Tips on communicating

Speaking/Presentation Tips:

1. Have a series of one-on-one conversations with individuals in your audience, whether it is three people or three thousand. No "eye surfing" - don't dart your eyes quickly round the room!
2. Never start a speech by thanking the person introducing you and restating your name and title. If the first thing out of your mouth is boring and utterly predictable, you are sending a message to your audience that now would be a good time for them to tune out. Thank people after the speech, before you take questions.
3. Likewise, don't start a speech by saying "Today I'm going to talk about..." Instead, start immediately with an interesting or provocative statement or question.
4. Good speakers occasionally use notes. Great speakers never use notes. Horrible speakers usually use prepared full texts.
5. Messages that come out of your mouth need to be shorter, simpler and less complex than messages you put in written materials. Focus on narrowing and refining your message.
6. Rehearsing alone is better than not rehearsing at all but not nearly as good as rehearsing in front of other people.
7. A speech that reads well will sound awful! Write for the ear, not the eye.
8. Only use humour if it makes a point. And no, you don't have to start a speech by telling a funny story.
9. In order to relax before speaking, visualise your audience giving you a standing ovation.
10. Never yell at your audience if you have a microphone. And always use a microphone if you are speaking to more than 15 people.

TV/Media Tips:

1. Smile on TV. If you don't smile, you'll look like you are frowning and can't wait to get out of there.
2. To avoid looking stiff and nervous on TV, sit up straight (but not perfectly straight) in front of the TV camera.
3. Lean slightly forward into the camera - you'll look taller, leaner, and more confident.
4. Speak directly to the reporter or presenter and not into the camera.
5. In recorded interviews, it doesn't matter if you repeat your message the same way - word for word - every time. The interview will be edited so you must get your key messages into every answer. If you don't and your interview is edited right down to one answer, then your key message(s) will be lost.
6. For the same reason, it also doesn't matter if you use the same examples each time you present your message.
7. Avoid waffle. Try to answer each question succinctly in 20 seconds.
8. A "no comment" response may make you or your organisation sound guilty or suspicious. Instead, focus on how you can honestly answer the question in a way that allows you to talk about one, two or three of your message points.
9. When appearing on TV, try to keep your hands in your lap. If you find yourself gesticulating, don't let your hands go above chest level.
10. Blue on navy works best on TV. Avoid black or white as your dominant colour as it will ‘drain' you.
11. You need to wear make up on TV - yes even you tough macho guys!

Crisis Communications Tips:

1. Emphasise the solutions to problems - especially if you created the problem.
2. It's hard to make a negative impression if you stay positive. Focus on your own message and remain polite.
3. Avoid thinking on your feet in a crisis situation - have procedures in place and your message planned out in advance.
4. If you're in the wrong, first admit this is the case, secondly apologise and finally put the situation to right. Think: Confession, Absolution, Penance!
5. PR, especially in a crisis, is not about being popular or liked. It's about being understood.
6. Never use humour, sarcasm or irony with the media during a crisis.
7. The more forcefully a journalist comes at you with tough questions, the more you should do your best to look happy, relaxed and comfortable when you are responding.