Media Training, take 2
I spoke before about the need for media training. So, nothing new about it, but, just want to bring it up again and discuss why and what the value is of media training.
You and your employee’s need to make sure that they understand that they are always in the publics eye. That whatever they do, they reflect on the company.
You may not or cannot afford to “train” everyone in your organization, but, there are always the people who are the “face” of your company. Like your CEO, CMO, CFO, and pretty much anyone in your marketing, public relations, and communications divisions. It doesn’t have to be a formal training session with professional media trainers, but, if you know how to speak with the media, and have done it for many years, then, you pretty much know the in’s and out’s of what is needed to reflect your company in a positive way.
Sit down, write down everything that you have learned over the years in dealing with the media, and think of how you can teach others what you learned. If you are a good manager, then, you already know how to teach; so, just write down 10 points, and try and teach your people those 10 items. Do this once a quarter, and soon enough, your people will start to handle themselves appropriately when in public.
People LOVE to talk about themselves or let others believe that they “know” everything. You usually have no alternative if someone speaks with the media, and they aren’t authorized, then by firing them.
So, what I am trying to say, is that, instead of firing them, teach them what to say, how to say it, and then, when they speak to the media – even if they aren’t supposed to – you may not have to fire them, but, reprimand them; why the reprimand? Because they didn’t hurt your company, they just spoke when they shouldn’t have.
Hope this makes some sense. Everyone wants to talk about themselves. Try and contain it with proper training.
