When you speak, you tell a story to your listeners. Every story needs to have a beginning, a middle and an end. A climax and a finish. That way, your listener is clued in to what is going on and the story reaches a logical conclusion. The listener isn’t left hanging, waiting for whatever comes next. The best way to do this is to follow three simple rules: Say it; say it again; say what you said. This translates into; 1) Tell people what you are going to talk about, i.e. three main points; 2) make the points, embellishing on them to make them interesting; 3) review and sum up what you told them, and personalize your message.
Now, you’ve made it easy to follow along with your story, your logic, and your conclusion. Your beginning sets the stage, introduces the characters and tells us where we are in the story. You bring us current, give the story a location and provide the placement of it within our lives. You’ve just set the context within which we will hear what you tell us.
As you make your points, add sufficient detail to supply brush strokes to the characters or the information, but not so much as to drown out the storyline. Everybody needs to know why they are being asked to do something, as when you are explaining an assignment. You create efficiency by supplying knowledge of the bigger picture, and the way to do that is to supply the story, the context in which each person has a role and a function.
Once you’ve told your story, focus on the main message, and review it with your listener. If you were asking them to do something, sum up the request. If you were thanking them, do so again, using different words if possible. And then, just finish. Do not keep rambling on because you can’t think of how to stop. Just stop speaking, nod your head, and know that you have successfully made your point.
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