Forums offer you an unmatched opportunity to connect with voters and deliver key messages
Practice…Practice…Practice…
Nothing beats practice to prepare for a Forum and a Facebook broadcast. Run through all possible questions and refine the answers until you are comfortable with the responses. Check out the questions from previous Chamber Forums to get a feel for the type of questions that will be asked. Through this process, you can determine whether: the messages are being communicated; the responses are concise enough; and the proof points are strong enough. Forums offer you an unmatched opportunity to connect with voters and deliver key messages while engaging in a dialogue in a polished manner.
Remember to practice a technique called bridging and blocking. This is a way of steering the interview to your agenda by using phrases like “the real issue here is…” and “that’s an interesting question, but let’s put it in perspective…” Headlining (making a key point first) is especially effective in the sound-bite world of broadcast. Underscore main points with phrases like “it all boils down to two things…” or “the bottom line is…”
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It’s normal to be nervous before a forum . The adrenaline rush can help you stay alert. While being fully prepared can go a long way in instilling confidence and reducing nerves, there are a few tips to manage jitters:
Nothing beats practice to prepare for a Forum and a Facebook broadcast. Run through all possible questions and refine the answers until you are comfortable with the responses. Check out the questions from previous Chamber Forums to get a feel for the type of questions that will be asked. Through this process, you can determine whether: the messages are being communicated; the responses are concise enough; and the proof points are strong enough. Forums offer you an unmatched opportunity to connect with voters and deliver key messages while engaging in a dialogue in a polished manner.
Remember to practice a technique called bridging and blocking. This is a way of steering the interview to your agenda by using phrases like “the real issue here is…” and “that’s an interesting question, but let’s put it in perspective…” Headlining (making a key point first) is especially effective in the sound-bite world of broadcast. Underscore main points with phrases like “it all boils down to two things…” or “the bottom line is…”
Click Here for Webinar Tips and Instructions
It’s normal to be nervous before a forum . The adrenaline rush can help you stay alert. While being fully prepared can go a long way in instilling confidence and reducing nerves, there are a few tips to manage jitters:
- Arrive early to get accustomed to the surroundings.
- Think positively and visualize a successful outcome.
- Focus on the interview as a conversation with the host.
- Reflect on the preparation. This will help you maintain control and make it your interview as much as the moderator’s.
- Create compelling messages and practicing so that your presence is authoritative and professional, you will add tremendous value to the broadcast experience.
- Dress conservatively.
- Don’t wear white on camera.
- Don’t wear large, shiny or noisy jewelry.
- Wear contact lenses, instead of glasses. If you wear glasses, non-reflective lenses are best. Avoid light-sensitive glasses.
- Arriving early will allow you to participate in lighting and sound checks.
- Speak naturally, and avoid brushing your hand or clothing against the microphone.
- If seated, sit erect but not ramrod-straight, and slightly forward or toward the interviewer.
- If standing, do so with arms at the side or one hand in a pocket. Planting one foot slightly in front of the other will help you avoid swaying.
- Should you gesture, do so naturally, not expansively. Keep gestures small and in front of you, and avoid sudden body movement.
- Make your expression match your words. Smile if appropriate. Keep a mildly pleasant expression at all times; an expression that looks neutral off camera seems unhappy or angry on camera, so a pleasant face may feel unnaturally smiley. Practice in a mirror.
- Lean forward slightly. Modulate your voice to when making key points.
- Avoid obvious signs of discomfort or nervousness, e.g., foot tapping, clenched fists, shifting back and forth.
- Make punchy and concise statements; put your most important message up front; talk to the interviewer or guests, not the camera; breaking eye contact by staring off into space or looking at the ground will make you appear shifty; stay attentive when others are speaking; wait until the question is finished to begin your answer/ask the question be repeated is necessary; hold your interview attitude until the interview is over and the camera is off.