Several months ago, I was helping an author prepare for a live morning show. She had everything all set to go including the segment outline, key talking points, her outfit (Yes, we planned that too!). She was excited and ready to shine, and I was really happy for her. We’d been working toward this for a while. Then two days before her appearance, I received an email from the producer asking if the author might be open to discussing a completely different topic.
Oh oh.
This kind of thing happens, but at least in this case there was two days’ notice. I’ve seen topics switch while on the air, but that’s a subject for another day…
The new topic? It had nothing to do with her book and nothing to do with the pitch we sent them. It was in the ballpark, sure, but it definitely wasn’t her message, it wasn’t her voice, and it wasn’t what she had prepared for.
My first instinct was, “No way.” (I’d word it more diplomatically, of course.) But before I could even respond, the author texted me. She had been cc’d on that email. “Did you see that note from the show producer? Should I just say yes?
We jumped on a quick call.
Yes, adaptability matters. There is no question about that. We must remain flexible at all times, but your message matters too and sometimes it’s important to stick with the program. The producer’s new idea veered way off course.
After we talked it through, she took a breath and asked if she could write back to the producer directly. “Of course, “ I responded. Here is what she wrote:
“Thanks so much for the suggestion, but I’d love to stay with the original topic we agreed upon. I am confident it will serve your audience well, and I’ve created some great takeaways around it”
Simple. Clear. Polite. Professional.
The producer replied almost immediately:
“Perfect. Thanks for the clarity. We’ll stick to the original plan.”
No drama. No tension. Just a respectful boundary that actually made things easier for everyone. Why the producer wanted to make the change, I don’t know, but things were kept on track.
Here’ the thing:
Too often, we confuse clarity with being “difficult.”
But you know what‘s really difficult?
Confusion. “Ugh.”
Second-guessing. Double “ugh!”
Bottom line
Agreeing to something that doesn’t feel aligned is not going to serve you, the audience, or the producer. When you communicate clearly, with both kindness and confidence, you’re not being demanding. You’re being helpful. There are many qualities that make up a Media Darling, including preparedness, presence, and polish, but one of the most valuable is this: Being easy to work with. Just don’t confuse being easy to work with for completely rolling over. Clear and gentle confidence is way more powerful than being demanding and insistent.
And remember…media relationships thrive on clarity.
To your success!
Joanne
#PublicityWisdom
#MediaConfidence
#MediaDarling
#BookMarketing
#BookPublicity
If you’d like to receive juicy publicity secrets directly on a regular basis, join the Savvy Sunday Community at the bottom of this page.