If you do this, you could sound much better on air.

There is simple, really easy tweak that you can do that will help you sound much better on air. If you follow this advice, you can be finishing your prep much faster, and on air it will sound much better.

Also, you can use it for writing promos or commercials. It actually works for most things!

Sounds good, right?

THE PROBLEM

Many people start with all the information, and then they move and try to prepare the break.

And it works for some time. Then after some time it gets complicated. You start doing always the same things, it becomes boring, and the information you start with can overwhelm you.

The main problem is that you start with yourself, and information. You have topics.

THE TRICK

It can be simpler. With all the information you have try getting the “answer” first. And then reverse engineer the break.

Step 1

Think about what you need to do with your break. Sell music, tease. Tell a story. This works for anything.

You need to identify the goal — why are you doing this. There must be this, as every communication needs to have purpose.

If you can go deeper — instead of tease say what it is — make listeners listen longer by intriguing them with compelling story.

Maybe instead of music sell it is — connect with listeners by showing that you enjoy the song they love same way they do.

Step 2

Now, imagine how your break/story sound on air. Listen to yourself through listeners ears. Now you are the listener — and how does the break make you feel. What makes you smile. Let your imagination do the hard part.

On what parts of the break do you think about something. When do you chuckle. When do you want to interrupt the host to say he is right or wrong.

How does the music bed make you feel. What about that sound effect.

This is the fun part. Enjoy it. There is no right or wrong here. You are experimenting in the safety of your head. No judgment.

Step 3

When you are done with “daydreaming” it is time to get to the job.

When you imagined the break, you very very creative. Good job!

If you did it right, you can actually hear it in your head. Or some versions of it.

So now, instead of trying to follow a path to goal, you just have to go back from goal to start.

Whatever you imagined put to paper. Write down what happens when.

Reverse engineer the break. What happens when. What do you say. How you say it.

Step 4

Go to audio producer. Get all the files you need.

Now try the break before executing by reading it LOUD. See what is different then when you imagined it. If needed, correct.

Step 5

Execute on air!

WHY IT WORKS!

It is simple. You start not from you, but from the listener.

You move from topic to story.

What you did — you applied simplified version of design thinking method!

Design thinking, as described by David and Tom Kelly in book Creative Confidence, starts from finding human needs and creating new solutions using the tools and mindsets of design practitioners.

The key thing here is “finding human needs”. For us it means — what does listener need from your break.

Good job, you design thinker!

The benefits are…

Your job will be simpler. What you do is about communicating to the listener. by focusing on him first — you make it easier for yourself to chose best possible way of execution.

You will always be “in” — because the listener, if you are aware of him, is ever changing. And you will also change then. Or you will move to new listeners.

You will be relevant today (whatever today it is) — because you will be aware of what is happening now, and react on that.

MOST IMPORTANT BENEFIT:
You will sound interested and caring. Which will make you closer to the listener.