Behind the Scenes: Pregame Interview with Gary Payton
Apr 04, 2025You can be authentic and prepared all at the same time. In fact, it's the only way I made it through technical difficulties during a pregame interview this week.
I was chatting with NBA and Seattle SuperSonics legend Gary Payton and while he was answering the first question I got word the microphone was cutting in and out. We needed to make a switch during the live interview. There was a lot happening behind the scenes and the interview could have easily gone off the rails if not for a script and time spent planning for distractions.
Often when I suggest scripting out a presentation or interview, folks push back and say things like "I want it to sound conversational." or "I don't want it to sound scripted." or "I just want to show up and be present in the moment."
The technical difficulties during the pregame interview are a reminder about the value of scripting and preparing. I was able to stay focused while dealing with a huge distraction and hopefully no one at home knew the difference.
Give yourself the confidence and poise that comes with preparing before your next big conversation or presentation and script it out.
