- Agreeing to talk
Do not agree to talk unless you know you have something to
contribute to this audienceon this subject.
- Getting informed
Collect facts and arguments for your talk by: brainstorming and
writing down all the points as they occur; reading up the subject;
talking to colleagues and friends, and keeping cuttings and files
on subjects you may have to speak on.
- Deciding what to say
Start by defining your objective. Is it to persuade, inform, interest
or inspire? Then decide the main message you want to put
across. Adopt the ‘rule of three’. Few people can absorb more
than three new ideas at a time. Simplify your presentation to
ensure that the three main points you want to convey come over
loud and clear. Finally, select the facts and arguments which best
support your message.
Never try to do too much. The most fatal mistake speakers can
make is to tell everything they know. Select and simplify using
the rule of three.
- Structuring your presentation
Good structure is vital. It provides for continuity, makes your
thoughts easy to follow, gives the talk perspective and balance,
and, above all, enables you to ram your message home.
The classic method of structuring a talk is to ‘tell them what
you are going to say – say it – tell them what you have said’. This
is the rule of three in action again, as applied to attention span.
Your audience will probably only listen to one-third of what you
say. If you say it three times in three different ways they will at
least hear you once.
You were no doubt told at school that an essay should have a
beginning, a middle and an end. Exactly the same principle
applies to a talk.
Tackle the middle of your talk first and:
274 How to be an Even Better Manager