Now that we have word of NBC’s plans for both Lester Holt and Brian Williams, it’s time for Williams to take to the airwaves in the hopes of rebuilding his career and reputation. Once the face of NBC News — smart, trusted, a leading voice for good journalism, and a good sport known for making a pit stop on the set of Jimmy Fallon’s late night show to slow jam the news — he’s now been pushed to MSNBC to start from scratch.
This morning, the Today show aired an interview taped over two days between Williams and Matt Lauer. Prefaced with Lauer’s note that there were “no conditions or guidelines” placed on the interview, he went about asking Williams direct questions about why he lied and what he learned from the humiliating experience of being caught and suspended.
By way of explaning the embellishments he made to his experiences covering big stories, Williams said, “It had to be ego that had to make me sharper, funnier, quicker than anybody else.”
In that, Williams is not alone. Professionally speaking, there are only a few reasons why someone lies: to cover their a$$ after making a mistake, to play hooky, or to seem better and more important than they actually are. Williams’ reason falls squarely in the option three category.
For Williams, this is especially egregious. The facts are (supposed to be) at the heart of what journalists do. To that, Williams said, “I am sorry for what happened here… And I expect to be held to a different standard.”
In fact, for anyone in a position of authority, be it a manager or a high-level executive, there’s the expectation that this person is a leader in not just skill but rising to a certain level of integrity. Which is what makes getting snagged all the more embarrassing and cringeworthy.
The jury is still out on whether Williams is on the path to redemption. He’ll likely never rise to the status he once held. But holding a place at MSNBC, at the very least, leaves the door open for him to make segment appearances on NBC and slowly work himself back onto some top-level stories.
For the rest of us, the road back is a little easier and a little harder at the same time. Easier because we don’t have the glare of the media spotlight to answer to. Harder because it’s Williams’ fame that can also soften negative reactions from the bosses.
The first step, however, is a proper apology. The tail end of that interview has a good example of what an apology should sound like. There’s an admission of wrongdoing, what sounds like genuine contrition, and strong statements about his soul-searching and the changes he’s going to make going forward.
You must say the words, “I’m sorry.” You’ve heard the fake apologies on reality TV where the person has a million excuses for what they did and starts pointing out what others did — the mitigating factors — that prompted the bad behavior. Nope. That’s not an apology. That’s a concession. It’s meant to make the apologizing party sound like they’re taking the high road rather than admitting guilt. An apology is both taking responsibility and accepting the repercussions that come with wrongdoing.
Next, you have to be patient. Don’t expect to be brought back into the fold like nothing happened right away. You have to earn your good reputation again.
Finally, you have to do the work and act with integrity. If you’re given a second chance you have to prove why you’re deserving of it.
Really, there should be no lying to begin with. Be honest about all of your accomplishments (Claim them ladies! No need to wait to be acknowledged all the time!), but also be forthcoming about the errors and shortcomings. You’re human. And in the end, demonstrating that you know how to get the job done even when you’re working outside your area of expertise is a sign of just how fantastic you really are.
This morning, the Today show aired an interview taped over two days between Williams and Matt Lauer. Prefaced with Lauer’s note that there were “no conditions or guidelines” placed on the interview, he went about asking Williams direct questions about why he lied and what he learned from the humiliating experience of being caught and suspended.
By way of explaning the embellishments he made to his experiences covering big stories, Williams said, “It had to be ego that had to make me sharper, funnier, quicker than anybody else.”
For Williams, this is especially egregious. The facts are (supposed to be) at the heart of what journalists do. To that, Williams said, “I am sorry for what happened here… And I expect to be held to a different standard.”
In fact, for anyone in a position of authority, be it a manager or a high-level executive, there’s the expectation that this person is a leader in not just skill but rising to a certain level of integrity. Which is what makes getting snagged all the more embarrassing and cringeworthy.
The jury is still out on whether Williams is on the path to redemption. He’ll likely never rise to the status he once held. But holding a place at MSNBC, at the very least, leaves the door open for him to make segment appearances on NBC and slowly work himself back onto some top-level stories.
For the rest of us, the road back is a little easier and a little harder at the same time. Easier because we don’t have the glare of the media spotlight to answer to. Harder because it’s Williams’ fame that can also soften negative reactions from the bosses.
The first step, however, is a proper apology. The tail end of that interview has a good example of what an apology should sound like. There’s an admission of wrongdoing, what sounds like genuine contrition, and strong statements about his soul-searching and the changes he’s going to make going forward.
You must say the words, “I’m sorry.” You’ve heard the fake apologies on reality TV where the person has a million excuses for what they did and starts pointing out what others did — the mitigating factors — that prompted the bad behavior. Nope. That’s not an apology. That’s a concession. It’s meant to make the apologizing party sound like they’re taking the high road rather than admitting guilt. An apology is both taking responsibility and accepting the repercussions that come with wrongdoing.
Next, you have to be patient. Don’t expect to be brought back into the fold like nothing happened right away. You have to earn your good reputation again.
Finally, you have to do the work and act with integrity. If you’re given a second chance you have to prove why you’re deserving of it.
Really, there should be no lying to begin with. Be honest about all of your accomplishments (Claim them ladies! No need to wait to be acknowledged all the time!), but also be forthcoming about the errors and shortcomings. You’re human. And in the end, demonstrating that you know how to get the job done even when you’re working outside your area of expertise is a sign of just how fantastic you really are.
