My Formula For Being On Camera (And Looking Like You Enjoy It

So, this happened.

A startup founder calls to say she was called for an interview by a major network. I ask for the reporter’s name, the segment, the focus, and the environment. Beyond her thinking she’d be going into the studio and sitting at the desk with a show host (who she didn’t know), she had bubkas. And of course, no publicist.

Even though she’d never done an interview beyond an expo floor before, she wasn’t concerned. (I was..) She’d crafted some speaking points and just needed to practice for an hour, because that’s all she had in her busy schedule.

Red flags flying, I agreed to help.

When she arrived at the studio, she realized she would be doing this interview remotely. Thrown by the equipment, lack of a nearby human, and the unexpected situation, everything went out of her head. She didn’t bomb, but it was a struggle.

There are a lot of moving parts when you’re in front of the lens. Here are a few touchstones to help you navigate through.

1. Like what you’re saying and your reason for showing up. Fill in the blanks: If I talk about X, more people can X. Then have a good story about why you started the company, took the job, or decided to fight the good fight.

2. Get comfortable with the tech. You may not like wearing Spanx for a special event, but you like the way it makes you look. Our equivalent is understanding lighting, how not to inadvertently unhook your lavalier, where to look, and how to hold yourself.

3. Think of it as a skill you can master, not one you’re born with. Together we can uncover your best, most energized, and enthused self, and help you hold on to that person even when the pressure’s on.

Originally published in Medium.