If you’ve been watching the current UK series of The Traitors, whether you like her or not, it’s hard to deny that Rachel’s tactics are working extremely well. A communications professional by trade, she’s playing the game as a traitor and doing it exceptionally well. So far, there’s been no real suspicion, no unnecessary theatrics, and no panic. Just calm, considered influence.

It’s a reminder that the skills developed in communications aren’t just useful when building PR strategies, they’re deeply transferable even in a pressured environment where one wrong sentence can send you packing.

Communication under pressure is a learned skill

One of the most striking things about Rachel’s gameplay is how composed she remains under constant scrutiny. Every conversation matters. Every reaction is observed. This is communications under pressure in its purest form.

Comms professionals are trained to think before they speak, to assess the room, and to tailor messages without losing authenticity. In The Traitors, that skill becomes survival. Rachel doesn’t over explain or rush to fill silence. She listens, responds with intention, and understands when saying less is more. That ability to remain steady when others unravel is exactly what great communicators do in high stakes moments.

Crisis without warning – and not being blindsided

Unlike most professional crises, The Traitors offers no prep time. Accusations come out of nowhere. Alliances shift overnight. Yet Rachel consistently demonstrates preparedness – not because she knows what’s coming, but because she knows how to respond. And yes, I’m referring to that hilarious moment when Fiona turned on her and called her out publicly as a Traitor!

In communications, we’re taught to expect the unexpected. To anticipate risk, scenario plan mentally, and stay adaptable. Rachel never appears blindsided, even when challenged directly. She acknowledges, reframes, and moves on. It’s crisis management instinct, not luck.

Trust, reputation, and stakeholder management

Another core strength on display is relationship building. Rachel invests early in strong connections, particularly with influential players. She builds trust not through dominance, but through credibility and consistency, two pillars of reputation management.

What’s clever is how she subtly “educates” others about who she is. She creates a category for herself – reliable, level headed, non threatening. In comms terms, it’s positioning. Not loud, not forced, just reinforced through behaviour. Reputation, after all, is what people say about you when you’re not in the room… or when your name comes up at the round table.

A pattern we’ve seen before

This isn’t the first time comms adjacent players have done well on The Traitors. Looking back at previous UK seasons, those with backgrounds in communication, negotiation, or influence often outlast louder personalities. They understand narrative. They read people. They know timing matters.

It’s a useful cultural case study for an industry that is often underestimated. PR and communications aren’t “soft skills”. They’re strategic, hard earned, and incredibly difficult to execute well unless you truly know your craft.

Rachel’s performance is proof of that. And whether she makes it to the end or not, one thing is clear…never underestimate the power of someone who knows how to communicate.