Jackal-wrangling

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If you’re invited onto a panel/show or to a debate, only to realise a few minutes in that you’re there as the fall-guy, please do the following: 

Calm yourself to an almost comatose level of serenity – you’ll need it for step 2.

  1. If you’re constantly being interrupted, the chances are that your half-explained thoughts are going to go viral in about 2 minutes so RESIST THE TEMPTATION TO EXPLAIN. I know, it’s hideously hard, but apply total silencewhen being interrupted. Whoever’s hosting the panel doesn’t want dead air and silence will alert listeners/viewers to what is going down.
  2. Use the silence to formulate short, incredibly clear sentences – and no more than four of them at a time.
  3. Eventually, the host must ask for your opinion: remember, RESISTopening the floodgates – the favoured guests are just waiting to interrupt again. Here’s the key: calmly ask the host if you can have a full 1.5 minutes to reply and use those sentences!
  4. Don’t forget: the second you are interrupted again, go straight back to graceful and total silence. A professional host will, however reluctantly, grant you the time. Step 6 is for dealing with amateurs.
  5. If you are allowed a phone on the show, tweet a clear and unambiguous reply to the host – in case you aren’t, carry a pen and notebook so you can write the answer down. Only use this in extreme cases – use it too soon or too often and you’ll come across as petulant. Use it once in your life under truly extreme circumstances and you’ll expose a set-up for what it is.
  6. The second you leave the spotlight, prepare a truly clear statement outlining what you were really saying – short sentences, easy words and less than 8 points. Put it out there. Everywhere.

THE LAST SENTENCE IN THIS POST IS THE MOST VITAL (sorry for shouting 😊) 
These points are for anyone slyly tricked into a media electric chair or a hostile meeting. Be calm, clear, and invincible. Most important: make sure what you really want to say is sensible and useful. If you use these tips, no-one can say that they got it wrong.

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