Working in the PR industry is a lot like playing Dungeons & Dragons (D&D): You need to think on your feet, deal with whatever is thrown at you and think strategically (all while being creative). This is evident when the gang plays D&D and they use these very skills when facing challenges in real life.

So, if you enjoy watching Stranger Things but you have never learnt from or played Dungeons & Dragons (like me), there is still a lot that PR professionals can learn from these characters instead. Tagging along with you on this exciting journey is media update’s Talisa Carlson.

Warning: Read on, but don’t say we did not warn you … spoilers are up ahead — one or two (a few!)

Ready to enter the world of strange? Let’s do it!

1. Eleven and Mike Wheeler: Be ethical

If there is one thing that Eleven and Mike always give a 100% on, it is taking care of their friends. They would do anything to protect them, no matter what the costs are.

As a PR pro, you should have the same mindset when it comes to protecting your client's reputations. Your client is your priority, which means you need to treat them and their reputation as such.

Another characteristic of Eleven and Mike is that they always fight for what they believe is right. Practising ethical behaviour like this is also an essential part of your PR efforts. This means you need to:
  • always be honest
  • honour the time of others
  • be competent, and
  • maintain confidentiality.

2. Will Byers and the Upside Down: Never give up

Will was one of the first characters to experience the Upside Down in all of its glory (or should we rather say horror). Now, there are two very important lessons a PR pro can learn from Will:

Never give up
When all odds were essentially against Will, he still kept hanging in there.

In the PR industry, there are countless challenges that you will face daily and, sometimes, you might feel like you just want to give up. This is where you need to take a deep breath, look at the obstacles that are in your path and find ways to overcome them.

Continuously ask for help
Will found a way to communicate with his mom while he was in the Upside Down, and he did not hesitate to try and ask for help as often as possible.

Now, the majority of the time people frown upon the idea of asking for help, but this is something that needs to change. If you are facing a PR crisis and you know that someone in your team will be excellent at assisting you with the issue at hand, don’t be afraid to ask them for their help

3. Max Mayfield and Lucas Sinclair: Be supportive

Max and Lucas have an interesting relationship, but if there is one thing that they do right, it is being supportive — especially Lucas. He is always there for Max and constantly reminds her that he cares about her — which Max is really appreciative of.

So, what can you learn from these two as a PR pro? Well, there might be a time when your client will be facing backlash from a marketing campaign or something that they said on social media. During this difficult time for your client, you need to be supportive and remind them that you are there to rebuild and maintain their reputation.

4. Steve Harrington and Dustin Henderson: Be a team player

Sometimes the best duos are found in the strangest of places — and this is definitely the case with Steve and Dustin. They compliment each other really well because Steve is the muscles that drive this duo while Dustin is the brains that steer them.

As a PR pro, it might look appealing to do a lot of things alone, but working with others will sometimes benefit you a lot more than trying to do it alone.

Public relations specialists should look into working closely with others and ensure that where one person might be lacking, someone else can compensate for this.

5. Nancy Wheeler and Jonathan Byers: Stay curious

Nancy and Jonathan are always curious and this is definitely what makes them a power couple. They are always asking questions and exploring the world around them when they are curious about it.

PR professionals need to also have the same curiosity for their industry, their clients and the public as a whole. This is because if you want to continue being a great communication specialist, you need to know what is going on in the world.

So, the next time you are wondering why a brand does something a certain way or a publication posts your presser using a particular method, start investigating to get those answers. Always stay curious!

6. Jim Hopper and Joyce Byers: Be reliable

Jim and Joyce should really get a trophy for being the parents of the year. These two are extremely determined, reliable and trustworthy. Joyce fought long and hard to get Will back from the Upside Down while Jim did everything in his power to protect Eleven.

The PR industry is all about building trust with the public and this is something PR pros can learn from these two. They show up and never give up. Their children know that they can rely on them and this is exactly what you want from the public and your clients. Why?

You want your clients to trust that you will get the job done and the public wants to know that you are being honest and truthful with them at all times.

Which Stranger Things character is your favourite and why? Be sure to let us know in the comments section below.

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Curious what public relations professionals can learn from our favourite mean girls? Then be sure to read What PR pros can learn from the Mean Girls cast.
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