When it comes to understanding the three key rules of success, Nancy has it nailed:

  1. Be prepared, then prepare again. It was no surprise when Nancy revealed that she’d got up at 4 am to have a final run through for her showstopper finale.
  2. Keep cool under pressure. Some of us, myself included, had her down as an outsider at the start, but her focused, understated confidence not only kept her in the running, but first past the post
  3. Have a contingency plan. When the fourth sail fell off her windmill, she was right there with her back up caramel to glue it together again.

The rules are universal and are also used by experienced spokespeople when handling challenging  Media Interviews. So  remember:

  1. Prepare your key messages and try them out with your Communications Team and Senior Management team.
  2. Keeping cool under pressure is a matter of confidence in your own abilities. Speaking to the Media isn’t in everyone’s comfort zone, so if you haven’t had any Media Training or it was a while ago, book yourself in for a refresher course to keep your skills fresh.
  3. Have a Plan B. Never just rely on one spokesperson, usually your CEO or Chair. The odds are that when a crisis strikes, that person will be away on holiday or not contactable. Whilst the media can be supportive at the start of a crisis, they can turn when there’s no one willing to front up, give interviews or handle the situation effectively.