Anyone who has ever watched an interview where the speaker used verbal fillers or chomped gum knows how distracting that is for the listener.
Maybe the speaker peppered too many “ums” in their comments. Or they may have rambled on rather than sticking to the point. No matter what the gaffes are, the result is the same: the interview wasn’t successful.
Unfortunately, that is not uncommon. We often don’t even realize how many verbal fillers we use. That’s because most of us have never been trained in how to speak with the media.
This is especially true if you’re on the leadership team of a manufacturing company. Unless the topics of manufacturing or production make the news, there is little reason a factory owner would need to speak with the media.
If you’re trying to boost your company’s visibility, you may be actively looking to speak to the media. Before you go on camera, you may need to develop a manufacturing public relations strategy that includes media training.
Media Presence is Critical
As a member of your company’s C-suite, the possibility that you could be tapped to talk to the media is great. However, the reasons you may need to make an appearance are varied.
Whether you are speaking to the media to provide professional insight or because your manufacturing company has found itself in a crisis, you need to be adequately prepared.
Recent studies show that businesses lose an estimated $1.2 trillion annually as a result of poor communications.
This statistic may be reason enough to schedule media training for your leadership team. But having this tool in your toolbox also helps build your reputation and promotes the visibility of your company.
Planning your crisis communication response is essential in today’s fast-paced media environment.
Avoid Costly Mistakes
A poor showing in an interview may not be the end of the world, but it can certainly affect your bottom line. It can also cost you your job.
In 2010, for example, when the Deepwater Horizon drilling rig exploded in the Gulf of Mexico (now America), 11 workers were killed, and the spill became one of the worst ecological disasters in history. When asked about the incident, former CEO Tony Hayward simply said, “I want my life back.”
He lost his job shortly after this interview.
Public relations crisis communication training helps you identify the areas where you and your team need improvement. You need to plan your words carefully. You also need to consider everything from maintaining eye contact with the interviewer to what clothes you wear to the interview.
The experts at Ripley PR know how to prepare your team to look and sound their best in an interview. Many of our professionals have either worked in or with the news media. We take our earned media experience and pass it along to you.
Call Ripley PR at (865) 977-1973 or contact us online to ask about media training or any of our other PR services.
