As she moved the microphone closer to my face, I ran through my check list: Pause and think, speak in a measured manner, and don’t freak out – it’s not live.
Recently, a former colleague, Joleen Hughes, interviewed me for her podcast, The Lawyer Who Rocks. This was my first podcast interview as the interviewee.
I am used to being behind the scenes, the counselor training spokespersons. Rarely have I been the subject of the interview. My discomfort at being in front of the microphone was noticeable with my nervous tapping and dry mouth. However, it was a wonderful reminder of the pressure associated with being a spokesperson and reinforced the importance of the practices we recommend for our clients. Taking time to study up on the outlet and its audience, the particular interview (e.g., is it live, recorded, in person, over the phone, etc.), revisiting your key messages and current proof points, and establishing your agenda are all helpful practices in advance of a media interview – and will alleviate some of the pressures. (For more on this read: Mastering the Interview and Preparing for the Broadcast Interview.)
Core to these practices is being prepared. In the weeks leading up to my interview, I listened to past interviews Joleen had conducted on her podcast. I thought about what I could offer her listeners that might be of interest. I reflected on my experiences running our firm, lessons learned, what I was proud of, as well as what I envisioned for the future. The intent was to get grounded in what I had to share: my key messages.
I started to question the time spent preparing – have I invested too much time on this, should I be doing x, y or z instead, do I really have anything of value to offer? Ultimately though, when I sat down at the microphone and started fielding Joleen’s questions, the time preparing truly paid off. After getting used to the microphone’s proximity, I was able to relax and be confident in sharing my experiences as a business leader, what I learned, and what motivates me.
The opportunity to be a guest on her podcast has made me more empathetic to the pressure of media interviews. I have facilitated countless interviews and conducted media trainings for a variety of executives over the years – and perhaps I had grown a little desensitized to the anxiety an interview can cause when you are “in the hot seat.”
In addition to preparing in advance, here are some in-the-moment tips for your next media interview:
- Pause before responding. Consider the question asked and how you want to respond given the audience, your messages and your objectives
- Breathe and don’t rush through your responses. Speak in a measured pace and articulate clearly so the reporter and the broader audience can understand your comments clearly.
- Eliminate distractions. Turn off your computer screen. Avoid conducting an interview from your mobile phone while driving or doing something else. Turn off your device while conducting an in-person interview. Find a quiet place.
Fortunately, my media training experience and time spent preparing were of benefit. And as it wasn’t live, my “ums” and repetitive statements such as “that is a good question” could be edited out, to create a smoother, more articulate segment for listeners.
Thank you to Joleen, Tina Nole, Joelle Nole and the rest of the team at Larj Media!
You can listen to the resulting podcast here: Colleen Moffitt – Parole Officer turned PR Powerhouse