Most of us are on camera a lot more than we’d like to be.
Team calls, client meetings, and social media are now part of our jobs.
But very few people get guidance on how to actually connect with an audience in those moments.
We might prepare for big interviews and presentations, but it’s actually the everyday interactions that shape how people perceive us.
It may not feel like it, but those moments are media, and you can train for them the same way I trained to be on camera for 20 plus years in news.
Beyond where to sit in relation to the camera, it really comes down to authentic connection.
It sounds simple, but it’s not.
That’s what this week’s newsletter is about.
It’s a conversation
Most people treat media moments like monologues, but they aren’t.
They’re conversations where you should look the interviewer or the audience straight in the eye as soon as they see you on camera.
What I see with my clients is that they focus so much on getting the words right, or presenting a certain version of themselves, that they stop paying attention.
They miss the tone, the reactions, and the energy in the room.
That feedback is everything. It’s how you know if you’re speaking too fast, too slow, or saying too much – and if you need to adjust.
You’ve asked for more examples of good communicators in these newsletters, so here’s one: Jonathan Gray explaining why his viral videos are so popular on LinkedIn. Click here to watch.
This week’s tip: themes, pauses and regular words
1. Prepare themes, not scripts.
Do: Walk in knowing 2–3 ideas you want to land. Respond to what is happening, then work your points in.
Why: I promise you will sound more present and less rehearsed.
Don’t: Memorize what you are going to say, write scripts, or rush into your pre-planned points.
2. Pause before you answer
Do: Take a one to two second beat before responding. Silently count “one… two” in your head if needed.
Why: That brief pause helps you come across as thoughtful, and you can use it to collect your thoughts.
Don’t: Jump in the moment someone else stops talking or interrupt them before they finish. My pet peeve cut offs are: “Right, right…” “I know exactly what you mean…” “Let me jump in…” “So what you’re saying is…”
3. Use regular words and real emotion, like any conversation
Do: Speak in simple, everyday language. Use analogies to explain complex ideas. Smile, react, and ask questions like you would in a real conversation.
Why: Familiar language and genuine emotion make people feel like they’re meeting the real you. That’s what keeps them engaged and connected.
Do not: Hide behind big words, use abbreviations or acronyms, or try to sound polished at the expense of being real.
This week’s laugh
If you have a presentation, panel, or interview coming up, email me at [email protected].
I’d love to work together and build around real situations you’re actually facing.
Now for your laugh:
How Jennifer Aniston’s LolaVie brand grew sales 40% with CTV ads
The DTC beauty category is crowded. To break through, Jennifer Aniston’s brand LolaVie, worked with Roku Ads Manager to easily set up, test, and optimize CTV ad creatives. The campaign helped drive a big lift in sales and customer growth, helping LolaVie break through in the crowded beauty category.
