Are you a good listener

“The more that you read, the more things you will know. The more that you learn, the more places you’ll go.”
― Dr. Seuss

When I interviewed successful entrepreneurs, CEOs, and small business owners for my two books: “Well Said: How to be heard in Business and Generate Real Influence” and “Well Spun: Big PR and Social Media Ideas for Small Business,” I discovered that one characteristic they had in common, and something they attributed to success is this:
They know they don’t know everything. And that’s why these individuals work to build diverse teams and surround themselves with experts in areas where they don’t have the right skills, knowledge, and expertise.
Improve your communication skills 
That’s certainly the mark of a good leader. And while good leaders are confident and capable and typically good communicators, it’s always worthwhile remembering that we can, as individuals, continuously improve.
This is especially true of communicating – not just with our teams but also with our clients, prospective clients, and the wider community.
It is particularly true of communication right now. Digital media has exploded, and the media landscape is changing rapidly. While it’s true that many of the traditional media presentation strategies and skills remain the same, the big difference is two-fold.
Firstly: Speed. Everything in the media space is faster and more immediate than ever.
Secondly: Reach. You can ‘go global’ at the touch of a button.

So, are you prepared?

Learn media skills, or take a ‘refresher’ course 
Whether you want to refresh your knowledge to up-skill for the new landscape or whether you’ve never done media training before, we have the perfect media training course for you.
It is comprehensive and convenient – AND you can train online, including two sessions of face-to-face time with me – at a time that suits you. The flexibility of the sessions means you’ll be able to fit them into your schedule when you have the appropriate time to focus, learn, and get the most out of them.

In the online media training, we cover a range of topics, including:
Identifying story angles and recognising threats and opportunities
How journalists work – questions to ask about what they want for their story
Creating a “quotable quote” that says what you need to succinctly and memorably
Techniques to control the ‘narrative’ and to help you feel confident under any circumstances
Strategies for different types of media.
We also delve into some technical practicalities which will help ensure that you invest in the right equipment to set you up for success, enabling you to do media interviews from your office, home, or wherever you are. The media won’t wait – so you need to be available – and nothing kills your media opportunity faster than technical failures.

If technology does fail, we’ll give you some tips for making the most of the situation – with a short text statement, for example. I believe that my extensive years working in media makes our training different – I can give you the benefit of first-hand experience.

Tips and tools for every media possibility 

With the news cycle working so quickly, many advantages exist for companies looking to build their brand and connect with a broader audience. Some days are still slow news days, even when there are deadlines to meet, and these offer fantastic opportunities if you have a story ready to go!

The disadvantage of the fast news cycle is that you can get caught if the news affects your industry or your business, and you are not adequately prepared when the journalist comes knocking at your door.

We’ll help you prepare for a crisis, or a surprise phone call, sell your story and maximise any media opportunity.

Many people believe that getting “in the news” comes down to sheer “good luck” and “timing.” This is not true. Journalists will always be interested in stories that are interesting, unusual, and relevant …. And if journalists can be sure, they can rely on a confident spokesperson with good information.

Key takeaways 
We know that you’ll get great value from our online media training – we’ll give you plenty of practice scenarios that you can walk away from the sessions armed with all the tools you need, as well as an excellent understanding of what’s required from you when you’re in the spotlight. We’ll also help you put together essential strategy documents to have a plan at your fingertips for when the time comes.
What’s more, everything you learn will benefit how you present your company when you generate your own social media posts, resulting in more exposure and engagement.

You can read more here. Or contact us with any questions or to make time for your media training.

In the meantime, don’t forget to follow us on Instagram, Twitter, and LinkedIn.