| Building and Protecting your Reputation |
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Hi John,
Well the excitement is building to fever pitch with the launch of the party manifestos and the leadership TV debates (No it isn't - Ed). The head-to-head clash this week between Boris Johnson and Jeremy Corbyn was a snooze-fest of epic proportions, with Boris Johnson saying "Brexit, Brexit, Brexit" and Jeremy Corbyn saying "NHS, NHS, NHS." I expect more of the same over the next few weeks. Ah well. |
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| Meanwhile, one place has opened up on my speaker coaching programme for 2020, so if you'd like to discuss how you can increase your fees, boost your bookings and create killer keynotes, just reply to this email and we'll have a chat. |
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Last week's MediaMug was Trump staffer Mina Chang, who I criticised for making up qualifications, and even using a fake Time magazine cover in an interview. Last week, when I wrote this ezine, she was still in a job. This week, she resigned from her position at the White House. Just saying... |
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| Speaker Mike Robertson is known as the "Slide Ruler". He's developed a business helping people present more effectively using visuals. I caught up with him in Florida recently, as you can hear in the Media Coach Radio Show. There's also a great tune from Robbie Boyd. |
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The MediaMaestro is Chris Martin of Coldplay. Now, I have to make it clear that I am not, and never have been a huge fan of his band. I'm more of a Rolling Stones type. But I have to give him credit for his decision not to undertake a tour to promote the band's new album, Everyday Life, which is released today.
Cynics have suggested that his embracing of environmental concerns is simply a clever way of promoting the album, but I believe he is genuine. For some time, I have been thinking about whether speakers who market themselves as having visited dozens of countries are actually advertising a lifestyle that audiences admire.
"Our next tour will be the best possible version of a tour like that environmentally," Martin said. "We would be disappointed if it's not carbon neutral. The hardest thing is the flying side of things. But, for example, our dream is to have a show with no single use plastic, to have it largely solar powered We've done a lot of big tours at this point. How do we turn it around so it's no so much taking as giving?"
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The MediaMug was an easy pick this week. Prince Andrew's interview with Emily Maitlis was such a disaster it's hard to pick out the lowllights.
Without exception, everyone I spoke to in the PR community saw the interview as ill-judged and badly handled on his behalf. He failed to empathise with the victims of Jeffrey Epstein, he apparently failed to be honest about when they first met, and he completely denied having any connection with a young woman that he had been photographed with.
Strangest of all, he seemed to have perfect recall about a visit to Pizza Express in Woking many years ago - which at the very least has boosted a local franchise. Apparently he is considering doing another TV interview - a very bad idea indeed. |
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| Speaking Tip - Why do audiences remember you? |
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If you think back to your schooldays, and the teachers you loved and hated, I bet that many of your memories are about their mannerisms, voice or appearance. It's the unusual characteristics that tend to define people, and live long in the memory. None of us is perfect, and we all have little quirks that we may display when we are speaking. The thing is, you are not there to be remembered for your strange turn of phrase or odd socks. Your aim is to be remembered for your message.
That's why attention to detail matters. It's also why you need to analyse your speeches on video, as well as taking feedback from trusted colleagues. That doesn't mean you have to appear in a bland, unadorned outfit and eliminate every bit of character from your voice. Far from it. It does mean that you have to be aware of how your audience is reacting to what you wear, how you move and how you speak, and to ensure that whatever quirk you display does not overwhelm your main purpose.
Every stand-up comedian knows that they need to draw attention to anything unusual about themselves as quickly as possible, and turn it into humour. It then ceases to be of any great interest to the audience. Speakers can do exactly the same thing, or even have it mentioned as part of their introduction.
Every time you are about to speak, check yourself out in a long mirror. If there's someone else around, ask them to check you over too. When you analyse your speeches, look out for over-used gestures or repeated phrases. Being aware of them will help you to stop them from being a distraction. Make sure that your message is the thing that is remembered. |
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| Media Tip - The really tough questions |
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"Anticipate the worst, and you will always be pleasantly surprised." That's what a journalist told me 40 years ago, when I was learning how to cope with media interviews. I wasn't too sure about the advice at the time, but it turned out to be invaluable. If you prepare yourself for the toughest questions, you will never be stuck for an answer. Here are a few tough interview questions - and how to cope with them.
1) The incomprehensible question. Don't even try to untangle it. Simply take from it what you will, and talk about your core message. You can even ignore it completely and talk about your message. Don't ask the interviewer to explain, you will only waste time and make matters worse.
2) The leading question. Don't allow the interviewer to take control, and never repeat an accusation in order to deny it. As above, state your case, clearly and concisely. However, if the assumption in the question is damaging, make it absolutely clear that you have spotted their tactic, and say why their assumption is wrong.
3) The pause. OK, not strictly a question, but a technique. You have two options. Firstly, you can say nothing, in which case the interviewer will have to fill the space. Alternatively, you can say something like "I have nothing to add on that point. However, another interesting aspect is...."
4) The post-final question. This is the one that comes after the interview appears to be over. "Oh, just one more thing, while you are here..." It shouldn't worry you, since you never assume the interview is over until you are well away from the microphones and cameras. Stay sharp until then |
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| Social Media Tip - Etiquette or Manners? |
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Quentin Crisp, a flamboyant character, moved from his home in England to live in New York, where he felt more at home. Sting wrote a song about him - "An Englishman in New York." Mr Crisp said the difference between the two cities is like the difference between etiquette and manners. The English have etiquette and the Americans have manners.
What did he mean, and what does it have to do with social media?
He defined manners as a way of putting people at their ease, by being inclusive.
He defined etiquette as a way of determining people who were of a particular class, by being exclusive.
So here's the link to social media. When you are interacting with people, for example in a Facebook group, are you being inclusive or exclusive? Are you encouraging them to participate by being polite and well-mannered as they learn how the group works, or are you making them feel excluded by explaining how they have broken the rules of the group?
Good manners is all about your behaviour towards others. Etiquette is how you expect them to behave towards you. Manners makes people smile. Etiquette often annoys them.
Are you more concerned with online manners or etiquette? |
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| The legend that is Sir Paul McCartney has just been announced as. the headline act for Glastonbury next year. What a great opportunity to play his marvellous carpool karaoke. |
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| The information in this ezine may be freely re-used in any online or offline publication, provided it is accompanied by the following credit line - "This information was written by Alan Stevens, and originally appeared in "The MediaCoach", his free weekly ezine, available at www.mediacoach.co.uk." |
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