How Does A Good Spokesperson Conduct An Interview?

2 minute read

In the last post we discussed how to prepare for an interview. But that doesn’t necessarily mean you’re ready for the 10 o’clock news. So, um…uh, let’s…like…begin?

How A Good Spokesperson Should Conduct An Interview

During an interview, it’s important to mind your mannerisms. How you deliver information is as important as the information itself. Here are three things to keep in mind if you want to nail your media interactions.

Body Language

Your posture, expression and approachability – speaks louder than words.

Be natural with your hands, move them as you do in normal conversation, without putting hands in pockets, clasping them in front of you or hiding them behind you.
Be expressive when talking, to add emphasis and to show interest/passion in your subject matter.
Avoid tilting your head, nodding too much or touching your hair, glasses or face. This can make you appear scatterbrained or distracted.

Verbal Cues

Speaking intentionally will allow you to project the friendly and accessible aspects of your personality – while showing you have an honest interest in communicating your message.

If you’re nervous, you are likely to speak softer and flatter than usual. Compensate in advance by speaking with more energy and range than usual.
Replace uh, um, ah, you know, and okays with a pause.
Never start a statement with “Look” or “Listen” – it’s always offputting and condescending.

Bridging

By using bridging techniques, you can refocus or redirect the interview to what is most important, relevant and critical.If done well, bridging significantly increases the probability that your key messages will appear in the final news story. Sample bridging statements include:

Let me emphasize…
This is an important point because…
And the one thing that is important to remember is…
I can’t address that, but I can say …

These tips won’t just help you nail an interview, they’ll also add polish to pitches, presentations and keynotes.

Download our free eBook, “How To Be A More Effective Spokesperson,” to learn more. It covers how to:

Want to talk more about your organization’s needs an effective spokesperson? Email me or call me at 317-631-6400.