Your Public Best - Lillian Brown [117]
Everyone can recall some event, such as how a famous actress looked and talked when coming down the courthouse steps after going through a painful divorce, or when a politician blew up at the press after losing a key election, or the government official who wept in public with the TV cameras rolling. These images can haunt an individual during the rest of his or her life. Such an incident will be brought up over and over again by interviewers, and any existing video tape will be shown for years to come.
As a public person, you cannot say, “I’m sorry, I don’t feel too well today because I had too much to drink last night.” Or “After a cattle-car flight and three packed-house presentations yesterday, I got to bed at 4 a.m., so I’m exhausted today.” Or “I have the flu and a temperature of 102, but I am nevertheless here to make this stupid speech.”
Instead, you must look relaxed and remain calm and in control. Uncertainty can have a negative effect on you, your staff, and your audiences. Try to manage your schedule of appearances so that you have time to survive. When you can, let your staff work to protect you from losing your sense of well-being. However, only you can say “no” to a schedule overload, since the final decision is yours.
Some public figures enjoy their work immensely, like to work long hours, are good at what they do, and accomplish a great deal. However, others cross a line and become workaholics. They reach a point when they work for the sake of working and maintain debilitating schedules without regard for their health. They are often unable to continue to be productive. Once stress and fatigue become a part of their daily existence, productivity suffers and there is a danger of emotional and physical burnout.
If you find yourself fitting increasingly into the workaholic category, it is important to pace yourself and to keep your workload at an achievable level, so that when the spotlight moves upon you, you can handle the challenge. This is especially important for the political candidate on the campaign trail.
Be kind to yourself. Do not waste time feeling bad about things that cannot be avoided, minor delays or negative incidents, innocent mistakes that you may have made, or something critical that was said about you. Since your role is so important, you deserve some self-given loving care.
How you handle a crisis often depends on your emotional makeup. When you believe in yourself, your opinions, and your work, it is easier to rise above the instabilities of your personal and professional life. Regard adversity as a challenge that you can conquer.
AVOIDING ILLNESS
Do everything you can to avoid getting a contagious illness from other people. Since you are constantly subjected to crowds, develop your own ways to protect yourself. If you have to shake hands with everyone in a crowded room, wash your hands before touching your face or eating. Wash your hands after touching stair railings, elevator buttons, and doorknobs.
Distance yourself from people with coughs and colds. Turn your head unobtrusively when someone sneezes or coughs. Ask your doctor about getting flu shots for your own protection. Some people believe that relaxation techniques can increase immunity to colds. Certainly, when you are overtired and your resistance is down, you are more vulnerable to infections.
SMOKING
These days, everyone is more aware of the ill effects that smoking can have on one’s health. Even airlines have recently banned or limited smoking on flights both short and long.
Smoking is often directly related to the use of your voice. The accumulation of tobacco tars inside your lungs can limit your ability to breathe. Also, nicotine constricts your blood vessels so that your heart has