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Crafting Your Message: Being a Good Spokesperson. Janine MacLachlan, director, ADA Council on Communications . Today: An O verview. How people receive messages How to create powerful messages Practice = courage + confidence. How Audiences Perceive Messages.
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Crafting Your Message: Being a Good Spokesperson Janine MacLachlan, director, ADA Council on Communications
Today: An Overview • How people receive messages • How to create powerful messages • Practice = courage + confidence
People Retain Three Messages If you talk about everything, you are remembered for nothing Always begin with your own goals Add photo or graphic depicting this somehow
Proper Prep: Do Your Research • Know the nature of the interview or discussion • Obtain questions in advance where possible • Determine your agenda
Three Ps of Message Development • Prepare • Know your goals for the interview • Conduct research • Develop 3 key messages • Practice • Messages and body language
Three Ps of Message Development • Perform • Engage your audience • Use visuals and props
How to Create Key Messages • Mind map • Fill a page with everything you might want to cover • Prioritize • What will resonate? • How to make it emotional? • Identify 3 key messages • Support each key message with 2-3 points
KISS – Keep It Super Simple • Headline • One engaging sentence • Prove it • Facts, data • Visualize it • Stories • Bottom line it • Rephrase the headline
ABCs of Q & A A: Answer the question B: Bridge to your message C: Conclude on positive note that drives your agenda
Bridging to Your Message • In fact… • Let me put this in perspective… • What you need to remember is…
A few don’ts • Don’t speculate: • Don’t answer hypothetical questions • Don’t comment on investigations or court cases • Don’t make up answers • “I don’t know. But what I do know is…” • “Let me get back to you with that information.”
A few don’ts • Don’t feel compelled to fill the silence • Don’t offer opinion that differs from your organization’s position • Better ways to say “No comment”
Your turn • Break into teams • Review your burning topic • Create three key messages • Plus two supporting points for each • Tell your story