I have always been a fan of football – particularly college. At the various universities I went to as a student (Florida, USC, and Tennessee) and now as a faculty member at the University of Louisville and WVU, I have appreciated the level of talent on the field. All of these teams have been very successful over the years with their football programs.
Off all the teams that I have followed and cheered for, there are some athletes that stand out to me not just for their talent, but for setting a positive role model for not only other athletes, but for young fans and others in the sporting community. One athlete that has done this over the last several years has been Tim Tebow, former UF quarterback Heisman Trophy winner and current quarterback for the Denver Broncos. Tebow has lead his new professional team to many key wins and is driving the Bronco’s offense in the game.
I do find it interesting to look at the Tebow brand in terms of his reputation and presence on and off the field. While there have been many football players in the NFL who have been in the news for not so positive reasons – Tebow continues to be professional and consistent to his image. He has stayed true to his commitment to his Christian faith, which has created some to target him in the media. Some say it is authentic and genuine, but others are concerned since other high profile individuals from sports to entertainment to politics have used this same platform for other reasons.
So – the question from all of this is – what can PR professionals learn from Tim Tebow? Here are just a few points we can learn from Tim Tebow and apply to our PR practices:
- Managing your brand proactively. Tebow has a strong brand and is the complete ideal package for an athlete today. He is talented on the field, but he conducts himself professionally off the field. Being authentic is key and being true to who you are not only in the profession, but in life and being consistent with this.
- Showcase your personality and be uplifting in interviews. Tebow is actively engaged in the community and supporting causes while also showing his personality in interviews and other engagements.
- Stand up to what you believe in and not be swayed by peer pressure. Tebow is consistent in the way that he stands to his own personal values without the influence of what others think or say to him.
- As you rise up in the ranks of success, staying humble is key: Tebow has accomplished a lot in his athletic career – both in college and in the NFL – and even with all of these successes, he still remains down to earth and humble. That is a rarity in professional athletics and is quite refreshing.
- Have a game plan ahead before you get success (aka issues management): Tim has some great advice regarding this issue that he gave in this interview – you have to know how you are going to approach your success before it happens, how to set boundaries, and really practice proactive issues management.
In summary, I think that there are many lessons we can all learn from Tim Tebow – he is definitely setting a good example for not only other athletes to follow, but also for those of us in the PR profession. Keep up the great work, Tim – and Go Gators! 🙂
Hope you all are having a great day!
Best Wishes,
Karen
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