Let's face it, the scariest thing for most beginners is what happens in a media interview. When you have to get in front of one of these, a video camera, it scares people. I understand why there's a part of you thinking that the first time someone Google's your name for the next 30 years, it'll go right to that video clip on YouTube or someplace else were you scared? stiff, nervous, sweating, so I understand it. Let me give you some tips. It's really not that hard to come across your best on TV.

For starters, anytime you're in front of a video camera, unless there's no reporter around, don't stare at the camera. Look at the reporter asking you questions. Look at the host asking you questions. You don't want to be looking at the reporter and then going like this, see how shifty my eyes look. It looks horrible. Just look at the person.

Now the big problem most people have when they get on TV is all of a sudden they're focused on their message and they They want to get it just right because they practice their message points and their sound bites here and see how awful that is. Nothing's moving. I froze. And human beings are like little bunnies when they're scared, they freeze they tense up. So the first thing you have to realize anytime you're on camera, is you're going to have to move. Now you have to move the way you do when you're naturally comfortable.

If there's no cameras around, and you're with a bunch of friends at a restaurant or a bar, having a beer, having a conversation, talking about some hobby or sports game, you your head moves, your Facebook's your eyebrows, move your hands, move your bodies, but all of that moves in normal conversation when you're completely relaxed, so when you get on TV and all of a sudden, you're frozen. It just makes you look scared, makes you look nervous. And therefore people aren't focusing on what you're saying. They're worried about you. So the biggest principle is you still have to move. So let's be very specific about let me show you a few contrast.

Hi, my name is TJ Walker at media training worldwide. We coach executives, political leaders, authors, experts on how to communicate effectively. See how awful that was? Nothing was moving, but my lips had frozen everything frozen. Let's add something. Hi, I'm TJ Walker media training worldwide.

We help people communicate more effectively whether they're CEOs or presidents of countries. Say that time my head moved, and my body moved a little more. Let's add another element. So the big challenge for most people is figuring out what are your top messages and then how do you bridge back to it again and again and again throughout the whole interview. That time I move my hands now. You don't have to move them up high but the second Can you freeze your hands you freeze your body and you look stiff and nervous.

So, my recommendation, move your hands when you're speaking on camera. Don't try to put them in your pocket. Don't hold them. Don't fidget with rings, you'll look nervous and uncomfortable. So I do want you to practice that on video and make sure you're comfortable with it. But it's absolutely critical that you move now, when you're seated.

Here's what a lot of people do. They want to be comfortable there. So hey, you got to be relaxed, comfortable on TV. So they're kind of sitting back on a couch. Look at this. You'll see about three chins at the camera or back further you would see what looks like a big fat gut.

Anytime you sit back on camera, you're going to look your worst you've heard the TV camera puts 20 pounds on you will if you sit back. Now the next thing people do that's a common mistake is They have perfect posture. Hi, my name is TJ Walker and I'm trying to impress my mother with my good posture, you see how awful that looks. I look stiff as a board and scared, you do not want to hold yourself up perfectly Hi. The best way to come across natural NTD is to lean forward about 15 degrees when you're sitting in a chair now at the moment I'm standing, but I'm doing this to demonstrate for you you lean forward about 15 degrees into the camera. Now you may have noticed before when I started and I'm sitting back you saw double chin, triple chin.

Now, the triple chin is not nearly as noticeable, because the camera latches on to whatever it's closer to the camera is now closer to my face. Not my chest, not my gut. So you want to lean forward but again Continue to move. It's not just, it's not just something like this the whole time. You're leaning forward, but you're moving. You're gesturing occasionally.

So those are the basics of how to sit when you're doing a TV interview. Now, if you're standing, what I recommend is one foot forward, one foot back, because if you just have your feet shoulder width apart, and you're a little bit nervous, you might do something like this rocking, and you're going to look scared, and you're going to make everyone seasick. By putting one foot forward, one foot back, you really can't rock sideways. And if you rock a little bit front and back, it's much, much less noticeable. Now worried about clothing, you may have noticed, what I'm wearing isn't particularly interesting out. It's a gray suit, with a very light pinstripe.

It's a solid shirt. It's not a white shirt. It's an off color cream shirt, and it's sort of a solid Maroon tie. Now, the reason for that That is I don't want to distract people if I have a lot of big bold stripes, patterns that tends to jump around and cause competition for attention. I want you focused on what I'm saying, not what I'm wearing. Now, whatever you wear, it should complement who you are and what you're about.

If you're a banker or mutual fund manager, you probably want to be a suit and a tie. If you are environmental and environmental activist, you probably want to be in some t shirt with your logo. If you're an artist, you want some kind of fashion designer, you do want clothing that calls attention to itself. If you're a dairy farmer, you probably want to be in jeans and a work shirt. So there's no one perfect thing to wear. But what you're wearing should send a message to people what you're about and it shouldn't confuse people.

That's the biggest thing to keep in mind. Nothing perfect to wear, but it's got to complement what you're about. not confused people. So those are the biggest things you've really got to think about when it comes to how you come across on video. So this is your homework right now. I want you to take everything we've learned so far.

And I want you to do a little practice session. Even if there's no one else around, you can hold it yourself. Talk to your own cell phone and record yourself. And I want you to interview yourself or have someone else do it. Ask yourself questions, answer them. Bridge to message points.

Sprinkle sound bites throughout. And be sure to move as long as you keep moving. You'll come across as sincere, comfortable, confident, relaxed, and more believable. Good luck.