Have you heard people make this statement, “Give to Caesar what belongs to Caesar and to God what belongs to God” in the course of discussion a times?
If yes, do you know what they mean?
Literally, what they mean is that you should do whatever it takes for you to achieve your goal or objective, even if it requires you to compromise your values or standard.
As a person of high moral standards, though I don’t believe in compromising my values, like giving bribe, to achieve a set goal, I have also come to understand the place of negotiation using PR to achieve my goal.
Nonetheless, there is a need for me to clarify the difference between bribery, Public Relations (PR), appreciation and extortion as strategies for negotiating and achieving your set goal.
The truth is, a lot of persons in the business world use these words interchangeably. And if you don’t understand the difference, you may be pressured to compromise your standard.
For the benefit of the doubt, extortion, bribery, and PR (public relations) are all related to the concept of influencing someone’s behavior or decision-making, but they differ in their methods and goals. The objective of this post is to clarify the difference between these concepts.
First off, extortion involves threatening someone with harm or damage in order to obtain something from them, such as money, property, or information. The harm or damage can be physical, financial, or reputational, and the threat can be implicit or explicit. Extortion is illegal and considered a criminal act. In a case of extortion only one person receives value i.e the person collecting the value, nothing is actually gained by the giver but rather he or she is forced to part with value.
Appreciation, on the other hand, involves expressing gratitude or recognition for something that someone has done or achieved. It can be a genuine gesture of appreciation, such as thanking someone verbally or sending a thank-you note, or a symbolic token of appreciation, such as a small gift or a certificate. Appreciation is usually given without any explicit or implicit expectation of a return favor or advantage. It is considered a positive and respectful social norm. In this case both parties are beneficiaries and the gift is given in appreciation of a value given.
Furthermore, bribery, involves offering something of value to someone in exchange for a favor, a decision, or an advantage. Bribery is motivated by self-interest and seeks to gain an unfair advantage over others. Bribery is considered unethical and illegal in most situations.
Lastly, Public Relations (aka PR) involves managing and shaping the public image and perception of an individual, organization, or brand. PR uses various communication channels and strategies to convey positive messages and engage with audiences.
While PR may involve giving gifts or hosting events to promote goodwill, it
should be transparent and honest in its intentions and disclosures. PR should not seek to deceive or manipulate the public, and it should abide by ethical and legal standards.
Nevertheless, there is a thin line between these concepts. And the thin line depends on factors such as the intent behind the gift or gesture, the value and frequency of the gift, the context and culture of the situation, and the expectations and disclosures involved.
In general, appreciation is a positive and respectful social norm, while bribery and PR can be unethical and require caution and transparency.
In summary, while there can be some overlap and ambiguity between appreciation, bribery, and PR, they differ in their intentions, expectations, and ethical considerations. Some business achievements have scaled through based on one of the above considerations or the other, however, it is recommended that extortion and bribery should not be encouraged, considerations in the name of public relations should be properly analyzed to avoid reputational risk. A good public relation is very vital to also gain access to growth and opportunities in a competitive environment.
Appreciation is generally considered positive and respectful, while bribery, extortion, and PR can have ethical implications depending on their intentions and consequences.
I hope this helps.
Nkem Adenuga
EMBA 28
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