Whether due to the enduring popularity of star Betty White, the contemporary relevance of the social issues the show addressed or the endless reruns on the Hallmark Channel, “The Golden Girls” has serious staying power.
When Hulu announced that they had secured exclusive streaming rights to all seven seasons of the iconic ‘80s comedy, fans of all ages rejoiced. One user on Twitter remarked that this was the “best news I’ve heard in 2017.”
The series’ streaming debut is Feb. 13, so now is a great time to break out the cheesecake and consider the lessons our favorite girls can teach us about being better communicators:
From Rose, we can learn the power of storytelling—and, just as critically, the importance of brevity.
Her St. Olaf stories were nothing short of legendary, but the reception they got from the other ladies often left a lot to be desired, due to the fact that they were long-winded and included way too much jargon (“Oh, blow it out your tubenburbles”).
As professional communicators, we should take care to ensure that none of the stories we are telling—whether via a press release, pitch or another form—become the proverbial “St. Olaf stories” of PR.
The only place a jargon-laden press release will get you is a one-way ticket to the spam filter.
From Sophia, we can learn the importance of transparency.
Sophia’s status as a fan favorite character on the show can largely be attributed to her tendency to say things exactly as she saw them (“The man’s as gay as a picnic basket”) and to pull no punches when it came to addressing hot-button topics.
As PR pros, the reality is that people often think we do the opposite, trying to “spin” issues so they sound a certain way—or that we avoid talking about the topics that actually matter.
In today’s climate of “alternative facts,” it has never been more important for us to communicate what is happening accurately and honestly. It is only then that our profession will get the positive recognition it deserves.
From Dorothy, we can learn the value of being quick-witted and vigilant to respond.
One characteristic that separates an average PR pro from a stellar one is being an excellent wordsmith, and Dorothy’s acerbic wit and unique way with words (she is a former teacher, after all) would no doubt make her best-suited for a career in our profession.
Whether she was lampooning Rose or throwing shade at Blanche, Dorothy never hesitated to insert her wit into a conversation.
PR pros can do the same thing by monitoring what people are talking about on- and offline, and looking to capitalize on the best opportunities to insert our own voices.
From Blanche, we can learn the value of having a vast network.
Blanche’s “little black book” was often used for comedic effect on the series, but there is no denying that she was the most social character on the lanai. It usually got her the best results (it helped her score tickets to meet the one and only Burt Reynolds).
Similar to Blanche, a PR pro’s social network is his or her lifeblood.
By constantly looking to expand our networks and remaining open to new social experiences, we amplify the number of people we are able to reach with our messages, and thus, drive better results in the long run.
“The Golden Girls” has transformed from a small sitcom in the ‘80s to a bona fide pop culture phenomenon today. One factor for its longevity is the fact that viewers of all ages can find a little bit of the girls within themselves. By choosing the most positive of these traits to embody, we can become better communicators—and perhaps better people.
Drew Boehmker is an account executive at Scooter Media.
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