{"id":12670,"date":"2025-12-11T15:24:26","date_gmt":"2025-12-11T15:24:26","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.medientraining-institut.de\/?p=12670"},"modified":"2025-12-13T15:27:41","modified_gmt":"2025-12-13T15:27:41","slug":"confident-in-interviews-even-under-pressure","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.medientraining-institut.de\/en\/confident-in-interviews-even-under-pressure\/","title":{"rendered":"Confident in interviews \u2013 even under pressure"},"content":{"rendered":"

Media training for executives<\/strong> is often underestimated\u2014until the moment of truth arrives. In front of cameras and microphones, expertise alone is not enough. A careless remark, an unclear stance, or a lack of preparation can quickly undermine trust and damage reputation. In public settings especially, it is not only what<\/em> is said that matters, but how<\/em> it is communicated.<\/p>\n

The BER Case: A Communication Failure Foretold<\/h2>\n

In 2016, the former spokesperson of Berlin Brandenburg Airport, Daniel Abbou, gave an interview that became a turning point. Speaking openly, directly, and without diplomatic cushioning, he addressed severe deficiencies, internal failures, and massive waste of public funds in prmagazin<\/em>. His statement:<\/p>\n

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\u201cThe people of Berlin and Brandenburg have a right to see where their billions have been sunk.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

Factually, the statement was hard to dispute. Communicatively, however, it was a disaster. The remarks were not aligned, not strategically embedded, and clearly not prepared. Only days later, Abbou was dismissed. The airport company sought to establish a different narrative\u2014but by then, the damage had already been done. Media outlets and the public seized on the statements. BER ultimately became a symbol of mismanagement and planning failure.<\/p>\n

Why Honesty Without Strategy Becomes a Risk<\/h2>\n

This case makes one thing clear: honesty alone is not enough. Without a clear strategic message, an aligned stance, and professional preparation, communication quickly turns into a liability\u2014especially when cameras are rolling.<\/p>\n

This is precisely where media training for executives<\/strong> becomes essential. The goal is not to distort facts or evade responsibility. It is to communicate with clarity, intention, and control\u2014while maintaining credibility under pressure.<\/p>\n

When Executives Overestimate Their Own Impact<\/h2>\n

\u201cI know the subject. And I\u2019m not exactly at a loss for words.\u201d
That is how many executives respond when an interview or press conference approaches. The facts are solid. The company is well known. Their personal impact? Has always worked just fine.<\/p>\n

That confidence is often misplaced.<\/p>\n

Because the other side\u2014the journalist\u2014is not only well prepared but frequently strategically ahead. Research is their profession. They know comparable cases, internal conflicts, and critical voices. In some instances, they have access to information that is not yet public. And they know exactly how to apply pressure with targeted questions.<\/p>\n

What many C-level executives underestimate is this: a single poorly chosen phrase, an evasive answer, or an unprepared statement can trigger significant reputational risks\u2014internally and externally. In extreme cases, communication even affects market valuation.<\/p>\n

Media Training for Executives: Preparation Is Non-Negotiable<\/h2>\n

Journalists enter conversations prepared. Executives should do the same.<\/p>\n

Professional media training for executives<\/strong> means understanding one\u2019s role in the media context. It builds the ability to remain in control, respond with composure, and actively guide the message\u2014even in critical situations.<\/p>\n

This includes, among other things:<\/p>\n