
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