Get to the Point!
You've been there before. You're at a conference
or meeting and the speaker is droning on giving detail after detail and not connecting thoughts or ideas. After 15 minutes
of this minutia your eyes start to glaze over as you ask yourself two questions: "Why am I here?" and "What
the is the Point?"
Unfortunately, this scenario
is too often the case in the workplace. This trance-inducing ennui causes the audience, to tune out, drop out, and disengage.
Like Nero fiddling while Rome was burning the speaker is now talking in a vacuum. Valuable ideas will be lost and buy-in will
be non-existent.
The number one reason a point
is lost is because the speaker lacks focus. The first step in preparing a presentation is to determine your outcome. To clarify
the outcome complete this fill-in. At the end of the presentation the audience will _____________. The answer is your outcome.
Once you have a clear focus, develop your points around that purpose. Without a crystal clear outcome you'll lose focus during
the speech. Here are some tips to stay on message and to get to the point.
Set it up. One of the biggest speaking mistakes is starting with details. Technical
speakers often fall into this trap. Begin with a purpose statement.Point of View Plus Two. Give them
a road map by providing a 3 point agenda. Why 3 points? They're easier to remember. An agenda is a road map. It tells them
where you're taking them.
Spell it out clearly and concisely. Flesh our each agenda item with
examples and statistics but keep it brief.
Bring it home. Summarize your main points. Don't leave
the listeners hanging. Review where you've been. Bring back your three points and end an inspiring statement with a call to
action.
When you follow these steps
your listeners will enjoy the destination AND the journey.
Copyright
© Diane DiResta. All rights reserved.
