An odd title here but one that needs to be explored. Both Kate Cocker and Dr Brené Brown believe in embracing vulnerability and showing true courage. Connecting with the listener by revealing sections of your personal life is a highly successful move. When the presenter is being true to the listener, the connectivity is palpable.

Over the last 15 years, Kate Cocker has coached and trained presenters, produced radio programmes (BBC and Commercial), written and made adverts & jingles, and ran a radio station in a competitive market. The one ethos that runs through every discipline is: connect by getting real.

Have presenters brainstorm regularly

In her current role as Content Controller of Manchester’s hit music station Key 103, Cocker uses the list technique for her team. She’s learned that it’s good to ask on-air personalities to do this exercise on a regular basis, because answers might change slightly over time. “It’s about getting under that layer.” She points out that writing things down is just a start, as another presenter once made a great list of 38 items. “I said to him: out of those 38 things, how much is going on air; how much do your listeners know? He went: two…”

Because when you physically move, your brain starts to build new habits. When you do something you’re not used to doing, you are in the act of building new habits and erasing existing ones.

As a producer, you are in constant search mode... what is it that will keep the listener engaged, what is it that will cause the listener to speak about your radio show? Frequently, it is the human aspect of the presenter. The presenter that presents his or her self as a real human being, who draws the listeners into his or her life's stories. 

Forget about radio stereotypes

She feels that courage is basically “tell the truth about who you are with your whole heart” and thinks that vulnerability is connected to “uncertainty, risk and emotional exposure”. If these add up to authenticity, an authentic presenter would be “somebody willing to let go of who they thought they should be in order to be who they are.” In her opinion, “even within the reality of the format”, every single presenter can be himself.  

I love Kate Cocker, watch her draw in this the audience in with her enthusiasm and no nonsense approach. 

Brené Brown. Source: Twitter

Dr Brené Brown

Dr Brené Brown is a research professor at the University of Houston Graduate College of Social Work. She has spent the past thirteen years studying vulnerability, courage, worthiness, and shame. Brown is the author of three #1 New York Times Bestsellers: Rising Strong, Daring Greatly and The Gifts of Imperfection.

Courage

Brown's says "courage, the original definition of courage, when it first came into the English language -- it's from the Latin word "cor," meaning "heart" -- and the original definition was to tell the story of who you are with your whole heart - the courage to be imperfect. The compassion to be kind to yourself first and then to others, we can't practice compassion with other people if we can't treat ourselves kindly. And have connection, be willing to let go of who you think you should be in order to be who they are, which you have to absolutely do that for connection.

Vulnerability

Embrace vulnerability. Believe that what makes you vulnerable makes you beautiful - vulnerability is necessary."

Brown's 2010 TEDx Houston talk, The Power of Vulnerability, is one of the top five most viewed TED talks in the world, with over 25 million views. Get a cup of tea and settle down to watch her do her thing - it's a brain bath and will enhance your understanding of connectivity and listenership.

This episode was built on a realisation that while I can stuff this blog with advice, helpful documents and pep talks - I can't give you the wisdom you can only have after twenty years in the business. In 'Retrospective Advice' producers look back and discuss what they wish they'd known on their first day.

Also, an important announcement - Presenting The Producer will be taking a small break for now. I've graduated from the University of Sunderland with my Masters in radio and I need a bit of time to figure out where I'm going next. This blog will stay updated for you in the meantime and I'll be back with more podcasts as soon as I can. Stay in touch here, on Twitter or on Facebook, see you soon!

Helen Thomas speaking at the Next Radio 2015 Conference

Source: Next Radio

If you aspire to be a producer or indeed a programme director, you should be polishing your communication and listening skills at every available opportunity. To expand on the "Talent management 101" episode, I bring you the wise words of Helen Thomas. Thomas joined BBC Radio 2 in 2003 and produced 'The Chris Evan's Breakfast Show'. She's picked up six Sony Radio Academy Gold Awards and now works as an editor overseeing much of the station's daily output and key programming. She also leads the station's production to maximise Radio 2's digital output.

In 2015 she made a brief but extremely effective presentation at the Next Radio conference on how to manage your talent, or as she likes to call it: common sense. I love her no-nonsense quick fire presentation style. If you haven't the time to watch the presentation in full I've summarised it here for you but if possible, bookmark the link and watch it when you've the time.

1. Teamwork

“You all need to work together to create the best possible radio. The minute you adopt an ‘us and them’ approach, you’re heading for disaster. It's your responsibility to make sure your presenter sounds great." as producer you must be diligent in nurturing a culture of teamwork; conflicts behind the mic will soon damage your quality in front of it.

2. Never give a flat "No" straight away

A flat "No" significantly damages the sense of open idea-generating dialogue within your team and could hamper further brainstorming sessions. Thomas wisely advises that unless the idea is irresponsible, illegal or libelous then it's an idea with potential. Take your presenter's idea seriously, discuss it, and mull it over together.

If an idea is any of the aforementioned forbidden things even then, go back to it with alternative options. You might be a bit hesitant to do this at first but your presenter will appreciate your constructive feedback and crucially, always feel comfortable with voicing ideas to you. Avoid the flat "No" as often as possible.

3. Support and react

Thomas advises producers to “always listen intently to what your presenter is saying, and react accordingly”. Presenting is a performance after all and you as producer is the only visible audience in the room. Be sure to acknowledge everything your talent says and openly show them that you are entirely focused on what's happening on air.

4. Bring your own ideas

You should bring your ideas to the table as well. Thomas encourages producers to constantly be on the look out for creative inspiration and jot down anything that could be the germ/or seed of a new idea that could work on the air. She warns that some presenters you work with will have no interest in any ideas that don't originate from them. If that's the case she advises producers to "Figure out the psychology" of your talent to work out how to feed them your ideas. How ever you discuss ideas Thomas assures the audience that a presenter will always be impressed to see that you've been thinking about the show out of hours.

5. Enjoy it!

You work in a creative industry after all, not some monotonous and predictable industry. Yes, organisation is key, good professional practice is essential but remember to have fun! As Thomas reminds producers “[...] if you’re not having a good time, then your presenter certainly will not be having a good time, and no-one listening will be either.”

Hear Helen Thomas' presentation in full here, courtesy of Next Radio:

Source: http://www.inps.co.uk

In today's post we're going to go across the pond to the good folks at the Public Radio Program Directors Association. It's a membership organisation that advocates for high-quality programming and provides resources for public media programme directors. The website is jammed with insightful valuable information and well worth checking out.






Here is a sample of what PRPD has to say on screening calls:
Chronological: If several lines are ringing at once, please answer each call, put them on hold.
Go back to them in the order received and take the information.
No promises: Never promise the caller they will get on the air unless the producer tells you to do so.

The phone answering sequence:
1. "Thank you for calling [name of the station/the show].
What is your name?”
Type in information.
Ask them to spell the name if you're unsure.

2. “Where are you calling from?”
Type in information.
Ask them to spell it if you are unsure.

3. “What is your question or comment?”
Get the information.
Ask them to explain if you don’t understand.
Ask them to be more specific if you need to.

4. If you have time, recap the information to the caller to make sure you understand them. More information is better, but when there are many calls, you may need to curtail the caller’s comments. Just tell them you have a number of other callers on the line and move on to the next part.

5. Give the host any extra information you can glean from the caller. i.e. very angry/works in prisons/Slow talker/excellent caller.

Getting them on the air: “Thank you, (name) I’m going to put you into the queue to go on the air.” Please turn off your radio and listen to the show through your phone.” (if they ask why, tell them there is a delay so they will miss it if they are listening to the radio). “When (the host) calls your name, you’ll hear a crackling noise, and you can go right into your question or comment.”

IF THE SHOW IS PLAYED BACK INSTRUCT THEM TO BE TIME NEUTRAL “We re-run the show tonight so please don’t say ‘good morning.’ Please say ‘Hi John’, or ‘hello’, but not ‘Good morning’. Okay?” Wait for a response that shows they understand. “Thanks for calling. Please hold on.” If someone has been holding 5 minutes or more, re-contact them. Thank them for holding and ask them to please hold on a little longer.