Presentation Tips: Organize Your Details

Several of my coaching conversations have been focused on the same thing of late… when I am speaking to my boss, how do I stay out of the weeds? I get stuck in the deep detail, and he/she gets frustrated with me.

Sound familiar? “Too much detail” is a constant issue in the 21st century business world. In a world where everyone is drowning in detail… where attention spans are at an all-time low… where no one listens anymore… the ability to communicate the correct amount of detail is a skill of great importance.

Part of the answer, therefore, is to always consider how much detail is really necessary in that moment. How much does your audience want or need? How much can they handle? What can be left for another day or time? These are critical questions to ask.

However, there is another part to the answer. Sometimes, the solution is not less detail. Sometimes, the solution is better organized detail, that is easier to follow. Because not all detail is created equal.

Well organized detail has a few common denominators:

1. The overall message is divided into key themes (or chapters);
2. The speaker outlines the key themes up front;
3. The details follow each key theme introduction;
4. The speaker pauses along the way for some internal summary, to repeat key points, and to check for understanding;
5. The speaker outlines key themes again at the end.

And along the way, the speaker uses specific delivery techniques like “speaking in bullet points.” So there are three things I want you to consider: #1… #2… #3… And so on. The speaker also might use a healthy dose of WIIFY (What’s In It For You) statements. This is important to you because… The key point here is… Let me make this easy for you, here is what you need to remember…

The message today is pretty simple. Always challenge your own thinking and question how much detail is really necessary. But just as importantly, think about how to organize your message so that your message is easier to retain.

Both solutions will help you, and your audience.

Good luck, and have a great day!

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