“The problem wasn’t that I couldn’t put words to paper. The problem was I couldn’t get those words to make sense. That’s because I wasn’t clear on my objective. I was trying to say too much and, as result, I was saying nothing.” writes Brenda Barbosa The One Sentence That Will make You a More Effective Speaker Wow! I can so identify with her statements. I will share a few more of her comments as well as mine to my friends who have so much passion for their mission and truly have something to say.

“This… will make all your speeches clear, concise, and compelling.”

If your audience is often confused and lost:

Here’s a few tips for becoming more effective when you communicate as you speak and write

  • Distill your thoughts into one succinct takeaway for the audience/reader — it’s your big idea
  • Choose a topic out of your big idea and focus on it
    • Without a big idea to light the way, you’ll wander aimlessly through draft after draft of your speech… you’ll become so tired of going in circles you’ll simply want to give up or, worse, you’ll decide to “wing it.” …jotting down some notes, throw together a few slides, slap on a title, and call it a presentation.
  • Determine what inspires you about the topic
    • This is usually your area of expertise or passion
  • Articulate your inspiration (idea) with one sentence
    • Think of the single sentence as a lighthouse guiding you through fog. If you become overwhelmed with an abundance of data or competing themes, the single sentence will help you stay on track.
  • Note: Any piece of data, story, or anecdote that doesn’t jive with your single sentence should be trashed (probably can be used later with another talk and newsletter)

“Anyone who has an idea worth sharing is capable of giving a powerful talk,” Anderson writes in his book, TED Talks: The Official Guide to Public Speaking. “The only thing that truly matters in public speaking is not confidence, stage presence, or smooth talking. It’s having something worth saying.”