Most speakers can tell you what they’re going to talk about. Far fewer can tell you how their audience is going to be transformed. In this episode of QuickBites, you’ll learn why transformation—not information—must be the foundation of every talk you give, and why the answer to “What are you speaking about?” should never stop at the topic.
You’ll walk away with a simple, practical framework for identifying the transformation your audience will experience—and a clear method for weaving that transformation into every section of your presentation as a through line. This quick but powerful shift in perspective will change the way you develop every talk from this point forward.
Welcome to QuickBites—public speaking tips and techniques you can digest in five minutes or less.
When a client is developing a new talk, there are several things I ask them. The one that matters most to me is this, "How will your audience be transformed by the end of your talk?"
Stop Talking About Your Topic
New clients tend to answer that question with something like, “I’m going to talk about XYZ.” I don’t care what the topic is. I want to know how the audience is going to be transformed. Unless your talk is designed purely to entertain, you need to know—in concrete terms—how your audience is going to think differently, be affirmed in their thinking, do something differently, have greater knowledge, be more efficient, or be more effective. You’ve got to know that before you build a single slide.
If you take how they’re going to be after your talk and subtract how they were before. If it isn’t a positive result, your talk was either neutral or negative.
Make Transformation Your Through Line
Once you know your audience—what they want, what they need, and how they’re going to feel—that’s when you can determine how they’ll be transformed and make that transformation your through line. Every part of your talk should support and foster that shift.
A Simple Practice to Keep You Focused
As you develop your talk, write the transformation on a sticky note and put it somewhere you’ll see it consistently. Once you get used to thinking in terms of how people are going to be transformed, you’ll never answer the question “What are you speaking about?” the same way again. Instead of “I’m speaking about XYZ,” you’ll say, “I’m speaking about XYZ so the audience will…”—and then you’ll name the transformation. Give it a try. You’ll feel the difference.
Thank you for devouring another episode of QuickBites. Are you ready to be calm, confident, and credible every time you speak in public? Then visit petergeorgepublicspeaking.com and let’s make it happen. I’ll see you next time.
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