I was in a group where we were talking about interviews.
These could be formal job interviews, a “coffee chat” at a townhall meeting, a podcast interview, a segment on the local news, a conference panel, and more.
We discussed how the stress of the moment can make responding challenging.
Then, this quote:
“We need a Rolodex of stories we can pull from.” – Michelle Kaptur
For those who don’t know “Rolodex”, it was a box on your desk that held your contacts list.
The group shifted and started talking about the stories.
How can we prepare and remember the stories before we are asked?
My Perspective
I think this is a wonderful idea.
The executing part is what seems daunting to me.
When people have 20-30 years of experience behind them, which stories are best?
All the successes and failures taught unique lessons that shaped a person to be who they are.
Considering the best stories for a media interview will likely be different than a job interview.
In a media interview, you can prepare stories for the points you want to make.
In a job interview, the examples they may be seeking may not align with the situations you planned.
In this case, the best stories may be the ones with multiple points.
One situation that showed many of your dimensions and qualities.
Overall, this conversation pointed out that I don’t have enough stories in my Rolodex.
What do I want to say?
What stories best fit those messages?
What stories carry the best lessons I’ve learned throughout my career & life?
Your Turn
Do you have stories ready when questions come up?
Are there moments in your career that come to mind immediately that would be included?
How could you start to create your personal Rolodex of stories?