This blog post is by our colleague Simon, an expert in elite communications strategies and a regular here at the College of Public Speaking.
We accept the fact (or don’t think much about the fact) that most radio broadcasters on any radio station are pretty good. Some brilliant. We accept the same, although maybe a bit less so, as those we watch on TV.
Over a flat white and a decaf, I was recently talking to a well-known radio broadcaster, who explained that the job, even after many years, is often hard, despite how easy it sounds.
That, she emphasised, comes through hard work and experience.
She said you need to imagine what the audience wants to hear, and, of course, that’s extremely hard because, unlike a corporate event, you don’t know much about a million listeners.
Yes, there’s research, and you can guess, but you don’t know. You also need, she added, to use your voice well – not too hectoring, not too loud (or soft), not too vexed, not overly bossy, and so on.
She rightly pointed out that the voice and approach depend on the subject matter being discussed or the program type.
As she finished her decaf, she said that one of the most important life skills these days for anyone was to be able to stand up and speak in public – for all kinds of reasons and occasions.
This presenter has hosted and facilitated corporate events on many occasions.
People like her because she comes across as assured, well-briefed, firm (and fair) with those being questioned, fun when required, and also able to defuse a debate when needed.
She has always maintained that this accomplishment only comes after proper training, regular practice, rehearsals, and good writing.
She said that she’d benefited most from a one-to-one course in presentation techniques and wonders why nobody has thought of doing the same via Skype for people who travel extensively.
Aha, I said, you can do that now. And it’s true, you can at the College of Public Speaking.
