Mastering the Art of Compression: How to go from 15 Minutes to 3, Without Losing Impact.

?????? ?????????????????? ???? ???? ?????????????? ???????? ReThink, my free weekly Leadership Journal. ???????? ?????????????? of ReThink ???????????? ???? ??????????????, story or tool that will increase your impact as a leader. Curated ???? ????, ???????????????? ??????????—???????? ??????????????, Leadership Branding ??????????, ?????? Master Trainer. Join my inner circle and get ReThink delivered straight to your inbox.

The Challenge: When Time Shrinks

Imagine this: You've crafted a 15-minute speech that covers a gamut of issues, and then, boom, you're told you have only 3 minutes.

Here's a deep dive into how I handled this without losing my core message in a recent speech at the Arise Women’s Conference in Lagos.

The Anatomy of the Speech

My original speech was beautifully structured, tackling complex issues like competition between women and sisterhood, societal roles and our desires, mentorship in different strata of society, and personal experiences. Using techniques like mind mapping to cluster ideas and reverse outlining to fine-tune the structure, I had layered it in a way that the narrative unfolded gradually, offering multiple takeaways. I had placed the storytelling elements carefully, to maintain a rhythmic flow and to build emotional resonance.

Weaving in The Lagos Experience

The atmosphere in Lagos was electric. The city, with its pulsating energy, felt like a mirror to my own Mumbai. It was moving to see how the audience connected with the message. Dr. Siju Iluyomade, an inspiring figure herself, embodied the very essence of my speech, showcasing that women can indeed be powerful allies.?

One coachee even summed it up as "sheer energy summoning abundance into existence," capturing the vibe I aim to radiate wherever I go.

The 3-Minute Challenge:

Core Message: Identify the absolute essence of what you want to convey. In this speech, it was the idea that women should empower, not compete with, each other.

Cherry-Pick Stories: The original speech had numerous stories and examples. In 3 minutes, pick the most compelling one that encapsulates your message.

Boil Down Arguments: Summarize arguments into crisp sentences or even phrases. E.g., "We face similar challenges, yet we're pitted against each other—let's change that."

Watch the talk:

??? Your Weekly Toolkit:

Three Reflection Questions:

1. Audience Engagement: Assess how well your 3-minute speech resonated. Did it spark conversations or questions?
2. Self-Evaluation: Record yourself. How did you use tone, pace, and body language to compensate for the shortened time?
3. Message Integrity: Did your core message remain clear and intact in the compressed format?

Two Tips:

1. Open and End Strong: With 3 minutes, your opening sentence has to be a hook. End with a call to action that echoes your core message. No fluff, just power
2. Utilize Pauses: Effective pauses can replace elaboration, letting the audience absorb key points.

One Action:

Use the "Pyramid Principle": Start by writing down your core message. Then list the three main points or arguments that support it. Finally, under each main point, jot down any anecdotes, data, or additional sub-points. When time is limited, you can easily strip away the bottom layers while keeping the peak—the core message—intact.

So there you go! The key is in preparation and adaptability.

Next time you're thrown a time curveball, you'll know how to knock it out of the park.

Are you looking for real insights, a dash of humor, and strategies that could accelerate your growth as a leader?

ReTHINK and join my inner circle for a weekly dose of inspiration, fun, and practical.