‘Optics’ is a buzzword for “The way a situation or action appears to the general public.” Police departments are struggling with terrible optics, the fallout from what’s perceived as police brutality against people of color. And what’s seen as the militarization of police departments.
Years ago, I helped a city’s police department. I was able to find an auditorium for the department’s Medal of Valor Awards ceremony, honoring police officers for their heroic, selfless acts. The annual gathering had been held at a police academy gymnasium, as I recall, with old folding chairs, and not much more than that. The auditorium I arranged for the PD to use had theater-style seats, a stage, good lighting and a good sound system.
During Medal of Valor ceremonies, the chief of police and other senior officials described honorees’ acts of valor. The honorees were recognized for helping citizens in dangerous situations… for rescuing people from burning buildings or cars, for example… for helping people on the verge of committing suicide… for delivering babies and addressing other needs with skill, understanding and, at times, compassion. There were tears during the ceremony. There was joy.
That was years ago.
Optics are fragile. Perceptions that are positive, one minute, can turn negative, in an instant.
Building and maintaining a positive perception of almost anything is like planting and maintaining a garden. It requires constant effort, a strong commitment, and lots of care.
Occasionally, these days, you’ll hear about a law enforcement officer stopping by the homes of local high school graduates to say ‘Congratulations!’ and to wish them well. So many graduation ceremonies have been impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. A deputy sheriff was featured in a touching Today Show story. That was a good optic, at a difficult moment in time, for law enforcement. But, sadly, with everything else going on in America and other nations, that good optic was overshadowed by other, troubling current events.
They’re very fragile. Leave optics unattended, even for a short time, and they’ll wither, like delicate plants in a garden.
Keep optics in mind when you’re hearing about almost any current event involving almost anything. When you’re following current events in government, for example, and in business. The optics can be concerning and, at times, amusing.
Like, for example, the President’s campaign restart rally in Tulsa, on Saturday. The city’s fire department estimated a ‘crowd’ of 6,200 had attended the rally at the BOK Center, which can seat more than 19,000 people. The upper-deck seats were mostly unoccupied. An anticipated overflow crowd for a 2nd rally just outside BOK Center never materialized.
Even if the overflow crowd had arrived, they could have gone right up to the upper deck of the arena, where plenty of seats were available.
That’s fragile optics, for ya!
Harvey Radin is former senior vice president in charge of corporate communications and media relations, Bank of America Western Region. He makes his home in Redwood City, CA.