I’m sure many of us have fond memories of this moment:
Ok, ok, so maybe the memories aren’t exactly those of fondness but rather UTTER FRUSTRATION! Or you could just be sick of hearing about it all together. Whatever feelings this 46-second clip conjure up, there is no doubt that there’s a valuable lesson to be learned: BE PREPARED.
Its something these guys have been proclaiming for years!
Spontaneity is often a characteristic we boast to posses. Everyone loves to say they would run away to Italy at the drop of a hat. But in reality, running away to a foreign land is generally a bad idea. Who will feed your dog? Or you plants? Or your KIDS? (not in order of importance). There are all sorts of things we are responsible for and flying by the seat of our pants makes it hard to manage.
If you’re the spokesman for an organization, the same rules apply. If you fail to prepare for media inquiries, you may as well have just run off to enjoy the Tuscan Sun while you’re business and those associated with it are left to try and pick up the pieces.
With that said, here are a few things to consider when preparing for your next interview:
1. Know Who You’re Talking to!
Understanding who is interviewing you will help give you an idea about what they are going to ask. Try to understand who you are communicating with. (communications 101, right)
2. Prepare Stories and Examples.
There’s nothing worse than watching someone flounder around in an interview with a bunch of, “Uhs…” and “Ums…” when trying to express a point. Be prepared with background information to back it up.
3. Listen.
This blends with tip number two. Stories and examples are worthless if they don’t relate to the question being asked. Sometimes we get so caught up in the preparation we forget to listen. You’re response might sound perfect, but if it didn’t answer the question, well, you’re sunk.
4. Be Concise.
Short, direct, and easy to understand.
5. Dont Be Afraid to PAUSE!
Somewhere in time, people started to fear silence. The problem with is, silence is usual a sign of thought … and thought is good! Editors can get cut a few seconds of silence, but they can’t erase something dumb you’ve said. Don’t be fear it!
Obviously you’re bound to run into a snag here and there, but as long as you stay calm, keep your head in the game, and move forward, you’ll leave the media with the message you intended to give. So, leave the media blunders to the politicians and prepare now for your next interview!