So here's your final exercise to title together and make sure you've really mastered what we've talked about. I need you to think of that specific issue you want to talk about that relates to your government agency or organization. Come up with your messages, three very specific messages, 10 words or less, I need you to have half a dozen sound bites for each one of your message points. So total six for each one, that's times 318 sound bites. I need you to have it on a single sheet of paper. Look at it, reflect on it.
Don't memorize it, but internalize it. But now I want you to interview yourself or have someone else interview you. And it can be as simple as putting the cell phone on you recording yourself or webcam and put yourself through a grueling, a tough, tough press conference. Ask yourself the tough questions or have someone else ask you tough questions and practice will We've talked about here today, answer the questions briefly, blandly, but factually and honestly, bridge to your message points, hit not one or two but all three message points in every answer. Sprinkle sound bites throughout the interview, and make darn sure you don't have any sound bites come out of your mouth that are off message. Because if you have one off message that is condemning yourself, or saying, Well, sure, we were slow initially to understand the severity of Ebola but and then you're back on to great messages, and great soundbites.
All on message guess what the only quote in the entire story will be we were slow to initially assess the threat of Ebola. That's an attack, which is in a sound, which is a soundbite. It's an attack on our organization. So you've got to be careful that you're not doing that. So that's the exercise now put it all together. captured on video if you're not completely happy, do it again recorded it again critique it again.
Don't stop until you're completely satisfied with every aspect of style. substance, how you look how you sound, your message, answering questions and your sound bites. Go to it right now.