Unexpected Reason your executives bomb their first TV interview
High pressure boardrooms are like your executives’ backyard. They have decades of experience with investor calls, strategy discussions, and dealing with negotiations. They have presented thousands at industry conferences.
But put a camera in front of them and suddenly they sound like they are reading from a hostage script. You wonder what’s got of them. While nerves are normal and lack of expertise isn’t the answer, you’ll be surprised that the problem is far more fixable.
Focus on the “how”
Most executives prepare their material inside out. They know their talking points, rehearse every syllable and literally go in with a teleprompter running inside their heads. But television rewards spontaneity, not recitation.
This is where media coaching comes in. Studio pressure is a different skill altogether. Delivering the facts is not enough. Calm, clarity and confidence hold the key to their corporate speaking making an impact. Posture, voice, facial expressions and timing – things that they rarely think about in their routines, become more important.
Conversing on camera
In everyday settings, executives use hierarchy, familiarity and context to their advantage. Their reputation pulls them through awkward pauses. But the camera is ruthless. While it cuts out the impact of their physical presence, it amplifies every disconnect between their words and body language.
Speaking from memory makes their gestures mechanical and delivery flat. What executives need is to practice concepts, not words. Rehearse with unexpected questions. Take pauses. Channel nervous energy into engagement. The best interviews feel like an interesting conversation at the dinner table.
Build presence, not perfection
Executives need a fundamental shift in the way they prepare. Scripted lines only make them lose flow. An interview is different from making a sales presentation. It is like chatting with a friend about your business. The content is the same, but the setting is informal. So, delivery needs to be natural and spontaneous. This creates a blend of ease with authority. That’s what comes out as charisma and makes it authentic for the audience.
Developing camera-ready leaders
Leadership manifests itself in the form of communication. Executives who thrive on camera invest in their leadership skills. Leadership skills training that covers media preparation treats communication as a key to strategic excellence. It includes techniques to internalize key messages, articulate them in an agile manner, and connect with diverse audiences.
Leaders learn to think on their feet and adapt their communication style to any situation investor meetings, townhall gatherings, and crisis communications. Such leaders are no longer just delivering information. They influence perceptions and alter outcomes.
Conclusion
A camera is a different medium. The skills that your executive needs to excel at communication in this environment are different. Presence before the camera is a skill that can be developed. The right training will teach how to stay grounded, breathe through the pressure, and articulate thoughts naturally. With practice, executives learn how to sound real. They can be the media assets you want and show their true capabilities.