How Corporate Leaders Can Level Up Their Media Presence Before the New Year
As a corporate leader or business owner, your ability to deliver a clear, confident message during media appearances is vital for your organization’s success. Whether you're appearing on a panel, giving a TV interview, or recording content for social media, how you communicate matters. Here’s a straightforward plan to ensure you make impactful media appearances and lead your team to do the same.
Step 1: Assess Your Current Media Presence
Take stock of how you or your team currently perform in media situations. Reflect on the following questions:
Are your messages clear, concise, and aligned with your company’s values?
Do you feel confident speaking to audiences on-camera or in interviews?
Action Tip: Record a short video of yourself addressing a recent business topic. Watch it critically or share it with a coach for feedback. This can highlight areas for improvement before the new year.
Step 2: Define Your Key Messages
Before stepping into any media appearance, clarify your core message. Ask yourself:
What is the one takeaway I want my audience to remember?
Does this message align with my company’s goals and brand?
Is this message tailored to my specific audience?
Action Tip: Write down three to five key messages that encapsulate your company’s mission, upcoming initiatives, or unique value propositions. Practice saying them aloud, and ensure they are adaptable to different contexts.
Step 3: Sharpen Your Delivery Skills
Your delivery can make or break your message. Here’s how to refine your presentation:
Practice Vocal Clarity: Enunciate your words clearly and avoid speaking too quickly.
Engage With Your Body Language: Maintain good posture, make steady eye contact, and use gestures naturally.
Stay Calm Under Pressure: Develop techniques to manage nerves, such as deep breathing or pausing before answering challenging questions.
Action Tip: Work with a media coach or take a short course focused on executive communication. Even a one-hour session can provide actionable insights to improve your delivery.
Step 4: Prepare for Common Media Scenarios
Media appearances come in various forms. Be prepared for different scenarios:
Live Interviews: Practice being able to handle unexpected questions or distractions, and staying on message.
Recorded Segments: Focus on being concise, as these are often edited.
Social Media Videos: Keep a conversational tone and ensure your authenticity shines through.
Action Tip: Role-play different scenarios with a colleague or coach. For example, simulate a live Q&A session to test your ability to think on your feet.
Step 5: Invest in Teleprompter Training
Reading from a teleprompter might seem simple, but it requires skill to appear natural. If your 2025 plans include creating corporate videos or delivering speeches, teleprompter training is a must.
Action Tip: Focus on maintaining a conversational tone, matching your facial expressions with your message, and avoiding a robotic delivery.
Mastering teleprompter reading and on-camera presence is an invaluable skill for executives and professionals looking to deliver compelling messages in 2025.
Step 6: Focus on Body Language and Presence
Your words matter, but your body language can amplify or detract from your message. A confident stance, open gestures, and appropriate facial expressions are essential for delivering impactful communication on camera.
Action Tip: Practice in front of a mirror or record yourself to assess your posture, gestures, and expressions. Consider taking a coaching session to refine your on-camera presence and ensure your non-verbal cues align with your message.
Step 7: Plan and Rehearse Key Messages
Preparation is the cornerstone of success in any communication. Knowing your key messages inside and out helps you speak with confidence and ensures your audience retains the most critical information.
Action Tip: Outline the main points you want to communicate. Rehearse your delivery multiple times, focusing on clarity, tone, and timing. If possible, practice in the environment where you’ll present or record to familiarize yourself with the setting.
Step 8: Embrace Continuous Improvement
Even seasoned professionals benefit from refining their skills. Approach your on-camera and teleprompter work as a journey rather than a one-time task.
Action Tip: Schedule regular practice sessions to keep your skills sharp. Keep in mind that just because you feel like you nailed it for one appearance or presentation - it doesn’t mean you don’t need to continue to hone your skills. Practice makes progress. Analyze any past recordings to track your improvement and identify new areas for growth. Stay curious and open to learning new techniques.
Conclusion:
Mastering teleprompter reading and on-camera presence is an invaluable skill for executives and professionals looking to deliver compelling messages in 2025. By investing in teleprompter training, refining your body language, preparing key messages, and seeking professional feedback, you’ll project confidence and clarity in every video or presentation. Consistent practice and expert guidance are the keys to mastering your on-camera delivery. Start now, and by the time your next corporate video or speech comes around, you’ll feel prepared and professional.