When you dream of working on a sexy specialist show why would you bother learning how to handle the phones?

Well, phone opping is quite often the first job you'll have at a radio station, and when a caller goes wrong it can go spectacularly wrong. As BBC Radio 2 Tim Johns says, a lot of work experience newbies live or die within a shift or two working the phones. In this episode I give you a heads start in how to keep calm your first few times.

Radio is no longer restricted to sound; it’s now a 360 degree medium where shareable content is king. In this episode we discuss the power of social media and the importance of always searching to add longevity to into a radio feature.

Helping aspiring producers is a passion close to my heart, I'm so excited to start sharing my work and the knowledge I'm gathering with you. Your thoughts and opinions are always welcome. Feel free to drop me a line here, on Twitter or on Facebook

Sometimes the emotional feeling of the day is bleak and uninspiring. Every effort is monumental. You feel flat, lifeless and prefer to stay under the duvet, letting the day carry on without you. We've all been there and it can be a real struggle to shift yourself to a lighter, more hopeful mood. Unfortunately, traditional schooling taught us how to find 'x' never taught us how to find our nerve and drive when we've lost it. When a grey cloud stubbornly hovers over me my go-to is a pep talk. Like a rousing talk with a best friend pep talks get me out of my head and back on my feet.

Mel Robbins. Source: Twitter

In these, our starting days on the radio circuit we've got to be our biggest advocates. It'll take time to establish yourself in a station and allow your work to speak for you. So, until there are others to believe in you, you should see self-belief as a muscle in constant need of attention and exercise. I take inspiration from a thousand different directions and over time will share them here so you can add them to your self-belief arsenal. Today I'm going to share a personal favourite - Mel Robbin's TED Talk 'How to stop screwing yourself over'.

"If you have an impulse to act on a goal, you must physically move within 5 seconds or your brain will kill the idea."





Robbins is an American television host, life coach, author, motivational speaker, contributing editor for Success (magazine), and on-air CNN commentator. Robbins believes the secret to achieving what you want in life and in work, is simply learning to give yourself a little push. She's funny, fast and so brutally honest you can't help but hear the truth in her words. Get a cup of tea and settle down for a brain bath:

The next time someone makes you feel insignificant or unimportant I hope you remember that there was a 1 in 400 trillion chance of you being born. That is to say, scientifically you're phenomenal just by being alive.

To close, the '5 Second Rule' Robbins mentions is an ethos also echoed by productivity guru David Allen, author of the best-selling book 'Getting Things Done'. The 'GTD method' genuinely changed my life when I slowly began to integrate it into my overwhelming mountain of to-do lists. I'm planning a future post on this incredible method, it supercharges your ability to make progress.


What do you turn to in times of hopelessness?

Knowledge is power here people so here's another networking video for you to stick in your back pocket and think about.

This lovely gentleman is Michael Goldberg, a pro in the areas of networking, referrals and recruiting. He's an award winning adjunct instructor at Rutgers University and donates time to speak at networking groups focused on job search, a modern day student hero for sure.

I've watched this speech several times. Networking doesn't come naturally but that doesn't matter because it's a skill. It can be learnt. What is your personal sales pitch?

Sweaty palms, bizarre over thinking of every minute detail, obsessively checking for transport delays. Ah, the classic first day at a new job - utterly thrilling and terrifying in equal measure. You're a human, so you're going to be nervous but fate does favour the prepared. I've collected some tips and unbreakable rules for you to arm yourself with before you first walk into your first station.






Nerves can scramble our logic and make it incredibly easy to overlook common sense, such as bringing cash instead of just card with you to the office. ChairOffice's 'First Day Flowchart' will help you set yourself straight ahead of your fabulous debut at the office:

If you follow this as a general guideline your first few days should go relatively smoothly. I'd also recommend you have a look at this list for further more in depth explanation (like the importance of befriending the office coffee machine) 

Mouth shut, ears open
During our initial weeks in a new workplace it's all about treading the line between being enthusiastic...and being annoying. It's natural to want to be liked - to impress people and to fit in quickly. Michelle Kerrigan, a workplace-confidence expert, advises you to keep a tab on your babbling: "It's natural to want to be liked — to impress and fit in quickly. However, many try too hard, and talk too much when they should be listening."

Err on the side of caution

What you say during your first day on the job doesn't just impact what your colleagues think about you — it could also cause you to lose your job. "If you say something that's off, it sets the tone, and that could be the reason for you to be let go in your first three months," advises J.T. O'Donnell, a career, workplace expert and author of "Careerealism: The Smart Approach to a Satisfying Career."

17 Things You Definitely Shouldn't Say On Your First Day(s)

1. 'In my last job ...'

No one likes a know-it-all. Rosalinda Oropeza Randall, etiquette and civility expert and author of "Don't Burp in the Boardroom, suggests walking into the new job with energy, but with some humility. Not the timid, reserved definition, but with an attitude of learning.

2. 'OMG, I LOVE that!'

You're already hired — there's no need to try too hard to get people to like you.

While it's nice to know that people think you're personable or that you really "get" the company, Lynn Taylor, a national workplace expert and author of "Tame Your Terrible Office Tyrant: How to Manage Childish Boss Behavior and Thrive in Your Job," says this is a waste of energy — you'll impress naturally by just being yourself. It sounds like a Hallmark card but seriously, just be yourself.

3. 'When do I get a raise?'

"How about getting through the ninety-day probationary period first?" Randall suggests.

4. 'Oh, I have to leave early on Fridays.'

"If you hadn't talked about that prior to joining, landing in the new job and suddenly dropping these kinds of bombs on them really shows a lack of communication and respect on your part," O'Donnell says. "They're expecting you to just come in and be there and be present, be eager, be ready and willing to learn." Either agree on it all during the interview, or forget pulling these requirements out of the bag two days in.

5. 'Hang on ... I'm just finishing up this HR paperwork.'

On your first day, you'll likely be pulled in a thousand directions, Taylor says. But it's important you make yourself accessible to your new boss first and foremost, despite all the administrative distractions.

"This is an important first impression you don't want to discount," she says. "Companies are not always as organized as they'd like when onboarding staff. You can easily get caught up with an HR professional, various managers, or coworkers — or with a special assignment that keeps you from being available to the person who matters most."

Prioritize your boss first and foremost. Remember, they're going to be looking to get you settled into things as quickly as they can so don't have them waiting on you to finish an email before following them down the corridor.

6. 'Who should I meet and who should I avoid around here?'

A question like this is basically asking coworkers to gossip — that's a career killer, Randall says. And one person's issue with another coworker is their business only and could have developed over matters you have no idea about.

"Take time to meet and engage in small talk with each person in your department," Randall suggests. "Judge for yourself." Avoid inhouse politics at all costs, it's a surefire way of damaging  your relationships with colleagues before they've even begun. Save your thirst for drama for your personal life and the 'Great British Bake Off'.

7. 'That's not how I learned how to do it.'

Your new boss isn't concerned with how your previous workplace did things, they're concerned with whether you can do it how their workplace does it. Keep the conversation positive, O'Donnell advises. Employers don't want to hear what you can't do —they want to hear that you are open-minded and ready to learn to do it their way.

8. 'What's the holiday party like? Do we get bonuses or a ham or something?'

Woah there tiger. In your opening few weeks at a new workplace your concern should be on learning the ropes, not cashing in on perks of the job. If there are any fun aspects to the office life rest assured your coworkers will inform you in time.

9. 'What d'ya have to do around here to get an upgrade on this [insert company provided tool]?'

If your tools for the job aren't the newest or shiniest, chances are your coworkers' aren't either. Loudly asking for an upgrade will undoubtedly alienate some people who will question if you think you deserve it more. "Learn to deal with what you are given. If the company is technology deficient, has older desks, chairs, or office décor, don't allow or use it to determine how you get the job done," Randall says.

10. 'That makes no sense.'

You may come across a way of doing things in your new company that you don't understand or agree with yet, but framing it this way makes you seem like a whiney drag or even worse just plain inept. "Get some feedback before you make this automatic assumption," O'Donnell suggests. Instead of saying the policy doesn't make sense to you, ask why the company does it this way, the history behind it, and try to understand the policy from the organization's point of view.

11. 'My prior boss was clueless.'

Maybe your previous boss was an idiot but negative complaints and comparisons are rarely welcomed according to Kerrigan. and these kinds of statements can be harmful to your professional brand and how you're perceived. You're the one that’s coming off as clueless, and respectful.

"Your brand is your trademark, and it's built by consistency — good and bad," she says. "Once established as bad, it's hard to change perception. You need to build and maintain a positive brand to be memorable for the good."

12. 'I'm so tired.'

It's important to project high energy, Taylor says, especially in your early days on the job when your attitude and work ethic are most visible and under the microscope. Get a coffee into you and grit your teeth though a smile.

13. 'No, thanks. I brought my lunch today.'

As previously mentioned in the 'Good ideas' section, always say yes to socialising opportunities around food. Turning down an opportunity to get lunch and bond with new coworkers or a boss seems standoffish, even if you did pack your lunch that day.

14. 'I'd like to invite you all to my church this Sunday.'

Unless it has something to do with your job, you might consider bringing the "never discuss politics or religion at the dinner table" rule to your desk as well. "These discussion aren't generally well received in a work environment," Randall says. "You may find coworkers shying away from you as Fridays approach." Religion is incredibly personal, best to leave yours at the office door.

15. 'In my opinion ...'

As a general rule of thumb, make "Ask, don't tell," your personal mantra for awhile, O'Donnell suggests. Unless asked, it's better to keep your opinion to yourself and see what your employers have to say about things first.

16. 'What is the employee discount like?!'

Defer these kinds of questions to the policies and procedures manual, Randall says.

"Inquiring and asking for perks is so 'me, me me' — an unfavourable trait."

17. 'Hey, working hard or hardly working?!'

No. Getting to that comfortable level where joking around is acceptable takes time. Even if you may see the other coworkers teasing each other and think it's fine to join in — don't.

"They earned that level of casualness with each other … you are not there yet," O'Donnell says.

Being a rookie is scary. The station could be busy to the point of ‘organised chaos’ and you won’t know where to go, or who to sit with. Take of note of how you are feeling and what is it that would make you feel at ease. Some day in the not so distant future, you'll be working in a radio station and a ‘rookie’ will enter those doorways in much the same manner as you did. Do whatever is humanely possible to make them comfortable, and be kind. Let’s face it, you always remember who was nice to you on your first day at work.

Interviews are bread and butter in radio. As a producer, you need to intimately know the basics of good interviewing in order to consistently coach your presenter to perform at their very best and spot the early warning signs that an interview is in trouble. I've pulled a series of communication tips together for you to familarise yourself with good practice.

1. Prepare notes, and don't be afraid to toss them

Good interviewers always study up on their interviewee’s background. Going into an interview dry is disastrous and quite frankly disrespectful. Your subject has taken time to be on the show, honour your side of the deal and do enough homework to conduct a good quality interview. It doesn't matter which member of the broadcast team conducts the pre-interview research, as long as the presenter is comfortably briefed the interview should be smooth.

However, it must be said that during the moment of truth, you rarely see a professional interviewer following a script or referring to notes. They're in the moment, entirely focused on what their subject is saying. A better, more casual approach is to stay in the moment and allow talk to flow naturally, as TV talk show veteran Dick Cavett advises:
“My former boss and idol for many years as a viewer, Jack Paar, called me before I started doing a talk show and said, ‘Hey kid, don’t do interviews.’ And I said, ‘What do I do, then, sing or just read to the audience?’ And he said, ‘No, interviews are boring. That’s just ‘What’s your favorite colour?’ and that’s dull. Make it a conversation.’ And that’s almost the best secret. Throw your notes aside, if necessary.’

A good interviewer knows how to make subjects comfortable enough to open up and reveal something real and true about themselves – and that only comes when both parties get a little vulnerable. That’s why comedian Marc Maron, host of cult favorite podcast WTF, focuses more on connection than research:
“I don’t do a hell of a lot of research. I go on a sort of kindred-spirit bonding that preexists the interview, and just see what unfolds. I’m just looking for authentic engagement of some kind … Some people just want to answer questions, but a lot of times, all of a sudden you drift away, and you don’t remember you’re on the mic, and you’re in something real. That, to me, is great.”

 2. Match Your Partner – in mood, energy level, language and body language

“The more comfortable you make someone feel, the better interview you’re ultimately going to get,” says interview veteran Katie Couric.

And how do you make someone feel more comfortable? Great interviewers do it by meeting subjects on their level. That means matching their mood, energy level, language style – even body language. If your presenter can calibrate their tone and energy level it will the stage for an evenly matched conversation and put their subject at ease. Mirroring the body language of the person you’re speaking with is a nearly subliminal cue to show that you’re fully present in the conversation, your presenter should keep this subtle.

3. Practice flexible listening

What seems like the simplest part of holding a conversation or conducting an interview is often the trickiest. It’s listening – the right way.

Skilled interviewers become adept at listening not just to the words their subject is saying but also the tone in which the words are said, the pauses and nuances of the answer and what’s being left unsaid. This active, flexible listening lets them know when to move onto a new subject and when the moment is ripe to probe a little deeper with a follow-up question.

As we've discussed, off-the-cuff questions can yield the best answers – but the opportunity only arises from engaged listening. Take a lesson from Katie Couric and stay poised to change direction based on what happens in the conversation.

“Nothing is worse for me as a viewer than to watch someone go down a laundry list of questions and not explore something with a little more depth after someone has answered a question … I think you need to use your questions as sort of a template, but you have to be willing to listen and veer off in a totally different direction.”

4. Activate the Power of the Pause

Inexperienced presenters fear silence. However, sometimes it can be a useful tool. When a pro-interviewer feels an interviewee is holding something back on a particular topic, they'll often use the power of silence at the end of the answer to draw out more information.
Here’s how PBS newsanchor Jim Lehrer describes it:

“If you resist the temptation to respond too quickly to the answer, you’ll discover something almost magical. The other person will either expand on what he’s already said or he’ll go in a different direction. Either way, he’s expanding his response, and you get a clear view into his head and heart.”

Advise your presenter to count to three – or five if they can bear it – after the subject answers a tough or thoughtful question. This method can seem agonising at first, but when used with empathy it works wonders to develop a deeper rapport between two people. BBC 6Music's Mary Anne Hobbs describes the moment when David Bowie was moved to tears in interview after hearing a birthday message from one of his earliest idols (1.00 in)

"Years ago I interviewed David Bowie for a BBC Radio 1 documentary to celebrate his 50th birthday. I brought with me many messages and questions from other artists who had been influenced by Bowie's work and adore him. After listening to a deeply poetic birthday message I delivered to him from Scott Walker, David was speechless. There were tears in his eyes. It's one of the most poignant and moving pieces of radio silence ever. It actually lasted about thirty seconds longer in real life, but you were only allowed ten seconds of silence at Radio 1 so we had edit it so that the emergency backup tapes at the BBC Control Room didn't kick in. Finally, Bowie says: "I see God at the window."

Since our natural tendency is to fill in a silence, the pause can also work for your presenter as a power play in a tougher scenario. Dick Cavett explains how he employs it tough-love style with interview guests:
“You can hold someone with silence and make them go on. You tend to feel you need to fill all dead air. There are times when if you just say no more than ‘uh-huh,’ and pause, they’ll add something out of a kind of desperation that turns out to be pretty good. Let them sweat a little and then they’ll come up with something that they were perhaps not going to say.”

It will take time but gradually coach your presenter to befriend silence. It's something to be harnessed, not avoided.

5. Cultivate curiosity, the Dale Carnegie approach

All of these techniques are tried and true, but they don’t really work without one simple quality on the interviewer’s part: curiosity. You can cultivate curiosity in your daily life by noticing more details, delving deeply into the ideas that grab your interest and being alert to those around you and what makes them light up. As Dale Carnegie famously explained in his best-selling book 'How To Win Friends and Influence People', the beauty of curiosity is that it makes you nearly irresistible to everyone around you.

“You can make more friends in two months by becoming interested in other people than you can in two years by trying to get other people interested in you.”

6. Practice Ego Suspension: The Power of Forgetting Yourself

Everyone would like to think of themselves as attentive and curious but one little thing gets in the way: our egos. It’s not our fault – we’re hardwired that way. After all, talking about ourselves feels as good to our brains as money or sex.

That’s why ego suspension is so essential to cultivating the kind of curiosity that will help your presenter connect with their interviewee. Robin Dreeke, lead instructor at the FBI’s Counterintelligence Training Center in behavioral and interpersonal skills training, explains:

“Most times, when two individuals engage in a conversation, each patiently waits for the other person to be done with whatever story he or she is telling. Then, the other person tells his or her own story, usually on a related topic and often times in an attempt to have a better and more interesting story. Individuals practicing good ego suspension would continue to encourage the other individual to talk about his or her story, neglecting their own need to share what they think is a great story.”

Don't believe me? The next time you find yourself at a social event resist the urge to tell that one signature story that's always a smash hit. Instead focus on asking questions of someone new and focus on listening to their answers. It may seem a bit boring at first, but you might be amazed at the end result.

Interviews are a staple in radio and fall under the duty of you the producer, to organise. If you haven't much experience at booking guests it can seem a bit daunting. If you draw on some common sense and utilise the tips in this episode you'll be well on your way to being a pro. In this episode I asked your questions for you and got stuck into deconstructing the steps of pulling off a great interview with three seasoned producers.

Your thoughts, comments and questions are always welcome of course. I do what I do for you, the aspiring producer. Drop me a comment right here, on Twitter or on Facebook.

Former Radio 1Xtra, The Hits and KISS presenter Will Manning joined Capital FM in June 2016. He now presents the station's Drivetime show from London and recently turned to Youtube to offer some well-articulated advice on getting into radio.

Will Manning.

Source: RadioToday

His motivation is the same as mine to create the podcast - the sheer hunger of aspiring "radio nerds" for knowledge. He speaks from a presenter point of view yes, but pay attention to the working relationship he has with his producer. Together they review the day's events, trends and news and divide it up into what their demographic will enjoy. 

His producer understands talent management well and knows how to communicate, organise and guide Manning during planning without being overbearing. This is the kind of supportive working relationship you should be always building towards with your presenter.

"Me Too Moments" as Manning calls them, are indeed the golden nuggets in radio. It happens when one listener communicates with another listener through the show. When your show is a communication channel between listeners, you know that your content is bang on target, your presenter is relatable and your audience feel a connection.

Producers, note how an entire hour (or one third) of their prep time is dedicated to pre-recording content for either immediate use or for an upcoming show. To pull off a consistently high quality show you must consistently put in the effort and reach out beyond the Internet and the station for voices.

To finish up Manning dives deep into a quick fire round of practical tips ranging from the importance of self-belief to the studying the station you aspire to work for.

Where you can find more from Will Manning:

   

We've all been there, you walk into the room and instantly feel like it's your first day of class again. You know no one but you have the nervous energy of wanting to get to know someone. You've had the courage to show up to the event, now how on earth do make it worth the time and get talking to someone? Well, brush up on open threes and closed twos and how you can instantly identify a connection point in networking events and then go for it.

This talk is from July 2015 at the TEDxAmRingSalon. Christopher Barrat is an established and respected speaker, consultant and author in management development skills. His knowledge is based on genuine real world experience. In his talk he deconstructs the awkward networking event to a very clean, simple process.

Remember, the reason you feel like you can't network at the moment means nothing. It's a skill and so you can simply practice it until you're a natural.

Talent what?

Talent management is the term given to the shared respect and support that connects presenter talent and producer talent. It unites a team to do the job best they can every show. Learning to be a supportive team player is crucial for anyone wishing to work in radio. In this episode I discuss the art of talent management with senior producers.

I hope this episode is useful in clarifying what exactly is involved in good talent management. Chances are you have relatively good rapport with your presenter anyway but never get lazy with working on your teamwork skills. Teamwork is king in the radio industry, nothing is achieved alone. Your thoughts and opinions are always welcome. You can drop me a comment right here, on Twitter or on Facebook.

Episode two is up! Assistant producer (or broadcast assistant) is a very common entry-level position into a radio station, but what exactly will be expected of one? A job advertisement on a jobs site only tells you so much after all. I sat down with both senior and assistant producers about the role within a team.
Your thoughts and opinions on the podcast are always welcome. You can drop me a line here, on Twitter or on Facebook.

The pilot episode of 'Presenting: The Producer' is here at last!

Like many creative careers there is no set path into the radio industry. This lack of clear steps discourages many from transitioning into the workplace because - well where do you start? Unfortunately I can't give you a straightforward ladder to your dream job - but I was able to sit down with several established producers and listen to how they found their way in.

Helping aspiring producers is a passion close to my heart, I'm so excited to start sharing my work and the knowledge I'm gathering with you. Your thoughts and opinions are always welcome. Feel free to drop me a line here, on Twitter or on Facebook

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Tim Johns is currently a Producer and Reporter on the Jeremy Vine Show on BBC Radio 2. Previously, he worked in local radio as a Broadcast Journalist. At BBC Radio Humberside, he produced the Breakfast Show and at Radio Lincolnshire he was a reporter, the Station Sound Producer, producer and presenter of the local BBC Introducing show and cover-presenter of the news/speech-based Drivetime programme.

Johns also has a great website http://www.timjohns.org which is updated regularly. It gives excellent insights on current radio production news, helpful advice, a nail biting piece on when Johns had to present the Jeremy Vine Show, Henry Ferster, an Auschwitz survivor documentary, a hilarious piece on ‘The amazing story of the the roller coaster, the dead deer, the student journalist and Radio 2’, and more! First impressions last. Here is a listing of what Johns has to say. Common sense prevails but sometimes the obvious can be overlooked.


Don’t be useless at making phone calls
If you’re asked to pick up the phone and book a guest, take a deep breath and go for it. You need to be charming and persuasive. It can be slightly daunting making this first phone call in an open-plan office but if you come across badly and the guest says “no” that’s not great.

Be nice
Take this one with you for life. It goes a long way. No-one in radio likes the person with the massive ego. Or the one who’s unfriendly or bossy. Just…be nice.

Sitting in on a show? Turn your phone off
Well, ok, you can keep it on but put it in your pocket and leave it there. Sure – take a photo. Send a tweet. If the programme needs some urgent fact-finding done get on the Google. But as much as you can, put it away and give your absolute undivided attention to the programme you’re there to watch.

Offer to help
If you’ve been sitting around in the office for a while wondering what to do, ask people if you can help. If they’re clearly right up against it, maybe wait a while. But be pro-active. And if they say “not just now, thanks”, then don’t worry about it. At least you asked.

Make tea
Look – I thought about leaving this one out. It’s such a whopping cliché. BUT British broadcasting is fuelled by tea and coffee. It is VITAL. If it makes you feel better, I may be a Producer and reporter for Radio 2 but during our programme every day it is my job to make the tea! I somewhat enjoy it. You’re never too senior to make the tea, people are always grateful to be asked, and you can’t go wrong by asking. So do it.

Ask good questions at the right time
Every bit of this sentence is important. Ask good questions. It’s the easiest way to show you’re keen, engaged and interested. BUT – never ask a question for the sake of it. You need to be genuinely interested and inquisitive. If you are, your question will probably be good. You also need to ask them at the right time. Some people are unable to sense when everyone around them is chaotically busy and continue asking questions regardless. Hold fire until there’s a good moment.

Know the basics about the station you’re visiting
Basic basics, right? But people genuinely get this wrong. Research the radio station, presenters, and programmes.

Here’s a crucial thing…
Suppose you shadow on a programme you probably never want to work on. Perhaps you got an offer to come and visit; maybe you just love the industry and want to have a look at different radio stations. You still need to take it seriously. Do your research. Know about the station.

Good behaviour
I don’t mean be well behaved. I mean be good at what you do. Be good at making and understanding radio – following advice like the above isn’t enough. ‘Asking good questions’ won’t get you a job on its own. Putting your best link at the start of your demo won’t get you a presenting gig if your best link is a bit rubbish. Always keep practicing and improving. Find out what you’re good at. Follow that.