Some aircheck sessions are like dental surgery: Painful and dreadful. Outdoor stores like REI should have an entire department selling gear to survive the aircheck. Air personalities and programmers would both stock up! Yet other sessions are like therapy: Insightful and helpful. Both programmers and air personalities are responsible for surviving the aircheck. I’ve been thinking about this after sessions with three clients in different situations:
Show #1 is seeking its next “gear.” They’re ready to level up and are desperate for feedback. Our sessions often last well over an hour. They want to identify every opportunity to continue their success path. They have an unselfish For The Show mentality that produces exhilarating, productive meetings that feel like a party with friends.
Show #2 comes to the weekly session with a list of “reasons” for weaker-than-expected performance and excuses for not acting on ideas we have discussed. The session addresses problems, complaints, and barriers. The show is making little progress toward a bigger goal because it is hung up on talk segment limitations and format restrictions.
Show #3 is a talented group enjoying rating success, but its growth is fueled by favorable meter distribution. There’s no sense of urgency since the rating gods are smiling at them. Our sessions are positive but frustrating. It feels like Groundhog Day as we review the same concepts repeatedly.
Surviving The Aircheck
Aircheck sessions are one of the most challenging parts of the job for any program director or talent coach. Every show is different because people are different, and a different approach is required for every situation. The problem is that evaluation is (or should be) an objective fundamental ingredient for growth, but on-air performance is personal. That’s hard for programmers to understand.
Picture this: You’ve just finished an important meeting and feel good about your performance. You nailed it, and everyone loved some of the points you made. Then you enter another meeting to review the meeting with the boss. How would that feel?
The dreaded aircheck session is like being back at school, waiting for homework to be graded, for personalities reviewing the work they just finished. It’s an integral part of life in the personality radio business, but that doesn’t stop it from feeling like being back at school. The key question is how can we make every session productive and inspiring?
What An Aircheck Is For
An aircheck is a quality control measure to review portions of a show and pinpoint areas for growth. It should not be to catch the personalities screwing up, though that’s how many feel. Programmers find it easier to identify problems than to celebrate progress. We’re just wired to be fixers. But personalities put their heart and soul into their show, and criticism feels personal, even if it’s not intended to be.
Here are some tips for programmers and coaches for surviving the aircheck:
Evaluate Less: Most problems occur when personalities feel their work is being judged, so do that less frequently. An effective coaching strategy is to schedule intense, objective evaluation sessions monthly or quarterly to identify areas for improvement and establish goals.
Focus On Growth: Once a goal is identified, coaching should be positive and encouraging. Focus regular (daily or weekly) coaching sessions on achievement rather than evaluation. That changes the relationship from “caught you” to “helping you.” Personalities crave feedback from those they feel are helping them succeed.
Self-Discovery: Use airchecks to identify ways to improve performance and recognize progress. Reviewing audio should be collaborative, not punitive.
Conclusion
Airchecks are like a fitness regimen for radio performance. No one becomes a world-class athlete without regular workouts., but you’ll never reach your goal if you’re practicing the wrong things.
Aircheck sessions aren’t a trial, tax audit, or report card, though sometimes it feels that way. They should be a tool to mold your performance and inspire success. When it’s done right, there’s nothing like it. Personalities should leave a session feeling like they can’t wait to get on the air. That’s what an aircheck session should be like.
Pic designed by Freepik.com.
Tracy Johnson is a talent coach and programming consultant. He’s the President/CEO of Tracy Johnson Media Group. His book Morning Radio has been described as The Bible of Personality Radio and has been used by personalities worldwide.