May 30, 2007
You've got to admire its cheek.
Communications company Bluewood Training has written to Tony Blair offering him a job.
Speculation has been rife about what the prime minister will do next, when he steps down from his duties in June. It has been suggested that he will be far too busy writing his memoirs or being a roving ambassador for Britain to take on much else, but Bluewood Training seems sure he could find some spare time to help it deliver its training courses.
Will Edwards of Bluewood Training says:
We use experts to teach our presentation and media handling courses and we aim to attract the best - so we think Mr Blair would be a perfect addition to the team. With more than 10 years experience in the spotlight he certainly knows how to get his message across.
Bluewood has compiled some of Blair's media handling techniques into a Top Five list.
1. In response to a tricky question: Stop, angle your head, and say 'look'... then carry on. This is intended to make the interviewer think 'he's just a regular guy, like me'.
2. Having the common touch - the mug of tea. This is also intended to make the interviewer think 'he's just a regular guy, like me'.
3. Use your hands sparingly and never use a single finger to underscore a point, or you come across like, well, deputy prime minister John Prescott. Never use your fists for similar reasons.
4. Use pacing and pauses to hold an audience and get your points across. However, if you take it too far it can be perceived by cynical people not as deep-felt sentiment, but scarcely-veiled contempt (see speech endorsing Gordon Brown).
5. Use phrases like 'You know... guys', and make sure your rounded public school vowels have an edge of estuary to them. You guessed it - it'll make the interviewer think 'he's just a regular guy, like me'.
