MY OGA ON THE HOT SEAT!



Shem Obafaiye, Lagos State Commandant of the National Security and Civil Defence Corps was a relatively unknown quantity, at least in the media and public eye, until his now famous “Oga at the top” saga.....A spin-off from his popular interview on Channels Television.

Many people, Old and Young, Rich and Poor, Famous and obscure dread any form of public speaking...particularly one that involves the interviewee looking into a tube, and bathed with lights....very conscious that, possibly everybody he knows may be watching him talk.

That was the situation the soon-to-become celebrity Obafaiye found himself the day he was interviewed by Channels Television.

But really, what is the big deal about media interviews anyway?

Whether you are an introvert or an extrovert, interviews are opportunities to communicate, convey already existing information, and make a favourable impression. And whether you believe it or not, a media interview is no different from an ordinary conversation with a close friend, except of course that you are not allowed to curse or swear!

Just like you naturally observe them in any conversation with your friend, these are 10 media interview rules, which adherence to, will save you from becoming the butt of jokes on traditional or social media.

1. RELAX: The importance of this cannot be over-stated. How relaxed an interviewee is will determine voice clarity, seating posture, word articulation(which is directly influenced by the respondents’ breathing) as well as the need to constantly rub hands,eye, hair, and lap.

2. BE HONEST: The good thing about honesty is that it cannot only be heard, it can also be seen....in your gesticulations, your unconscious body signals...and yes...in your eyes. Besides, when you are honest, five questions down the line, you won’t have to try to remember what you said in a previously asked, related question.

3. KNOW YOUR STUFF: Imagine sending your resume to your dream firm, getting shortlisted, and getting to the interview only to discover that you don’t have answers to any of the questions asked by the interview panel.You know you have just kissed your opportunity to get the job or even referrals goodbye. Going to an interview without knowing your stuff could signal the end of your career...and for good too! If you don’t have answers to questions, you have no business seating before the interviewer in the first place.

4. LEARN TO SAY “SORRY, I DON’T KNOW”: Nobody knows everything. It is quite very human to discover you are ignorant of something. When you discover that you don’t have the answer to a question, don’t pretend or try to bamboozle your way out of it. A simple “sorry i don’t know, but i’ll find out and get back to you” would suffice.

5. THINK BEFORE YOU TALK: This is an error most respondents make. It also boils down to bad listening skills. When you truly listen to a question, you would pause, even if it is for a moment, to get the best answer for the question. You may already have the answer to the question as soon as you heard the question, it still doesn’t mean that you have to shoot instantly. Instant shooters are quick to run into...”actually....erm.....erm...i actually meant...”and similar interjections.

6. HAVE YOUR DETAILS READY: If you really know it, you would have the details. “What do i do for a living? "I am a marketing communication specialist. I presently work with Lowe Lintas, and i, on a daily basis, serve as brand custodian for Nigeria’s finest lager beer....I also ......” It is a truth, i know it, so i have the details. Always have your details ready.

7. PLEASE, DON’T INTERRUPT YOUR INTERVIEWER: This shows that you are either tense, jumpy, impatient , or that you are downright arrogant and rude. It can be very annoying to the interviewer, and has the potential of turning him into your adversary, as the interview progresses.

8. WATCH YOUR HANDS: A little hand gesture is okay. But, when your hands are everywhere for every word you utter, that is terrible. You talk when you talk, and employ sign language when speaking to a deaf man. Combining both when you are talking to an interviewer, and through a medium for an audience with no aural defects, is a visual disaster!

9. LOOK YOUR INTERVIEWER IN THE EYE: This shows among other things, that you are bold, confident, truthful and sincere!

10. BE YOURSELF: A respondent in his natural elements is an interviewer’s delight and a viewing audience’s darling.
Pretense is an instant put-off on screen. You know why? Everybody can tell that you are acting and pretending, and nobody likes to be made to look stupid.

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