By Keith Yaskin, President of The Flip Side Communications and three-time Emmy-winning former television reporter
Key Takeaways
- Athletes can show more energy on camera through natural hand gestures, facial expressions and changes in their tone of voice.
- Strong words can lose impact when every answer sounds the same.
- Athletes do not need to act on camera. They should let viewers see more of their natural personality and passion.
At The Flip Side Communications, we train athletes and leaders to communicate naturally on camera. We recently watched a quarterback speak with sports reporters about his last game and his next game. He handled the questions well. He knew football. He gave thoughtful answers. He smiled. He laughed a few times. He showed some personality. One thing stood out to us. His energy stayed almost the same for most of the interview.
His voice had very little change in tone. His facial expressions changed at times. His body language stayed quiet. He used his hands more near the end of the interview. We would have liked to see more of that. Hand movement can help an athlete show passion and enthusiasm. It can also make an answer feel more natural. We do not want athletes waving their arms through every answer. We want movement to support the words. A player can use a small gesture to make an important point feel important.
Voice matters just as much. The quarterback gave several answers with strong material. He talked about fixing mistakes. He talked about winning instead of chasing personal stats. He talked about helping rookies learn. He also showed some humor during lighter questions. Those moments gave him chances to change his delivery. He could have added more energy to the answer about winning games. He could have slowed down and stressed the words that mattered most. He could have shown more excitement while talking about a rookie teammate. His words said he was “super excited.” His delivery could have shown more of that excitement.
Athletes do not need to become actors. They also do not need to sound like someone else. Good on-camera communication starts with showing more of the personality and passion they already have.
A reporter may ask an athlete questions for six or seven minutes. Viewers may only see one answer on television or social media. That short clip may shape how people see the athlete.
The goal is not to make every answer dramatic. The goal is to avoid giving every answer the same energy.
Strong answers need strong delivery. A little more vocal variety, facial expression and natural hand movement can make a big difference.
The Flip Side Communications provides on-camera training for athletes, executives and other leaders. Keith Yaskin is a three-time Emmy-winning former television reporter. Our training uses real interview techniques and on-camera practice. We help people communicate with more confidence, personality and energy.