30 Jun Creating Strong Segues

One of the hardest tasks when speaking publicly, is to know how to transition from one point to the next. We get so caught up in the point we’re trying to make, we just keep talking and talking until we go back over old material. Remember Chevy Chase on the roundabout in ‘European Vacation’? He could see the exit, he just couldn’t get into the right lane to get off. Our brains are similar. We get stuck in a lane because thoughts keep zooming past, so we can’t get into the right verbal position to change to a new subject. Most of us only plan our key messages and don’t think about how to transition from one to the next. 

For every point you have written on your power point, palm card or highlighted in your speech papers, ensure you have it’s equivalent point as the final thing you will say on each topic.

Instead of writing dot points like this:

• Revenue is down
• Sales are up
• Forecast of 2% growth this quarter

Use points like this:

• Revenue is down …(reasons)… End “but we have some positive news.”
• Sales are up …(reasons)… End “so we can capitalise on this trend.”
• Forecast of 2% growth … (don’t recap the previous points, just give the future projections)… End “we can keep on track if we stick to the strategy.”

Creating bookends ensures you don’t circle back onto the roundabout. If there’s a bit of detail in the middle of your bookend you forget to mention, just let it go. Your audience will either ask for clarification or catch up later. You may want to allow them to ask questions after your presentation, but try not to fill question time with all the things you forgot in your main speech. If you’ve missed a major point, then your preparation is probably flawed. It might help to read, “Preparation Preparation Preparation.”

With your bookends in place, you will also need to ensure you have your exit line, such as, “Thank you for your time. If you need further clarification please email me”, or, “Thanks everyone. Please now welcome X.”

Try not to linger. Get in – Say it – Get out. It’s the perfect bookend.