At times,  we all need to be reminded that our corporate voice reflects and communicates our personality, values, and whatever else makes us who we are.  This week TV Azteca reporter Ines Sainz needs to be reminded of that.

Ms. Sainz tweeted last week she felt ” very uncomfortable” in the New York Jets’ locker room where she was trying to get an interview with Jet’s Quarterback, Mark Sanchez, who is of Mexican descent, for her Mexican TV network.   She was waiting with two of her male co-workers for Sanchez.  She told the Associated Press later  that “Of course you feel it when you are being stared at and when you are being spoken of  in a certain way.”   After an investigation, a couple of letters detailing the events, and apparent satisfaction of the actions taken by the Jets management and staff,  NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell  implemented a mandatory training program for all 32 teams on proper conduct in the workplace and also to help them deal professionally with the media.   For a media training expert like myself, this is great news.  I’ve always thought that individuals at all levels of business including sports should have media training if they’ve never had it or update it along the way in their career.  However, I don’t believe the Jet’s locker room scenario should be held totally responsible.

It’s been well documented by Ms. Sainz’s own TV network that she is promoted as their “hottest” reporter.  From her pictures, she is very attractive.  But also from her pictures, in my opinion, she has more of a “sexy” look than a professional look.  The same can be said of how women dress at many corporate offices today.  It’s human nature to flirt and it’s done all the time everywhere and if your corporate voice gives off a certain look, then there may be certain responses.  But let’s face it.  Your in an NFL team’s locker room and even though other reporters in the locker room described the atmosphere as “juvenile, immature, high school, ” but “not over the top”, a reporter in that situation should not really be surprised.  I’m certainly not saying I agree with that type of behavior, I’m just stating that’s what it’s like.   The difference here is it became a news story by a reporter who should perhaps have been better prepared regarding her surroundings for that interview.    I’m not sure if this was the first time she’s been in a sports locker room, but the debate about women being in the locker room was settled long ago. 

What you look like, what you say verbally and non-verbally are all a part of your corporate voice.   And, that corporate voice translates into how the public sees you from reports and pictures in the media.  So my suggestion to Sainz is to take a look at her own corporate voice and make sure the one she is projecting is the same one she believes she has.