Over the past 33 years of counseling clients in a damage control, crisis communications situation, I’ve learned what works and what doesn’t. Observing Olympic medalist Ryan Lochte’s interview yesterday with Today Show’s Matt Lauer reminded me of some of those items.
From my experience, here’s what works:
- Be honest.
- Be totally honest.
- Don’t duck a question. Answer it forthright. Answer it completely. Give them nowhere else to dig (because you’ve given them the complete answer).
- Prepare your statement thoroughly.
- Consider questions you may be asked.
- Consider your responses to each of those (very hard) questions. The harder the better.
- Get in an get out in one interview, one day. Do NOT do/say things that will drag this mess out. (See #2, 3, 6.)
If you have more questions, please contact me at tbrownr7@gmail.com.