My task of protecting the universe from appalling communications fiascos – and guiding people towards more inspirational performances – is a big one.
Sometimes there are so many high profile examples of abysmal communications that it’s hard to know where to start.
Now is such a time.
This latest communications-boosting ezine has picked out just two of the many bad examples of the past week that we can all learn from.
They are enough to remind you of one of the worst fictional communicators all times!
This is the manic, bad-tempered hotelier from the English seaside resort of Torquay – Basil Fawlty – from the BBC comedy series “Fawlty Towers”.
I’ve just had the pleasure of being on a communications-boosting mission which has taken me to Torquay – located on what’s claimed to be the “English Riviera”.
It’s a delightful seaside resort – and the good news is that the people I encountered on the mission were far more sane, pleasant and composed than Basil Fawlty.
Amongst his multitudinous flaws, Basil Fawlty doesn’t seek to understand or care about any of those around him.
As a result he makes one communications cock-up after another.
Below is video clip of how Basil Fawlty interacts with a hotel guest with a bit of “help” from his long-suffering Spanish assistant, Manuel.
Admittedly, this particular guest, a Mrs Richards, is not the most likeable, reasonable or effective communicator herself.
Please don’t model your communications style on any of these three!
I studied a lot of interactions by Basil Fawlty as part of my visit to Torquay.
Here is the Torquay beachfront video of my guidance on how to communicate in a very different manner from this infamous hotelier.
LEARN TO OUT-PERFORM DIANE AND AMBER
While Basil Fawlty is in a league of his own when it comes to abysmal communication, there have been some real non-fictional characters competing with him over the past week.
One is Britain’s Shadow Home Secretary, Diane Abbott.
She gained some kudos by effectively pursuing her political opposite number, Amber Rudd, who has just resigned from her important post involving being in charge of police, immigration and other things.
Ms Rudd was caught out for not giving accurate, straight answers on immigration – particularly on home office “targets” for removing illegal immigrants.
But while basking in this victory for the Opposition Labour Party, Ms Abbott came unstuck on answering a simple, but persistently asked, question about what her party’s policy was on illegal immigrants.
Diane Abbott hardly covered herself in glory with her embarrassingly long pauses, slow and confused delivery style and inability to give short punchy answers to fairly obvious straight questions.
Keep in mind that doing a live interview from outside the studio – technically called a “Down The Line” interview – is a challenging and potentially discombobulating task.
To do it well you need to plan, prepare and practise for it – something we can do in one-to-one or group training sessions.
You also should have your answers to easy-to-anticipate questions worked out in advance – not put formed under pressure while staring down the camera lens.
There’s more about doing media training for interviews here:
http://www.michaeldoddcommunications.com/media-master-classes/
LEARN TO OUT-PERFORM THIS PART-TIME SINGER
And finally, if you want to look good in a TV interview, don’t sing an arguably inappropriate song while you’re doing a studio sound check before you’re about to be interviewed.
This is what Mike Coup, the Chief Executive of the supermarket chain, Sainsbury’s, did before an interview about a massive merger with rival retailer, Asda.
Some of those to be affected by the deal – such as suppliers to both stores – are worried about having their incomes squeezed as a result.
So Mr Coupe’s choice of song – “We’re In The Money” – was not a fantastic choice for them.
To his credit, he did later say “I apologise if I have offended anyone.”
You can hear the Coupe song rendition here.
Mr Coupe is regarded as an accomplished musician, but that doesn’t make him look or sound any less silly on screen at the big moment.
If there were to be a “Basil Fawlty Award for Bad Communications”, Mr Coupe, Ms Abbott and so many more would be in the running.
Don’t let you – or members of your team – be future contenders for it!!!