The lightbulb moment in media training
Everyone has a lightbulb moment in their first media training session.
It happens when we play their interviews back.
Take Jeff (not his real name). Jeff was an engineer, trained to think and speak in detail.
To begin, his interview answers were stilted and long-winded, and he missed a perfect opportunity to emphasise his key point.
Then Jeff watched his interview back.
He saw the exact moment he could have pivoted to his message.
I didn’t have to say anything. I just hit pause and waited for the ‘aha’ smile.
Second time around, Jeff was sharper, and more relaxed.
He led with his main point, he kept his answers focused and he used each question as a chance to communicate something useful.
Jeff said afterwards the experience felt liberating.
He had discovered a more effective way to make his point, one he could use in media interviews, presentations, meetings and Q&A sessions.
Jeff is not alone. Everyone benefits from watching themselves back, no matter how uncomfortable it feels.
If your spokespeople are in need of their own lightbulb moments, let's book them in for media training.
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