Two Steps to Become a More Effective Communicator

I know many intelligent and decisive leaders. Most are highly productive and move fast. They get stuff done.

But every now and then, they leave others behind. This is not deliberate; it’s simply a function of the fact that effective communication can be very challenging.

That’s why I’d like to share a few nuts and bolts around how I prepared for a speech I gave this week. The content of my presentation isn’t important; what matters is the process I used, which proved to be quite effective.

First, I found a quiet half hour, put on some baroque music, and put a pen to paper to just write.

My goal at this point wasn’t to create a structured outline or any semblance of organized thought.

?I was simply free-associating and giving my subconscious mind the opportunity to bubble up any gems. (You can see some of my scribbles in the picture above.)

Next, I created a table with these six columns and began to type.

In each row, I placed a specific example—a story--to illustrate the points I wanted to make.

I listed the company and person involved, the situation and challenge they faced, the action they took, and the results that occurred.?

?These six columns have an underlying purpose. Together, they allow me to construct a “hero’s journey” narrative designed to hold the listener’s attention. In each example, our “hero” confronts a situation with one or more complicating elements (think: obstacles). Only after thought and effort does our main character triumph… or at least learn.

Once I created this structure, it was fast and easy to write out a set of examples that would communicate my message effectively.

So now I had 100% of my content in a single organized file.

Of course, during the speaking engagement, I didn’t read from the document (that would have been boring). But the structure was invaluable in getting my thoughts organized, so that I could speak comfortably, without using notes.

It’s often said that “people remember stories, not facts.” If you want to influence and inspire people, telling stories is the most powerful tool you have. ??

The two-step process that I used (free writing followed by adding structure) is the most effective way I’ve found to identify and shape the stories that help me communicate my thoughts.??

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Amanda Setili helps successful leaders and their teams agree on what needs to change and how to make it happen. She is author of?Fearless?Growth :?The New Rules to Stay Competitive, Foster Innovation, and Dominate Your Markets, and?The Agility Advantage , How to Identify and Act On Opportunities in a Fast-Changing World.?

For more strategies, videos and free materials, please visit?www.setili.com , and check out these quick examples of the type of work we do. ?Or, contact?Amanda ?to discuss how she works with companies to improve profits, performance and growth.