In general, the public relations industry is a team sport. In a corporate setting the craft supports the business and helps generate buzz. While landing a WSJ placement will look great in your personal clip book, chances are that someone else on your team contributed a cog that helped see it to print. This can be anything from crafting the pitch, building a list or hatching the idea.

So having a strong team structure is truly key for success. When looking for the perfect team to emulate, I channeled my inner Mike Schaffer and looked at the perfect team from 1980’s television – the A-Team. The foursome embodies everything that a team should be, even if you aren’t breaking out of a maximum security prison and living in the Los Angeles underground.

Hannibal Smith – Every team needs a bona fide leader that puts each team member in a position to succeed. This person is in charge of the overall execution of the plan and keeping the ship running smooth. Not sure if catch phrases or smoking cigars will go over well in a confined office, this team member definitely loves it when a plan comes together.

Templeton “Faceman” Peck – In the A-Team, Face was the master of soothsaying and always infiltrated the bad guy’s operations. In the case of a PR team, this person has a way of making thing happen. This can be anything from getting a foot in the door at a top-tiered publication or working a past connection to land the big placement. This person is also skilled at writing pitches and knows what reporters are looking for and may have some journalistic positions on their resume.

B.A. Baracus – Mr. T’s flight-fearing tough guy was a jack of all trades. In a team setting this person knows how to put their heads down and get things done, no matter how dirty they have to get. With social media becoming such a vital part of communications now, this person will more than likely be the team’s champion in the space as well.

Howling Mad Murdoch –Well Murdoch was the mad hatter of the team. Now while I am not going to say that your team should employ someone who is routinely in a military medical institution, you still need someone that is different. This person has the big ideas and thinks outside the proverbial box. Sometimes these oft-dubbed “crazy ideas” can pay off and land your team some great returns.

Together the group is a finely tuned machine. Everyone has their role, which one do you play?

In general, the public relations industry is a team sport. In a corporate setting the craft supports the business and helps generate buzz. While landing a WSJ placement will look great in your personal clip book, chances are that someone else on your team contributed a cog that helped see it to print. This can be anything from crafting the pitch, building a list or hatching the idea.

So having a strong team structure is truly key for success. When looking for the perfect team to emulate, I channeled my inner Mike Schaffer and looked at the perfect team from 1980’s television – the A-Team. The foursome embodies everything that a team should be, even if you aren’t breaking out of a maximum security prison and living in the Los Angeles underground.

Hannibal Smith – Every team needs a bona fide leader that puts each team member in a position to succeed. This person is in charge of the overall execution of the plan and keeping the ship running smooth. Not sure if catch phrases or smoking cigars will go over well in a confined office, this team member definitely loves it when a plan comes together.

Templeton “Faceman” Peck – In the A-Team, Face was the master of soothsaying and always infiltrated the bad guy’s operations. In the case of a PR team, this person has a way of making thing happen. This can be anything from getting a foot in the door at a top-tiered publication or working a past connection to land the big placement. This person is also skilled at writing pitches and knows what reporters are looking for and may have some journalistic positions on their resume.

B.A. Baracus – Mr. T’s flight-fearing tough guy was a jack of all trades. In a team setting this person knows how to put their heads down and get things done, no matter how dirty they have to get. With social media becoming such a vital part of communications now, this person will more than likely be the team’s champion in the space as well.

Howling Mad Murdoch –Well Murdoch was the mad hatter of the team. Now while I am not going to say that your team should employ someone who is routinely in a military medical institution, you still need someone that is different. This person has the big ideas and thinks outside the proverbial box. Sometimes these oft-dubbed “crazy ideas” can pay off and land your team some great returns.

Together the group is a finely tuned machine. Everyone has their role, which one do you play?

In general, the public relations industry is a team sport. In a corporate setting the craft supports the business and helps generate buzz. While landing a WSJ placement will look great in your personal clip book, chances are that someone else on your team contributed a cog that helped see it to print. This can be anything from crafting the pitch, building a list or hatching the idea.

So having a strong team structure is truly key for success. When looking for the perfect team to emulate, I channeled my inner Mike Schaffer and looked at the perfect team from 1980’s television – the A-Team. The foursome embodies everything that a team should be, even if you aren’t breaking out of a maximum security prison and living in the Los Angeles underground.

Hannibal Smith – Every team needs a bona fide leader that puts each team member in a position to succeed. This person is in charge of the overall execution of the plan and keeping the ship running smooth. Not sure if catch phrases or smoking cigars will go over well in a confined office, this team member definitely loves it when a plan comes together.

Templeton “Faceman” Peck – In the A-Team, Face was the master of soothsaying and always infiltrated the bad guy’s operations. In the case of a PR team, this person has a way of making thing happen. This can be anything from getting a foot in the door at a top-tiered publication or working a past connection to land the big placement. This person is also skilled at writing pitches and knows what reporters are looking for and may have some journalistic positions on their resume.

B.A. Baracus – Mr. T’s flight-fearing tough guy was a jack of all trades. In a team setting this person knows how to put their heads down and get things done, no matter how dirty they have to get. With social media becoming such a vital part of communications now, this person will more than likely be the team’s champion in the space as well.

Howling Mad Murdoch –Well Murdoch was the mad hatter of the team. Now while I am not going to say that your team should employ someone who is routinely in a military medical institution, you still need someone that is different. This person has the big ideas and thinks outside the proverbial box. Sometimes these oft-dubbed “crazy ideas” can pay off and land your team some great returns.

Together the group is a finely tuned machine. Everyone has their role, which one do you play?

In general, the public relations industry is a team sport. In a corporate setting the craft supports the business and helps generate buzz. While landing a WSJ placement will look great in your personal clip book, chances are that someone else on your team contributed a cog that helped see it to print. This can be anything from crafting the pitch, building a list or hatching the idea.

So having a strong team structure is truly key for success. When looking for the perfect team to emulate, I channeled my inner Mike Schaffer and looked at the perfect team from 1980’s television – the A-Team. The foursome embodies everything that a team should be, even if you aren’t breaking out of a maximum security prison and living in the Los Angeles underground.

Hannibal Smith – Every team needs a bona fide leader that puts each team member in a position to succeed. This person is in charge of the overall execution of the plan and keeping the ship running smooth. Not sure if catch phrases or smoking cigars will go over well in a confined office, this team member definitely loves it when a plan comes together.

Templeton “Faceman” Peck – In the A-Team, Face was the master of soothsaying and always infiltrated the bad guy’s operations. In the case of a PR team, this person has a way of making thing happen. This can be anything from getting a foot in the door at a top-tiered publication or working a past connection to land the big placement. This person is also skilled at writing pitches and knows what reporters are looking for and may have some journalistic positions on their resume.

B.A. Baracus – Mr. T’s flight-fearing tough guy was a jack of all trades. In a team setting this person knows how to put their heads down and get things done, no matter how dirty they have to get. With social media becoming such a vital part of communications now, this person will more than likely be the team’s champion in the space as well.

Howling Mad Murdoch –Well Murdoch was the mad hatter of the team. Now while I am not going to say that your team should employ someone who is routinely in a military medical institution, you still need someone that is different. This person has the big ideas and thinks outside the proverbial box. Sometimes these oft-dubbed “crazy ideas” can pay off and land your team some great returns.

Together the group is a finely tuned machine. Everyone has their role, which one do you play?