Facing tough stakeholder questions in a media interview can be daunting. Stay composed and in control with these strategies:
- Prepare thoroughly. Research common concerns and formulate clear, concise responses beforehand.
- Listen actively. Understand the question fully before responding to ensure you address the stakeholder's actual concern.
- Stay on message. Regardless of the question's complexity, bridge back to your key points to maintain control of the interview narrative.
How do you stay composed when fielding complex questions? Share your strategies.
Bridging techniques and non-verbal communication are two essential skills to consider. Bridging redirects complex or off-topic questions back to your key messages. Examples might include phrases like "That's an interesting point, but what's really important is..." or "Before we dive into that, let me emphasize..." Non-verbal communication encompasses body language, facial expressions, and tone of voice. It's crucial for conveying confidence and credibility during interviews. The relationship between these two is synergistic. While bridging helps control the narrative verbally, effective non-verbal communication reinforces your message and enhances your perceived authority.
As communicators, our job is to prepare leaders for high stakes interviews. The most critical step is research and prep. 3 tips on how to do this: 1. Be on top of current news, past issues, challenges or wins, and future predictions of the subject. You can also run info by technical experts to ensure it is fact-based, and not sensationalised/biased. 2. Think about potential scenarios and challenges stakeholders may be facing now, make sure your spokesperson has validated data-driven information to share. 3. Always remember you are talking to people. As with all complex situations, do make sure that the element of empathy and compassion is integral in your prep. 4. Practice, practice, practice. Run mock sessions to help with ease and flow!
Enfrentar preguntas complejas en una entrevista con los medios requiere más que preparación; necesitas dominar el arte de la redirección estratégica. Cuando te encuentres con una pregunta difícil, considera reformularla en términos de lo que quieres destacar, convirtiendo un desafío en una oportunidad para reforzar tu mensaje central. Además, emplea "puentes" verbales—frases que te permitan volver a tus puntos clave sin ignorar la pregunta, como "Es importante destacar que...". Este enfoque no solo te ayuda a mantener el control, sino que también demuestra confianza y dominio del tema, fortaleciendo la percepción pública de tu liderazgo.
When dealing with demanding stakeholders in a media interview, handling complex questions requires confidence and control. Own your story—you are the gatekeeper, not the media. They need you to help them create value for their audience. Storytelling is key—humanize your responses by providing positive examples that support your narrative. By doing so, you not only guide the conversation but also make your message relatable and impactful, ensuring it resonates with both the interviewer and their audience.