PR Missteps to Avoid: What Lands You in the PR Naughty Chair

December 16, 2025

Every now and again, agencies like ours need to be the voice of reason. And that might involve sitting a client or two down for a little PR time-out.

Nearly a decade ago, our agency’s CEO wrote one of our very first agency blog posts in a flash. The words jumped straight from her brain to her fingertips as fast and forcefully as a trending TikTok catches fire. Her intent was good: the message came from a place of wanting to help leaders avoid self-inflicted PR pain.

Yet here we are, ten years later, and we’re still seeing the same missteps that get the wrong kind of attention, just with a 2025 spin.

If you ever watched the show Supernanny, you’ll recall that early childhood expert Nanny Jo showed families how to get their unruly children under control. When kids acted out, she helped them take a breather in a designated reset chair. They’d then reflect, apologize and try again, learning from their mistakes.

Imagine if communications worked that way. A quick pause could save reputations, revenue and a lot of heartache.

So… what lands someone in the PR naughty chair today? Let’s review the missteps that call for a time-out:

The Public Meltdown

Flying off the handle on camera, in a meeting or, even worse, on social media can be the reputational kiss of death. When it comes to your public image, remember this: screenshots are forever. So are livestream replays. If you feel your temperature rising, that’s your cue to take some deep breaths and to let your favorite PR pro do the finessing, preferably ahead of those heated moments.

Treating Your Socials Like a Diary

Ranting, digging at competitors, getting lured into a comment-war that has us all grabbing the popcorn… none of it ends well. Even if you’re not a celeb, pro athlete or Fortune 500 CEO, this advice is for you. Your online voice is your brand.

Believing “Off the Record” Is a Contract

It isn’t and it never has been. Assume anything you say could one day become a pull-out quote. This includes a part of what you’ve said, perhaps even a single sentence, without the benefit of further context. It’s happened in our own community and we’ve been called in after the fact, but wouldn’t it be better to think before speaking or issuing that statement?

Ghosting the Media

A news crew is on the way to you after you agreed to let your PR team pitch the story, and now you want to change course? There ought to be a really good reason. You see, that story slot isn’t waiting and today’s missed call can become tomorrow’s “We’ll circle back next quarter.”

Thinking “Internal Comms Stay Internal”

Slack leak. Staff email forward. Screenshot. Board deck floating about in a Facebook group. We’ve all seen it play out in real time with big companies and even nonprofit organizations lately. Assume anything typed can travel. Communicate like the world may one day read it… because they probably will and the sharing probably won’t stop there!

No Such Thing as a Free Lunch

Press trips with “mandatory coverage” clauses? Influencers forced to post a certain way? Manufactured hype always backfires. True partners collaborate on content, they don’t coerce. There’s a big difference between paid media and earned media and the right coverage is worth the wait. Not only that, doing so compromises journalistic ethics.

Image is Everything

That iPhone photo under fluorescent lights? That event shot where no one looks engaged? Visuals carry news now. Poor imagery can stall a strong story or tell the wrong one, while great visuals accelerate it.

Saying “No” to Strategy… but “Yes” to Panic

Pausing every proactive idea but expecting viral moments on demand? Only wanting to try something new after you see a competitor pull it off? PR works best when you’re open to innovation — not just crisis control. Trust your PR team: that creative idea might be your next big news moment.

Treating Reporters Like Prospects

Following up is good. Stalking is… not. Adding journalists to marketing drip campaigns or DM-blasting them? Sending media a PDF flyer about your next golf outing? That’s how you move from “helpful source” to “insta-mute.”

Withholding News from Your PR Team

Good news, bad news — tell us, and tell us ASAP. Nothing slows momentum like a client who withholds the goods. Loop us in early so we turn information (even if it’s a setback) into opportunity.

Devaluing Communications

Handing media strategy to the intern? Expecting your admin to “try social content too”? Today’s audiences are too savvy and news cycles are too fast. Communications is a skillset that is honed over time and with years, not months, of oversight. The bottom line? Your company’s reputation is not an entry-level experiment.

Shady Business Practices

Vendors talk. Agencies talk. Communities talk. Reputation extends beyond headlines and integrity is a long game. Pay fairly, treat partners with respect and your goodwill becomes PR fuel.

Time’s Up — You May Leave the Chair

The good news? Every misstep is preventable with foresight, collaboration and a willingness to hit pause before acting. The strongest leaders know when to seek guidance and when to slow down long enough to choose the right path forward.

Here’s to more confident communication, fewer crises and reputations built to last.