Today, I want to talk about confidence. Whatever medium the interview is that you’re going to do – TV, radio, podcast, newspaper, magazine, online – of course, your message matters. Your talking points and what you want the audience to know and remember matters. Your call to action, what you want them to do, matters. But just as important as what you’re saying is how you’re saying it. And how you look while saying it.
I get it. Maybe you haven’t done many TV interviews or live radio interviews. Or you freak out thinking about the huge number of people who might be watching or listening.
We have all heard how public speaking is the number one fear of most people – more than death. As Darren Hardy says, we would rather be the person being buried at the funeral than the person delivering a speech at that funeral. And interviews on TV or on the radio are essentially public speaking.
First of all, ignore the thoughts of how many people are in the audience. Remember this: Talk to one person. Yes, you are talking to the host. But focus your brain on connecting with one viewer or one listener and what you want that person to know. I know people who tape a picture of the face of someone who would be their ideal client behind their computer when doing a Zoom, Skype or radio interview. They deliver their answers as if they are talking to that one person.
But confidence also comes with knowing you are there for a reason. Sure, there will be people watching or listening that don’t care about your topic. That’s not your concern, and thinking about that will only distract you from your message. Keep in mind that the host cares about your topic and message – otherwise you wouldn’t be on the show. There will be people watching or listening who do care about your topic and the information you’re sharing.
You are the expert.
So do what you can to go on with as much confidence as you can muster. Recognize that you know your topic (after all, that’s why you are there, to talk about something you know better than anyone). But be yourself and be relatable. Sometimes experts will try to show how much they know and use fancy words and technical jargon that most ordinary people don’t understand. Communicate in a way that makes you approachable. That is what will get you more customers, clients, and patients.
Plus, a lack of confidence doesn’t look good on TV. It might manifest as you looking down, or away from the host. It might involve you looking up while answering, making it seem like you are making something up or don’t really know the answer. But most of all, it might give you an unfortunate appearance.
You’ve probably heard the term, Resting Bitch Face, or RBF. If you don’t know what that means, Google it and click on Images. You’ll see someone who looks angry, mean, or just unapproachable. Someone you wouldn’t want to hire or work with.
And that face doesn’t always come from a bad attitude. Nervousness can create that face too. Instead, smile naturally – not a fake, ridiculous smile, but something natural. Smile knowing that you are going to do great. That you are giving your ideal client or customer information that helps him or her in their life.
And last, but not least, practice! Before your interview, anticipate the questions you might be asked and practice giving the answers. And record yourself giving them, so you can observe and fix your posture, how you look, and where you’re looking. Practice, practice, practice.
One of the things I do with the clients I work with one-on-one is that you and I identify exactly who your ideal client or customer or patient is, develop a message that helps that person watching or listening, and prepare for the interview so that ideal client or customer wants to work with you.
Now please remember, that just like my website, my coaching and everywhere else, that I am not giving business, financial, legal, medical or any other kind of advice here. Talk to a professional for advice specific to your situation.
If you want to learn more…if you want more customers, more clients, more patients, you want to make more money, you want to be recognized as THE expert in your industry, or you even want people you don’t even know to come up to you at the gym or in the grocery store, thanking you for helping them, I can help you become a Media PRO.
Go to MediaProsCoaching.com and sign up for a FREE 30-minute media strategy session with me. We will see where you are and what you’re trying to achieve in your business, and then plan some strategies for you to get more media interviews and appearances to achieve all those goals and far more.
While you’re there, pick up my FREE eBook – The Media PROS Interview Checklist, offering you a handy reference full of tips to shine in your next media interview or appearance so they keep asking you back, over and over.
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