Appear professionally in the media! (1)

Voice, way of speaking and body language

FIT FOR YOUR MEDIA PRESENCE

Your very first impression, i.e. your first movements and your first vocal sound, cause the so-called "halo effect" in the audience. This is shown by research today. All later impressions are unconsciously outshone by it and thus strongly influenced.

Here's how to present a safe point of view:

Unconsciously, the stability of your statements is conveyed through your body language. You may remember the experiment in the workshop and how even a little push initially threw them out of their point of view ... This is how you consolidate your message:

• Look for a stable stand on both legs.
• Feel the dynamic body sensation that arises when you open your knees a little to achieve balance in the "Hula Hoop Zone". (Maybe you unabashedly make a few light hip swings – you're not on the air yet ... In the respect of the media people, you will immediately rise by a few degrees!) By the way, your voice is perfectly activated by this.
• Now open your eyes to the person you are talking to: come forward a little with your upper body expectantly. As if you were waiting to catch a thought.
• Your shoulders and neck are loosened. You feel the weight of your arms, which immediately causes them to sink down a bit. In doing so, you take on a kind of body language "starting position" that you can activate whenever you want to collect yourself mentally.
• Even your first words will get your hands moving. Allow it and enjoy your impulsive, relaxed gestures. She will punctuate your words perfectly!

Practical tip
A very pleasant side effect of your good position will be that you won't sway back and forth in front of the camera, and therefore your head won't sway from one corner to the other on the screen!

Your voice lets you hear whether you mean what you say!

DOES YOUR VOICE SOUND (UN)CERTAIN?

Eine sichere, ausdrucksstarke Stimme ist nicht immer gottgegeben. Wenn Sie folgende Hinweise beachten, ist Ihre Stimme auch in stressigen Momenten tragfähig und schafft jene Vertrauensbasis, auf der auch heikle Themen ansprechbar sind.

START THE TUNING MOTOR WITH PLEASURE (WARMING-UP)

Before the media appearance, the warming-up of the voice is mandatory. Use the journey by car, or retreat to a protected room (toilet, adjoining room). Don't worry if the media team hears your warm-up exercises. This underlines your professional status!

•  Activate Tuning Power: Dance a round of "Hula Hoop" or Rumba and let your pelvis spin with pleasure: The power of the voice begins in the lower back!
• Improve articulation: "Brmm, brmm...!" – Start the motorcycle, but remember to keep both hands on the throttle and clutch!
• Ensure confident gestures: Expand your "radius of expression" by making faxes, making faces, tongue twisters and speaking in unknown foreign languages with your reflection. Then let your shoulders rotate leisurely, this opens up the breathing spaces!

ADDRESSING LISTENERS IN THE ROOM BEHIND THE CAMERA (RESONANCE AND SURROUND SOUND)

Remember: Even if there is only one questioner in front of you – address all listeners in your mind! The direct speech ("you") then refers to each individual listener.

• Imagine that a magical space opens up behind your interviewee, where the many different listeners are already curiously waiting for your words. In this way, you give your voice the pleasant surround sound and pleasant resonance.

A nice side effect: You speak a bit more solemnly and leave pleasant pauses for your listeners to understand.

WHEN THE VOICE FEELS COMFORTABLE ("PROPER TONE")

Despite all the good preparation, stress and tension can sometimes make your voice sound a little higher or a little impersonal. With these tips, you can effortlessly get into the feel-good state of your voice:

• Ruminating an 'M': They hum a long-drawn-out "Mmm" and chew on it comfortably. It sounds like you're praising a good meal – your voice sounds all by itself in the indifference position.
• Sigh: You put one hand on your upper belly, pull both shoulders up - and then let out a loud sigh quite unabashedly. Her voice falls naturally from above into the proper tone, all tension of the breathing muscles is released.
• Self-praise: Now confirm the result to yourself by nodding to yourself in praise: "Mmmmhh!"

Practical implementation of tips in everyday life

In top-class sport, the basic rule is: "Never practice in competition!" If the camera or microphone is already pointed at you, you should have already completed your preliminary work.

USE STRESS-FREE SITUATIONS IN EVERYDAY LIFE TO PRACTICE (EVERYDAY TRANSFER)

How stable is your point of view when you talk to an employee normally? What first impression do you make when you walk into an office? These and many other seemingly unimportant everyday moments are made to prepare you for unfamiliar media situations. The more often you try out the tips here, the more naturally and without much effort you can retrieve them when it matters. Soon you will find that you don't even think about it anymore, but do it on your own.

Have you ever tried the voice tips from our workshop before "normal" presentations within your company? These are also perfect opportunities to get mentally fit for your next stressful interview!

Ich freue mich über Ihr Feedback. Oder haben Sie eine Frage?
Write to me! Until the next online tip, I wish you good luck and much success!

You
Arno Fischbacher