Building and Protecting your Reputation |
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The scenes from Afghanistan have been shocking and distressing. I'm not going to delve into the politics or strategy involved, but I do want to comment on a couple of issues.
Firstly, the speed and impact of the Taliban take-over of the country have been played out in real time on our screens. We've seen live pictures of the chaos at Kabul airport at exactly the same time that politicians around the world have seen them. That's created enormous communication issues for governments.
In addition, one of the first things the Taliban did was to take over a brand-new media centre and call a press conference. They invited the press to ask questions and offered carefully-planned responses. Whether their promises turn out to be real is another matter, but it does go to show that getting a message out is a high priority, even for the Taliban.
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An apology from me.
Last week I told the story of a visit to Brasserie Zedel and my subsequent ban from the restaurant.
Things moved very quickly after my social media postings, and I had a call with the overall manager of the restaurant.
The outcome was a full apology and a helpful chat. I agreed to remove my social media posts as a result, which is why the links didn't work. Sorry about that - but at least it was resolved well. |
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I've added two more places to my annual speaker coaching programme starting soon. If you want to give a huge boost to your speaking career, with one-to-one coaching from me every month for a year at an astonishingly reasonable cost, check out the details here. |
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My great friend Bryony Thomas is giving away digital copies of her superb book "Watertight Marketing", and I thought you might like to grab a copy.It's a superb manual that I've used myself to great effect.
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 | Robbie Boyd's been on my show before. Five years ago to be exact. A lot has changed in that time.
I caught up with the brilliant songwriter and singer a short while ago and we talked about those changes, his new album and plans for the future.
It was a fascinating chat.
And there's also a great song from Robbie's too. |
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The MediaMaestro is comedian and raconteur Sean Lock, who passed away this week at only 58 years old.
He was a brilliant stand-up as well as being a regular guest on panel shows, where his deadpan humour and delivery left people crying tears of laughter.
Lee Mack, a comedian and close friend, also paid tribute to Lock: “I think the appeal of him as a viewer was that it felt like you were with your mate down the pub and he was making you laugh. I was one of the lucky few that was that mate down the pub and he was making me laugh. A lot. More than almost anyone I’ve ever known.”
I can't think of a much better tribute. Here's a clip of Sean in fine form (with thanks to The Guardian): |
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The MediaMugs are people who are posting videos of cats being scared by cucumbers (I'm not making this up).
Videos starring cats afraid of cucumbers are popping up all over the Internet. In the videos, the felines face away, and their owners secretly place a cucumber behind them. When the cats turn around, they are startled by the fruit that wasn’t there beforehand, often leaping back. Although both the videos and the cat reactions are shocking, the question remains as to why are cats afraid of cucumbers, and more importantly, why people should want to film them.
Jill Goldman, a certified animal behaviorist in southern California, explains that the cucumbers are triggering the cats’ natural startle responses. “With a startle response, a cat will often try to get out of there as quickly as possible and then reassess from a distance,” she says.
I wonder if it works with people? Either way, I don't think it's a very nice thing to do to a cat. Don't try this at home. |
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Speaking Tip - Seven ways to improve a speech |
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No speech is ever perfect, though some of the great oratory of the past comes pretty close. I'm not suggesting that Churchill or Lincoln should have punched up their speeches with these tips, but you may find some of then useful.
- Make it shorter. It's a good discipline to consider what could be left out, in case you ever find yourself having to work against the clock. If you do, it may make you think of delivering shorter speeches all the time.
- Lose the slides. OK, there are times when an image can enhance a presentation. But the best images are the ones that we help the audience create in their minds with our words.
- Use all your own stories. You will have a much more powerful impact if you tell people how you felt when you were part of the story.
- Tell them all you know. I've heard some speakers say "don't tell them everything, since you'll have nothing left to sell". I think that's nonsense. What you sell is your expertise in solving their problems, not your knowledge.
- Slow down. I've never heard a speaker being criticised for speaking too slowly.
- Be concise. People love advice that is clear and easy to use. Don't offer vague motivational statements, but give people detailed advice.
- Finish early. Not too early, since people will feel sort-changed. If you have 30 minutes, aim to finish in 27 or 28. Your audience will really appreciate it.
And bonus tip 8 - get some feedback from a trusted colleague. There are some things you will never see yourself, and a review from someone who understands what you are trying to achieve is invaluable.
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Media Tip - Five rules of the media game |
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People who have worked in, or with the media for many years (yes, that's me) learn how the "game" works. Here are some of the "rules" that I've observed:
1) You need to tell the truth. Sometimes people get away with a small lie on air. Sometimes it's a whopper. Sooner or later the truth will out, and the consequences are dire. You don't have to tell a reporter everything you know, but whatever you do say must be honest.
2) If a reporter calls, you can always stall for a few minutes. You can give any excuse you like, but it's perfectly OK to give yourself a few minutes before calling back. Reporters understand this and will allow you a few minutes to think, provided you respond quickly.
3) Stories need a human face. Whatever the topic, there is always a human angle. That's what reporters are looking for, so simply supplying them with facts and figures is not enough. Think about case studies and spokespeople before you are asked.
4) News is about new things. It's not about more of the same. Think about a fresh angle, a "first" or something never before seen in that location.
5) Different types of media need different things. Don't send the same media release to TV, radio, print journals and websites. Think about the medium. TV needs a visual story, radio needs a good voice, print needs pictures and websites need links and involvement. |
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Social Media Tip - A social media cocktail |
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There's nothing like a tasty cocktail on the verandah on a warm summer evening. Let's see if we can put a social media cocktail together.
1) Plan the ingredients. You wouldn't just start throwing various liquids into a glass at random (OK, maybe you would in the early hours of the morning, but go with me here). A cocktail needs planning and preparation. So does your social media strategy. you need to have an objective in mind, or it's just random activity. It may be listening, researching, asking questions or even (very gently) promoting. But you need to know what you're trying to make.
2) Add the ice. Keep cool. It's very easy to get worked up in a discussion online, especially if faced by a "troll", whose sole aim is to annoy you. Stay calm and collected at all times, and never allow your passion to run away with you.
3) Mix it up. Include a number of different elements in your online cocktail. Link to other useful sites. Engage in debates. Post pictures and videos. Comment on news stories.
4) Enjoy!. It should be fun. If social media becomes a chore, give it up for a while or ask someone else to do it. The more you enjoy yourself, the more engaging and engaged you will become.
Cheers!
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An online or in-person speech to make? I can help.
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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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