Chris Christie’s Body Language—and Yours

Despite his best efforts,NJ Governor Chris Christie has been generating little but the wrong sorts of headlines of late; and the fallout from commentary on his future presidential prospects makes the mood in Trenton anything but business as usual.

Amidst this, a beleaguered but unbowed Christie presented his state of the state address on Tuesday, Jan.14 and more than a few reporters noted that his characteristic swagger was blunted.  “There was no chest thumping, no jaw jutting rhetoric” wrote Jenna Portnoy, a Star-Ledger state government reporter.  Instead, Christie soberly discussed core issues to New Jersey’s working families, most notably education.

Although several critics pointed out that Governor Christie fumbled his apology by lingering on the effect the George Washington Bridge problems had on him rather than underscoring the effect on commuters, he did a reasonable enough job  in presenting his responsibility in the matter. As investigations get underway, Christie will have to address the unfolding narrative.

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I’ll leave the debate on the Governor’s contrition (and involvement) to the pundits but will say that Christie’s more humble demeanor in that state of the state address interested me as a PR person.  It emphasized the importance of seeming a certain way on camera, and the value of learning to manage body language.

Presenting: Conquer the Basics

The folks that do the media training at JCPR always remind our clients the importance of the basics. These include wearing something suitable for camera, possessing a mindfulness of posture, and flashing a sincere opening smile.  They also cover the importance of sticking to talking points—not in a robotic way, but with a naturalism that conveys authority on the subject and general comfort with being on camera. All of these are good reminders on what’s involved in looking effective on air.  

Presentation is a skill like cooking, writing or golfing. As with all skills, in presenting on air some are naturals, others have to work hard to overcome shyness or a tendency to appear in some way other than would serve them. (I’ll leave it for you to fill in the blank.)

In Christie’s case the problem—amplified on television—is  his tendency to come across as pugnacious when challenged. The Governor is likeable, but when pressed, he can seem impatient and dismissive. That attitude, however, was absent on Tuesday night.  As a result, he was effective at starting out with a brief reference to the scandal while transitioning to the important topic of the state’s economic and civic health and what challenges remained , which, he promised, had his full attention. If all the talking points had been the same but he delivered the speech with any hint of imperialism, the exercise would not have been as effective.

So what does this mean for you, an executive preparing for your first, fifth or 20^th television appearance or public speaking engagement? Well, a simple reminder that content is critical but it’s half the picture. Keep the basics in mind and remember, your attitude will be picked up by the camera. Some tips:

Ready for your Close-Up?

1. Know your material, then prepare, prepare prepare. These are Toastmasters basics, but to the usual advice to be ready with the information I would add: remember the value of being succinct by encapsulating your perspective in those messages. So the winning equation is: sound bite= fact + my view.
2. If the day up until your appearance has been rough, empty your mind. Easier said than done, but think of it as a type of meditation. All your issues are put on hold so you can be your best on-camera self.
3. Breathe, then smile. Remember not to lock up in the moments before your segment begins and get a deep breath in. Try to smile or, if you feel that you’re not a smiley guy or gal, nod with a pleasant open look on your face. What you don’t want to do is look annoyed, rushed, or as if you are facing a firing squad.
4. Imagine you are presenting your data or outlining your argument to a favored aunt, friend or relative. This may help with any tendency you have to bear down too much, or conversely, to withdraw into rigid formality. Content certainly counts but so too does length of phrase and an ease of phrasing. This can be complicated by audio delays in remote in situations.
5. For “remote in” scenarios visualize a friend or audience. You don’t want to be distracted by this, but use it to keep your face natural and eyeline at a natural level. You don’t want to flash your eyes upward or sideways, as these tendencies are magnified on air.

Check out JCPR’s The Seven Habits of Highly Effective Spokespeople to learn more!