The Media Coach

Hi John,

I'm looking forward to a huge event in Dublin next week - the Global Speakers Summit. It's an event I've been helping to plan for five years, after writing the proposal that led to it being awarded.

As the programme chair, I've invited speakers from all around the world, and I'm delighted that most have been able to come to Ireland.

It's the first overseas trip since the pandemic for many of them, and it will be a celebration of the art of speaking.

I'll be interviewing some of the global experts as you will hear over the coming weeks in my web radio show.

Registration is still open for my 2023 speaker coaching programme. Only six places are left, and this is the only opportunity to work with me one-to-one for 6 months or a year.



Whether you're a professional speaker who needs to increase your fees and get more gigs, or a corporate speaker who wants to deliver exceptional speeches and presentations, this is for you.

I've coached hundreds of people like you over the past few decades, and if you'd like to speak at the highest level, let's have a chat.

My interview guest this week is Zach Lupetin, leader of the great band The Dustbowl Revival, who have featured many times on my radio show.

They are a superb band, and despite members coming and going, they've maintained a fantastic sound and a superb live act.

Zach shared a very personal story with me, and it was a real pleasure to talk with him again.

Listen to our chat in this week'sMedia Coach Radio Show.

And of course there's a fantastic song from Zach and the band, dedicated to his new daughter.

The MediaMug is St Louis radio presenter Victor Faust.

He has been sacked after a pretty damning recording revealed that he’d verbally abused his co-host after she criticised him on air.

The former TV anchor was seemingly unhappy when his on-air colleague Crystal Cooper made a light-hearted jibe at his computer skills, but he decided to bottle that rage up until the show was off the airwaves for an advertising break.

He then unleashed a foul-mouthed rant in which he criticised Cooper’s parenting and made comments about her appearance, including criticising her weight.

Faust later tweeted: “I am very sorry. My words hurt Crystal, my colleagues and family. I made a huge mistake and I’m ashamed."

He forgot the prime rule of microphones - if you are near one, watch your language.

When is your speech over? When you hit that last. well-rehearsed sound bite? At the end of the Q&A session? When the congratulatory handshakes are over? Talk to any athlete and they will tell you that the finishing line is not the point they aim for. Instead, they aim for ten metres beyond the finish, so that they are still at full speed crossing the line. So it is with speeches.

In my opinion, your speech is only over when you're in the car, on the train, or on the plane home. If you have intrigued or touched a member of your audience, they may come up and say so, as well as asking for clarification or more information. Give them your time, since it's part of what you are there for. You may find that you are asked to deliver another speech, or consulting, as a result of being available.

Giving a speech can be draining, and it may be tempting to simply head backstage and find a cold beverage. Try to resist the temptation until you have answered any follow-up questions. You should pay careful attention to any feedback you receive, since it can help you to further improve your speeches. For example, if several people say that they didn't understand a section, don't simply explain it to them, but resolve to change the way you present it in future.

I find it useful to carry both an audio recorder and a video camera to record any feedback. This is not just for testimonials (though they are extremely valuable), but also to capture any valuable insights that you may forget.

It's not over when you take a bow. Go beyond the finish, and you will benefit both yourself and your audience.

Sometimes speaking to the media in a crisis is what you have to do, rather than what you decide to do. Events outside your control may mean that you are expected to make a statement about an external matter. If you find yourself in the spotlight, remember that it is about the story, not about you. If people have been hurt, talk about them. If services have been disrupted, discuss how they might be restored and empathise with people inconvenienced. Your focus should be outward.

Of course, you may have feelings about what has occurred, and it's fine to express them. Alas, some spokespeople turn every interview into a performance, and that's not appropriate. People should remember what you say, not how you said it.

If you're asked to comment on an issue that you're not personally involved in, here are some tips:

Open, friendly interaction is what works on social media. Alas, some people tend to be a bit snobby about where they chat, who they chat to, and what sort of language they use.

For example, I chatted to the owner of a small business recently who was complaining about the fact that many of his customers used Twitter, and he didn't like the way it "restricted me to just short sentences". I was a little sympathetic, but only a little. He'd already told me that Twitter was where his customers were talking, so I pointed out that's where he needed to be.

If you're going to engage on social media (only recommended if you want more business), then you just need to get comfortable. Here are some tips to help you be non-snobby:



Zoom calls don't always go according to plan.