PR professionals often share tips about things to avoid or how to improve outcomes (like we share with you). That remains my goal in presenting today's Trade Tips — a slight does of brutal reality mixed with humor. I took interest in the following advice after reading the pithy "20 Quotes to Inpsire PR Professionals" by Brad Phillips for PR Daily. The quotes are from various celebrity, news and political figures who’ve experienced their share of direct, rapid-fire responses to inquiring media. You may find the quotes humorous or sarcastic, but they are all rooted in some life truth. Above all, when preparing yourself or your client to respond to media questions or speaking before the public, be prepared, keep it short and simple (K.I.S.S.) and always tell the truth.
Here's your 20 inpspiring quotes to dodge bullets during a tense media interview, public speaking advice:
1. “Does anyone have any questions for my answers?” — Henry Kissinger
2. “It is always a risk to speak to the press: They are likely to report what you say.” — Hubert H. Humphrey
3. “The most guileful amongst the reporters are those who appear friendly and smile and seem to be supportive. They are the ones who will seek to gut you on every occasion.” —Ed Koch, former mayor of New York
4. “The questions don’t do the damage. Only the answers do.” — Sam Donaldson
5. “No word was ever as effective as a rightly timed pause. — Mark Twain
6. “An orator or author is never successful 'til he has learned to make his words smaller than his ideas.” — Ralph Waldo Emerson
7. “This business of saying the same thing over and over and over again — which to a lot of Washington insiders and pundits is boring — works.” — Michael Deaver, deputy chief of staff to President Reagan
Message development quotes
8. “I am sorry for such a long letter. I didn’t have time to write a short one.” — Mark Twain (also attributed to others)
9. “Short words are the best, and old words, when short, are the best of all.” — Winston Churchill
Crisis communications quotes
10. “By the time you hear the thunder, it’s too late to build the ark.” — Unknown
11. “It takes a lifetime to build a reputation and only a few seconds to destroy one.” — Unknown
12. “If it’s going to come out eventually, better have it come out immediately.” — Henry Kissinger
13. “Always acknowledge a fault frankly. This will throw those in authority off their guard and give you opportunity to commit more.” — Mark Twain
14. “Nobody cares how much you know, until they know how much you care.” — Theodore Roosevelt
Public speaking
15. “A mediocre speech supported by all the power of delivery will be more impressive than the best speech unaccompanied by such power.” — Quintilian, Roman rhetorician
16. “Three things matter in a speech: who says it, how he says it, and what he says — and of the three, the last matters least.” — John Morley, British politician
17. “It usually takes more than three weeks to prepare a good impromptu speech.” — Mark Twain
18. “According to most studies, people’s No. 1 fear is public speaking. No. 2 is death. Death is No.2! Now, this means to the average person, if you have to go to a funeral, you’re better off in the casket than doing the eulogy.” — Jerry Seinfeld
Body language and delivery
19. “What you do speaks so loud that I cannot hear what you say.” — Ralph Waldo Emerson
20. “It is better to speak from a full heart and an empty head than from a full head and an empty heart.” — Dublin Opinion magazine (h/t Dianna Daniels Booher)
By Nicole Hayes
Nicole brings a strong background in consumer outreach, partnership development and media relations to McKinney & Associates. Many of her communications strategies were cultivated during her work with international public relations agency Fleishman Hillard Inc., where she developed and implemented strategies and media relations outreach for large consumer and government clients.
With her skilled foundation, Nicole sought a career to support her core belief that people make the best investments and launched her own D.C.-based media relations consultancy, Pieces of Life, to serve small businesses and non-profit organizations. She is committed to the mission that drives McKinney and its clients.
