It is always interesting talking to other professionals and friends in other areas besides academia when you tell them what you are doing. I have told some of my friends that I am currently working on my Ph.D. in Communications (primary area in Public Relations), and they are like – “REALLY??!” I found this interesting and asked them why they were surprised, and a few of my friends had mentioned how I was not the typical doctoral student. I found this interesting, and this point definitely got me thinking about this in more detail.It does appear that the academic community does have a certain reputation among other professionals in society. Why can’t we be smart and be fabulous at the same time? Why is there an idea that we can only be one or the other? This very issue was discussed in an article that appeared on the Chronicle for Higher Education, and I do feel that there are certain things that future academic and research professionals have to consider. There are certainly many stereotypes floating out there about academic professionals that we will have to face.
However, we need to view this as a challenge that we can overcome and prove that they are wrong. How do we go about doing this? Well, here are a few ways in terms of reputation management that could possibly help academic professionals – both doctoral students and faculty:
Invest in your personal brand: Image is everything – one of the things that we learn especially in Public relations. Whether it is the research presentation you are working on to your overall appearance, everything matters and influences how people think of you. You want to make sure that you make the right first impression. In addition, having a personal website and blog would also be a great way to establish your presence and reputation online to the academic and online community. It would be a worthwhile investment for your reputation.
Technology is always fashionable: Another stereotype that I hear a lot is that academic professionals are not up-to-date with the latest technologies or do not understand them. Technology is chic and very fashionable, and it does present an image of sophistication and intelligence to society, students, and fellow professionals. By being aware of what is out there in terms of technology and latest advancements, this establishes credibility and contributes towards a positive and fabulous personal and professional reputation. Academic professionals today have to be active and knowledgeable about social media, new tools and devices related to social media (ex. iPad), and how to use them strategically in their research and practice. In addition, they make a very fabulous accessory. 🙂
Classic style is always fabulous: You don’t want to necessarily jump on every fashion trend that comes by, but what you want to do is select fashion statements that best represent you and your personal reputation professionally and personally. For example, I know that there are certain colors that I know do not necessarily look the best on me (ex. yellow), and I know that there are certain brands of shoes that work with me and make my outfit completely fabulous (ex. Kenneth Cole or Antonio Melani). By investing in these styles, you are presenting yourself in a classic manner that is both positive for your professional and personal reputation.
Exercise our mind and body: Exercise is not only a great way to reduce stress, but it also allows you to live a healthy lifestyle. I have had a great experience at Tennessee by taking exercise classes at the UT Student Rec Center – I have taken classes in kickboxing, cyclebox, cycling, and many others. It has been very beneficial for me, and a great activity to do with friends.
So, the question of this blog post asks if academic professionals can be smart and fabulous. ABSOLUTELY!!! Academic professionals have to realize that others are making judgments on how they look and behave, and this influences their overall impression of the position. In order to overcome these obstacles, future academic professionals have to be transdisciplinary not only in their research, but in their overall style in managing their reputation. We have to know about the latest trends in technology and fashion to best represent ourselves to society – we need to invest how we present ourselves in our presentations and classrooms to go against some of these stereotypes. It may take time, resources, and hard work – but it will be worth it at the end.
Hope you all are having a great day.
Best Wishes,
Karen
0 Comments