Fill in the gaps with the words in bold below:
buzz drafting sleigh afford aligns
naughty chimney relies odds
Santa is famous for his annual global expedition with his 1. …… full of gifts for kids. While he only comes down the 2. …….. once a year, his tried and true playbook is packed with public relations gifts for entrepreneurs and business leaders.
Spend time planning
When Santa isn’t directing toy-making or enjoying hot chocolate with Mrs. Claus, he is 3. ………. his famous 4. ……… and nice list. We all know once he makes his list and he checks it twice because Santa values and 5. ……….. on a solid plan.
This is a critical PR lesson. A quality strategy requires careful planning where risks are assessed, messaging is considered, outcomes are defined and stakeholders are identified. (…)
Be nimble
Because Santa has an impressive, albeit geographically impossible plan, he must stay nimble and adjust to the conditions. (…) Santa can’t 6. ……. to spend time thinking about how to get into a child’s house, he has to move because there is no time to waste.
Because social media and traditional media are operating around the clock, acting quickly and moving forward with a plan is critical. (…) If multiple committees and legal counsel in another time zone need to approve a statement or a social media post, 7. ……… are a reputation is at risk. Since consumers don’t wait, leaders can’t afford to delay.
After all, no one wants Santa to show up on December 28 when the kids were expecting him on December 25.
Have a support team
Rudolph. Mrs. Claus. Buddy the Elf. Everyone knows Santa relies on a support team. Santa knows the importance of surrounding himself with experts in their crafts. (…)
Leaders can take a lesson from Santa. (…) It’s critical to build a team of experts who have a proven track record of results and are enjoyable to be around.
Be flashy, bright, and relevant
Santa gets a month (…) of 8. …….. and one day to deliver. He takes full advantage of the spotlight; showing up on the December scene with bells, lights, and a velvet red suit. Santa is also on trend, and he knows his audience. (…)
The audience and the message must be a 9. ….. consideration of every PR effort. This requires a clear strategy that 10. …… and supports the business goals. (…) Staying relevant and aligned with audience expectations and trends requires regular strategy updates to ensure the campaign doesn’t get as stale as the carrots left out for Rudolph!
In order to read the whole article, go to: https://www.inc.com/kristi-piehl/4-pr-lessons-to-learn-from-santa
Key: 1.sleigh; 2. chimney; 3. drafting; 4. naughty; 5. relies; 6. afford; 7. odds; 8. buzz; 9. Key; 10. aligns
Glossary
- nimble – quick and exact in movement or thought; agile
- stale – (of food, especially bread and cake) no longer fresh and therefore unpleasant to eat; having been said or done too many times before and so no longer interesting or exciting
Practice makes perfect
Read the article:
and match the words 1-10 to their definitions a-j:
1. to launch
2. (a) staple (of)
3. municipalities
4. jolly
5. roughly
6. treats
7. whimsical
8. gathering
9. flashiest
10. dash
a) approximately; not exactly but close
b) a short run or race
c) something that is a common, essential, or regular part of something
d) small enjoyable things, often food or snacks
e) a group of people meeting in one place
f) to start or begin something officially
g) happy, cheerful, fun
h) playful, fun, slightly silly or imaginative
i) local governments of towns or cities
j) the most attention-grabbing, showy, bright, or extravagant
Key: 1f; 2c; 3i; 4g; 5a; 6d; 7h; 8e; 9j; 10b
Discuss
- The article argues the importance of “Spend time planning” before any public‑outreach or campaign. Can you think of a situation (work, personal project) where lack of planning caused issues? What could have been done differently with better planning? I
- Why does the article say it’s important to “Be nimble” — able to adapt quickly? Do you agree that adaptability is just as important as planning? Can you think of a time when being nimble helped you or your team?
- The piece emphasizes having a support team rather than relying on one person to do everything. In your view, what qualities make a “support team” effective?
- The final lesson is to “Be flashy, bright, and relevant.” Do you think “flashy” always means “better”? Where is the line between being relevant/eye‑catching and being over the top — especially in a professional setting?
- The second article describes the growth of festive fun‑runs like Santa Run as a global tradition combining fitness, charity, and community spirit. Why do you think such events are becoming so popular worldwide, regardless of cultural differences?
- Do you think events like Santa Run change the way people view holidays/traditions? How?
Watch and Revise!
Santa’s Secret
PR & Life Lessons Unwrapped
https://www.cloud.worldwideschool.pl/index.php/s/3AzoFKXaPB8YpTx
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