Building and Protecting your Reputation |
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Last Sunday , I was Henry the Eighth. If you know me, you probably realise that I am not, as he was, rather portly with a thick ginger beard. However, I did have the clothes - and very heavy they were too.
I was a volunteer at the London Landmarks Half Marathon, and was asked to be a "costume finisher" to welcome the twelve thousand runners over the line.
There were three Henry's, two Queen Victorias, a Dick Whittington and some genuine pearly Kings and Queens as well as Chelsea Pensioners.
We ended up dancing to YMCA and the macarena. You should have been there... |
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A reminder about the Exceptional Speaker Day. On Thursday May 19th, at a central London location, there will be a maximum of six places available for a full-day of advice and tips on how to deliver sensational speeches.
The cost will be £275 plus VAT for the whole day, including all refreshments, lunch and a signed copy of The Exceptional Speaker, plus a digital copy to access from your phone.
Not only that, but the cost of the day is fully deductible from any future coaching from me. So if you'd like some one-to-one coaching as a follow-up, the day is completely free.
If you're interested, just reply to this email and I'll reserve a place for you. |
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 | I'm replaying a very popular interview this week.
Saray Khumalo is the first Black African woman to reach the South Pole and the summit of Everest. She is also a motivational speaker, award-winning mountaineer, Mandela libraries ambassador, entrepreneur and business executive.
She founded "Summits with a Purpose" 2013, with the aim of taking Ubuntu to the top of the world through her 7 summits challenge, while making a difference in her community through education. The initiative raised over ZAR 1.3 Million within the first five years towards literacy and education.
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MediaMaestro, MediaMug of the Week |
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The MediaMaestrois the wonderful actress June Brown, who died this week aged 95 after a marvellous career.
She appeared in thousands of episodes of “EastEnders” across 35 years, portraying Dot Cotton, the chain-smoking Queen of the launderette in Albert Square.
Dot was the mother of the villainous Nick Cotton. Ms. Brown was originally contracted for three months.
“Then I was asked if I wanted to be a permanent character,” she told The Daily Express in 2020, the year her character was finally written out of the series. “I had no idea it was going to be for 30-odd years.”
The Square was never the same without her. |
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The MediaMugs are several football clubs, namely Blackburn Rovers, Bristol City, Derby County, Reading, and Swansea City.
Why? Because they are no longer selling physical football programmes, or "match-day magazines" as they are also known.
Of course, the COVID lockdown removed the need for programmes for a while, but the vast majority of clubs have brought them back.
Without a programme, what do you ask your favourite player to autograph (you ask them for a selfie - Ed). |
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Speaking Tip of the week - The role of the MC |
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The Master of Ceremonies (MC in the UK, Emcee in North America) is a critical role in making an event run smoothly. Notwithstanding the sexist nature of the name, there are excellent MCs of both genders. Here's what they do:
- Speak to every presenter in advance of the event, to find out how they wish to be introduced
- Work with the technical team to ensure smooth transitions
- Rehearse and sound check as much as required
- Arrive as early as possible to check and double-check everything
- Keep the audience happy, informed and engaged
- Cope with any timing or technical issues in a calm and composed way
- Introduce each presenter briefly and professionally
- Thank everyone for their contribution
- Never try to overshadow the presenters
- Ensure that the event runs to time
And those are just the main duties. There are many more. In short, being a MC is a professional job, just like being a speaker. It's about planning, confidence and experience.
The true test of a great MC is when things go awry. That's when having a professional on stage matters. |
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Media Tip of the week - They asked nasty questions! |
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There have been a number of times recently when reporters have been criticised for asking bad questions. In fact it's not just recent, it happens all the time.
Often interviewees complain about a "lack of respect" and "not focusing on the right issues". I say that's nonsense. Anyone who steps in to a media interview should be prepared to answer any question, calmly and without complaint. It's the interviewee's job to get a message across, regardless of the question.
Here are the key things to remember when answering questions from a journalist:
- Ignore any premise in the question
- If a question includes a factual inaccuracy, correct it calmly and deliver your answer
- Use a bridging technique to get to the message you wish to deliver e.g "However, the main point here is.."
- Always respect the questioner, and listen to the end of the question
- Never raise your voice
- If you find the questions irritating, answer at great length
- If you are interrupted, simply pause and continue to the end of your response
- If the answer is "no", just say "no"
There are no nasty questions. However, there are unprofessional answers. Don't ever deliver one. |
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Social Media Tip of the week - Be unique |
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There's only one of you. There are millions of social media postings every day. Many of them repeat the same old stuff, often about how to be a better person or "dos and don'ts" for some endeavour or other. Some of them are very good, but most of them are not. The ones that I read and enjoy most are those that stand out from the crowd by having a unique, personal point of view. I may not always agree with the poster, but I'm always interested to read what they say.
Many posters seem to want to be someone else. They copy styles, ideas, and often even entire posts from experts they admire. Alas, no-one is going to be interested in recycled ideas. They want the real thing. To be a successful poster, I suggest you focus on your uniqueness (and don't tell me you aren't unique, because there is obviously no-one else like you).
In short, express your views, even if they are out of line with the mainstream (especially if they are out of line). Try to back up your views with evidence, otherwise they can just become a rant (a statement for which you have no evidence at all). Be controversial. Be yourself. Be unique. |
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If you appear on the media, or plan to, then I can help you perform even better.
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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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