Hey communicators, let’s play “would you rather . . .”
Last week my kids were playing “would you rather” in the back seat of the car. For those who’ve never played, it’s a party game that poses a question beginning with, “Would you rather…”
It can be a choice between two good options or a true dilemma—one involving two equally unattractive options. Answering “neither” or “both” is against the rules.
With my kids, their questions mostly involved superpowers (Would you rather be able to fly or breathe under water?); eating things (Would you rather eat a rotten egg or stinky cheese?); and school activities (Would you rather go to phys-ed all day, or have recess all day?).
Listening to their game got me thinking about “would you rather” questions for corporate communications professionals. So, PR Daily readers, would you rather …
• … go to that late-afternoon meeting on 401K investment options, or go to the dentist and have a cavity filled?
• … listen to a presentation filled with words such as “synergize,” “leverage,” and “implement,” or clean out the company refrigerator?
• … read a blog laden with clichés such as “kick it up a notch,” or “leverage cutting-edge technologies,” ask the IT department for help with your computer?
• … submit to big-brotherish health assessments at the office, or have your health insurance premiums increase?
• … write the CEO’s message for the annual report, or edit the annual report message that the CEO wrote?
• … explain Google Analytics data to your CEO, or edit an article that the corporate attorney wrote?
• … write the in-house company style guide, or be responsible for enforcing the in-house company style guide?
• … have your mom read everything you write, or have your favorite J-school professor read everything you write?
• … work with a client who refuses to use social media, or work with a client who only wants to use social media?
• … debate a co-worker about the serial comma, or debate a co-worker about the proper use of hyphens?
• … write your next article with a pen or a typewriter?
• … be without Google Search for one day, or be without Facebook for one day?
• … dance in front of your co-workers at the company holiday party, or play softball in front of your co-workers at the company picnic?
• … teach spelling to first-graders, or teach spelling to accountants?
• … take the three-hour tour, or be stuck on the island?
PR Daily readers, any other “would you rather” scenarios you’d like to share?
This article was first published on Ragan Communication’s PR Daily.
