Tag Archives: media interviews

communications coaching

The bridge from nowhere

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If you’ve been through a communications coaching or media training session, it’s likely you’ve heard the importance of this formula when asked a difficult question:

Answer  →  Bridge  →  Message

During coaching sessions I’ve conducted, I’ll often get asked “Is this what politicians do?”  My stock answer:  “Some adopt this formula.  Many do not answer the questions, however.  They simply bridge to their messages regardless of the questions.  And you shouldn’t do that.”

This week, Rep. Anthony Weiner provides a vivid example of why “bridging from nowhere” is not recommended:

The public is tiresome of these shenanigans.  It’s spin.  I suspect most news outlets will only take a representative seven-second clip from this.  Kudos for ABC News for showing the entire interview.  In doing so, the public can see how Weiner tries several times to completely avoid the questions, often using the same (weak) bridges. 

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communications coaching

A simple body-language “swing thought”

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You’ve probably heard that body language is important when communicating. 

How important?  UCLA Professor Emeritus of Psychology Albert Mehrabian believes that non-verbal communication accounts for more than 50% of the success of getting your message across.  (To be exact, Mehrabian believes that words account for 7%, tone of voice 38%, and body language accounts for 55% of a listener’s ability to warm up to you or your message.)

There are nearly twenty non-verbal cues that make the difference between bad and great body language for communicators.  However, when I conduct communications training/coaching sessions, I typically don’t share that list at the beginning of a session.

Why?  I’m a golfer. 

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"Three Tough Q's" Interview Series

Three Tough Q’s: Drew Levinson

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This blog was only six months old when I was contacted by Drew Levinson, who asked if I would help him learn more about the profession of crisis management.  Drew was certainly no stranger to crises.  As a broadcast correspondent for CBS News, Drew covered terrorist attacks in New York City, Hurricane Katrina, the crash of the Concorde, the Columbine tragedy, and the U.S. Airways “Miracle on the Hudson.”  Drew wanted to take that experience “over the fence” to become a crisis communications consultant.  We made a gentlemen’s agreement to continue talking.  A short time later, we’ve partnered on a few crisis-focused media coaching assignments. 

Drew’s a terrific guy with an insatiable inquisitive spirit – great qualities for journalists and crisis managers alike.   I decided it was time to turn the tables on Drew – to put the microphone and spotlight on him by asking these Three Tough Q’s:

 

Q1:  Based on your experiences and opinion, how common is “thesis journalism,” where more than 50% of a story is written before a company spokesperson is interviewed about a crisis situation?

It’s extremely common.  Most crisis situations are sudden and ongoing breaking news stories.  Therefore the correspondent’s job is to get information to the public as quickly as possible.  That means getting visuals and getting someone to talk.

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"Three Tough Q's" Interview Series

Three Tough Q’s: Judy Hoffman

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When I first formed the mission of this blog, I knew it would be an interesting experiment.  Crisis management experts and communications coaches are a spirited bunch.  Encouraging dialogue and debate on these topics should lead to interesting, educational places.  That’s the goal for all ye who browse here. 

What I didn’t count on, however, was how interesting the networking has become in such a short time.  Take Judy Hoffman, for example, founder of JCH Enterprises.  The blog was a few posts old when Judy reached out, sent warm complements and also offered me a copy of her book, Keeping Cool on the Hot Seat.  It’s a solid read of the foundations of dealing with (mostly local) media in times of crisis.  Check it out, if you get the chance.

We’ve traded emails and my fellow North Carolina neighbor graciously accepted the offer to answer Three Tough Q’s:

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communications coaching

Media Interview Numbers Game

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For spokespeople, being as repetitive as possible in a media interview is generally accepted as a pathway to success.  Why?  Perhaps the answer lies in 7s and 13s.

A spokesperson can reasonably expect a broadcast media interview to last around seven minutes.  An interview with a newspaper or blog lasts a little longer, about thirteen minutes, since that medium allows for deeper analysis and probing.  

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