Being Prepared for Pushback

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BONUS FREEBIE: Your message deserves the media’s attention. So how do you get out there in a bigger way? I’ve got you covered. CLICK HERE to grab my free “Checklist to Become a Go-To Media Expert.”
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Be authentic and put yourself out there. Share your expertise. Just be your authentic self and people will respond to your message.

That’s good advice. But that doesn’t mean everyone will respond to your content.

It’s hard enough to ignore trolls on the internet, but sometimes you’ll face skeptical anchors on live tv as well. So it’s important to be prepared.

I’ve been on both sides of this. Both as an expert and as a journalist. Both sides are doing their job – seeing both sides of the story

I’ll admit I was even a bit thrown off when this happened to me during a recent interview on WPIX in New York. I was talking about how to have a four-day work week and the anchor just wasn’t buying it.

He said, “How much of this is fantasy land?”

Here are three ways to get through someone questioning your expertise.

1) Take a Deep Breath.

It’s okay for people to disagree. And it’s okay for people to question your ideas. But it’s also stressful.

Before you answer, take a breath. Make sure you respond with grace and your talking points rather than reacting to a comment or question that takes you by surprise.

This also means that it’s important to have thought through your talking points prior to your interview. Here’s an article I wrote all about how to speak in soundbites to help. This is what I help authors, entrepreneurs and experts do during our media training sessions. If you’re interested in speaking succinctly and looking better on camera – fill out this form to see if it might be a fit to work together.

2) Stay on Topic.

During a WPIX interview where they brought me in to talk about “how to make a four-day work week work for you,” one of the anchors was more skeptical about the idea.

And I won’t lie, it rattled me. But I took a deep breath. I wasn’t there to convince him. I was there to share my tips with you, the viewer.

So I stuck to my talking points and responded to his pushback to the best of my ability. I looked at the facts. People who work four-days a week report that they’re more productive. It’s hard to argue with that.
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3) Keep Your Cool.

Not everything is going to go perfectly in every interview. Especially if you’re doing a lot of them!

If you stumble a little as you try to get back on topic, it’s okay! You did your best. You kept your cool and you kept going!

Keep getting your message out. Not everyone will be receptive to every message, video, or post. But that’s okay, you’ll find your audience. And practice really does help. When you’re preparing for an interview, stop yourself and come up with an alternative view. Then practice answering questions about that view. You’ll be glad you did!
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BONUS FREEBIE: Your message deserves the media’s attention. So how do you get out there in a bigger way? I’ve got you covered. CLICK HERE to grab my free “Checklist to Become a Go-To Media Expert.”
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