Building and Protecting your Reputation |
|
It seems that in the corporate world, people are coming to terms with the situation and adjusting their expectations. A few weeks ago, Chris Herd posted the results of a poll of a thousand companies to find out their plans. Here are a few extracts:
"30% of the companies we talk to are getting rid of the office entirely and going remote-first Companies doing this have seen their workers decentrIalise rapidly, leaving expensive cities to be closer to family."
"The first reason they are going remote-first is simple – it lets them hire more talented people Rather than hiring the best person in a 30-mile radius of the office, they can hire the best person in the world for every role"
"The second reason they are going remote-first is because it lets them be far more cost-efficient Rather than spending £20,000 / worker / year on office space they can provide the best remote setup on the planet for £2,000 / worker / year"
"The smartest people I know personally are all planning to work remotely this decade The most exciting companies I know personally all plan to hire remotely this decade - 90% of the workforces we've spoken to never want to be in an office again full-time"
Interesting times we live in, eh? |
|
I have opened up a few more places on my annual speaker coaching programme for 2021.
The coaching and mentoring is delivered via Zoom (until we can actually meet). The monthly sessions can be split into two sessions a couple of weeks apart if desired. There is work to do in between sessions, and the programme includes reasonable ad-hoc calls for advice and guidance at no extra cost.
The programme provides customised coaching around all aspects of a speaking business, including fees, getting bookings, working with bureaus, creating websites and show-reels, marketing strategies and of course creating killer keynote speeches. And of course there's an emphasis on remote speaking.
|
|
How could you not like a man whose Twitter bio reads "Founder, Winemaker, Terroirist/Vinarchist and Prez-for-Life @BonnyDoonVineyd, Defender of Misunderstood and Underappreciated Doon-trodden pages of the Earth". Such a man is brilliant Californian Winemaker Randall Grahm, who is my guest in the Media Coach Radio Show.
|
|
The MediaMaestro is musician Spencer Davis, who died this week. As the founder of the Spencer Davis group, he had some iconic hits in the sixties, including Keep on Running, Somebody Help me, and the classic song used in the Blues Brothers film, Gimme some Lovin', with the wonderful sixties sound of Stevie Winwood's Hamond organ (click on the video below - it's wonderful).
Music trivia - The Spencer Davis Group also recorded the theme song for the children's TV show, Magpie, under the pseudonym The Murgatroyd Band - a reference to the show's mascot, a fat magpie named Murgatroyd.
Keep on Running, Spencer. |
|
The MediaMug is an un-named bakery in the USA which was commissioned to make a cake featuring the character Elsa from Disney's film Frozen.
The cake has been brutally mocked online.
Instead of recreating Elsa's soft and dainty features, the baker decided the easiest way to make it look 3D was by adding graphic lines in a darker skin colour and a red circle on the cheek, to achieve the appearance of blusher.
One person said: "Looks like a horse..."
Another wrote: "It looks like someone put makeup on a baboon."
A third also said: "Somebody thought that was good enough to stick a label on and put up for sale."
The reaction of the person for whom it was intended has not been recorded, alas. |
|
Speaking Tip - By Royal Appointment |
|
I was chatting to someone fairly new to the speaking profession recently. She asked me how large a fee would be appropriate to ensure that she provided her maximum effort for a client. Her assumption was clearly that a lower fee merited a lesser effort in preparation and/or on stage. It's an understandable view, since many people would work less hard if the pay was low.
However, for speakers, that attitude just won't do. In fact many people, including me, would argue that it won't do for any activity. But let's just consider speaking for now. You never know who is in your audience. You also owe it to whoever has booked you, at whatever rate of pay, to deliver your best performance on every occasion. I like the old adage that when you're asked what your best speech is, you respond "The next one I deliver".
One of the first big speeches I delivered in public had me standing beside the Duke and Duchess of Kent at an official dinner. I had to do ten minutes after dinner, including thanking our royal guests. In the green room beforehand, The Duchess offered me some advice. She said "When I'm speaking, I always imagine The Queen is at the back of the room. If she'd like the speech, I know it will be fine". I never forgot her words. It's like being on Her Majesty's speaking service
Whether you're being paid to speak or not, you will be judged by your audience, and they will speak to others about you. My advice is to imagine that every time you speak, a dignitary is sitting at the back of the room who will provide you with not only a great recommendation, but with a large amount of business. You need to impress them by delivering your best-ever speech. Remember to bow at the end, too.
|
|
Media Tip - Help or hinder? |
|
How you deal with the media is up to you. You can help them, or you can hinder them. Personally, I advise the former, every time. You don't have to give them everything they ask for, nor do you have to be immediately available every time they call. However, you do need to talk to them. If you don't, they will find someone else more willing to offer an opinion. They may also mention in the report that you refused to comment. At best, you will look unhelpful. At worst, you will look evasive and possibly guilty.
The important thing is for you to take control of the dialogue. By making yourself available to the media as a source of information, you provide them with an easier way to do their job. This is particularly important if you find yourself dealing with a crisis. If you decline to speak, that becomes a news item in itself. If you, or your company is in the news, then you are the best source of information. Make use of your position by being media-friendly.
You don't have to be the reporter's best friend. Be calm, efficient and professional. It's unlikely that they will want to do you any harm.
More often than not, a reporter is simply told to "get an interview". They don't concern themselves too much with what you say, as long as you appear on camera or in front of a microphone. So be helpful, be polite, and most of all, be there. |
|
Social Media Tip - Print media v Social media |
|
Many people write in exactly the same way for print publications as they do for websites and blogs, as well other social media postings. That's not the best policy. Web content is different from print content, and here are some reasons why:
1) Web content is all about links and connections. It's about opening up a world of information much wider than the original piece. Print information, although it may contain references, is much more self-contained.
2) Web content is much more long-lasting than print copy. OK, many newspapers appear online these days, but they are often revised for the web to allow for indexing and archiving.
3) On the web, people search for specific pieces of content, whereas print media is content searching for readers. You must include the key words that people are searching for, or your web content will never be found.
4) Web copy tends to be briefer and more concise than print copy, since people want information, not discourse.
5) Web copy requires maintenance, according to changes in opinions and knowledge. It's not static, like print copy.
Producing copy that works on the web, rather than reproducing print copy, will make your websites much more effective. |
|
What if films played out in real life? Our friends at Improve everywhere decided that should happen with The Matrix. |
|
Running an online event ? |
|
An online event to plan? I can help.
|
|
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." |
|
|
|
|
|
|
