Following procedures is an important part of working in radio, but it's easy to forget. It boils down to humanity, simplicity, not over-thinking, looking outside oneself, and checking with the proper chain of command. Recently an air personality complained to me about a situation involving an on-air interview and I transcribed our conversation.

Air Talent: I have just been reprimanded for doing my job.

Coach: How so?

Air Talent: My co-host and I take a lot of time every day to prepare for our show. This morning we had an interview that I thought was not relevant. We caught hell because we moved it to where I thought it would be a better fit flow wise for our show. Usually when we get off the air, we unwind for 15 minutes before our daily meeting with the PD. But, before we could even get out of the studio, the PD said he wanted us to get with him in his office right away. This is what I didn't miss while we worked from home during the pandemic.

Walking out on stage for the first time at a concert venue to bring on an act can be a scary thing. According to several air personalities I spoke with, their instructions were vague at best, “ Go out on stage and get the crowd psyched up.” It sounds simple ...

The business of radio is about change and the ability to stay relevant. It has always been hard to get a job in this industry. This is a small fraternal business and hopefully many of you who are reading this have had a few good runs at stability. I spoke with an air ...

The longer you're in this business, the more you'll see a repeat of behaviors that are hard to comprehend. I always advise those new to the radio business to become a student of not letting their ego become the elephant in the room. He Said ..He Said ... One of my ...

Commercial radio is about making money. Programming and sales are tied at the hip, but standards must be maintained to avoid your station sounding like an audio version of a flea market. Work with sales but keep an ear out for commercials that are questionable sound-wise ...

To manage others effectively, you must master the art of delegation. These days the leap from air shift to PD can happen overnight. Throughout your life you’ve been trained for a position of responsibility, but you didn't know it. The lessons were all around you. ...

Taking the reins of command calls for clear direction, gentle assertion, and diplomacy. There are challenges beyond overseeing music and an air staff. Remember, the purpose of commercial radio is profit. You might be asked to do things that you don't like but roll with ...

Being ready is a 24-hour observational process. You want to be fully prepared for whatever comes your way during your show. Prep at the very least an hour before going on the air. Get a look at the music log, social media, and do a Google search for relatable items. Don't ...

What to do, what to say, and how to say it are constants for air personalities. Veering off topic during talk breaks and talking in circles is not a winning formula. It's knowing the cut-off valve and recognizing when it turns into "Talking just to hear ...

The radio industry environment is more volatile than it’s ever been. There’s increased unemployment and unforeseen circumstances that have put people into financial peril. So, when I get an email from someone trying to decide whether to stay put or leave, I ...