The Proactive Speaker: Being Interviewed
A few quick things:
Who is the audience? How big? Where? Experts or lay-people/popular audience? What is the most important part of our work for them to know?
What is the media/venue? TV? Virtual? In-person? Bookstore? Radio? Podcast?
Who is the interviewer? Watch/listen to previous interviews. Are they supportive or contentious? Most interviewers are supportive and want to spread the word about our work.
Think through the most salient points we’d like to make for this particular audience.
Ask for the questions in advance—they may not send them, but it’s always good to nudge them a bit, get them thinking about it. And if they do send their questions, we can prepare our answers.
Send the interviewer questions we would love for them to ask! Even if they send their own questions! This makes their life easier and gives them focus.
Anticipate any “worst fear” questions. Brainstorm the things we do not want them to ask, do not feel qualified or ready to answer. Then, research and prepare for the worst! It is such a relief to unearth our anxieties and come prepared.
Don’t worry about selling our book, ideas, self. Those are low intentions and by focusing our attention on ourselves and our own needs, we can come off as desperate, needy, arrogant, sales-y. Remember, when we speak, our intention is FOR the audience, a gift.