Businesses Would Be Wise to Learn How to Speak in Soundbites by Esty Atlas

This may surprise you, but the majority of well-known people you think of as extroverts actually hate public speaking.  Comedian Jerry Seinfeld once joked, “According to most studies, people’s number one fear is public speaking. Number two is death. Death is number two. Does that sound right? This means to the average person, if you go to a funeral, you’re better off in the casket than doing the eulogy.”
To add to the stress, today’s socially-empowered landscape, where practically every word or action is publicly posted, puts an organization’s public reputation on the firing line every day.
What to do? Thoughtful strategies and techniques should be learned well before the occasion arises to avoid being caught off guard or misquoted. Here are my Top 5 tips to better construct an interview or public presentation.
Tip #1: The reason to accept a media interview is to offer positive benefits that promote the value of your products or services in easy to understand language. That’s all.
Tip #2: Know that anyone can blog or post negative reviews. Reporters today are the general public. How and when to react is the key.
Tip #3: Learn the “Three C’s” of public speaking: ▫ Cooperate ▫ Communicate Clearly ▫ Control the Message.
Tip #4: Do not have a long conversation. That’s when people say things that get taken out of context.
Tip #5: Pre-plan 3-4 main topic points and stick to them. Do not be held at the mercy of the question.
What’s in it for you? Company spokespeople, business executives, managers, entrepreneurs, and anyone running an organization is put to the PR test. Learn what to say, what not to say, and how to say it effectively to maintain a positive public image.
Esty Atlas is a four-time Emmy award-winning writer, public relations/media specialist, TV producer and author.  She will be teaching a NEW CFU class: Spin It Right! Insider Tips on Media and Customer Relations on April 18th, 2015.
Browse all of Esty Atlas’ upcoming classes.