Next level communicators throw baseballs, not sand.
Next level communicators throw baseballs, not sand.
If I were to ask which are you more likely to catch, a fistful of sand or a baseball, we all know it’s the baseball. We know this because although a baseball is made up of several parts, it is held together as one unified whole, making it easier for a person to catch, than throwing random parts all at once to them. The key to the baseball’s receptivity is its unity.
Make the switch from throwing sand to throwing baseballs, and you will see immediate growth in your communication…like, immediate.
Too many gifted communicators throw sand to their audience, where they say a lot of good things, but because they have not done the work to stitch them together in one theme, “the grains of sand,” fall to the ground. Our presentations are for listeners, not readers. When a person reads, they have the luxury of going back a few pages or chapters, to get clarity, or receive, what they may have dropped. The people who come and hear us don’t have that option. Here’s a scary thought: When we fail to present a unifying theme for our messages, the listener will provide their own. I’ll say that again: When we fail to present a unifying theme for our message, the listener will provide their own. It’s the classic hour or so after your talk, and someone asks them what it was about? They are going to provide an answer, the real question is will they provide the one you intended. If you threw a baseball, they will. If you got up and tossed out a bunch of really good, but disconnected ideas, they won’t get what you intended, because you didn’t help them to get what you intended.
Yes, every presentation must have a unifying theme, somewhere in the neighborhood of seven to ten words, which canvasses all of your talk. I find this to be the most agonizing, but rewarding part of my preparation. Here’s some thoughts about a unifying theme, along with an example:
Should be crafted towards the end of the preparation. After you have spent sufficient time researching your topic, now you are ready to put together the unifying theme. Just the other day I was asked by a church to preach on John 4, and Jesus’ conversation with a Samaritan woman at the well. Here was my unifying statement: We do whatever it takes to bring the gospel to all people. Okay, it’s twelve words…sue me, lol.
It’s your filter. Your unifying statement allows you to determine what makes it into your presentation, and what does not. If it does not clearly link into the statement, then it has to go. This will help you throw a baseball and not sand. I don’t care how innovative that idea is, or cool your illustration, unless it clearly connects, save it for another talk.
Should be placed towards the beginning of your presentation. After I’ve made the introduction, and moved to the felt need, I then like to set up and give the unifying statement, even at times, having my audience say the statement with me.
All of your points must connect to your unifying statement. For example, my points for the John 4 talk were: 1. We do whatever it takes to bring the gospel to all people; 2. We do whatever it takes to bring the gospel to all people, even if it makes me uncomfortable; 3. We do whatever it takes to bring the gospel to all people, even if it makes them uncomfortable.
When we put the work into crafting a unifying statement for every talk, we will position the audience to receive the content we will “throw” their way. If you want to instantly sharpen your effectiveness as a next level communicator, learn to throw a baseball and not sand.
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