Next level communicators make this one tweak with their illustrations.
Next level communicators make this one tweak with their illustrations.
Most people assume the purpose of an illustration is to bring clarity to their point. This is a grave mistake. Don’t get me wrong, illustrations should bring clarity. Remember, we have said while explanations give the point, illustrations are like windows where they show the point. But clarity is not the main purpose of an illustration. The real reason we give illustrations is to motivate our audience to action. Next level communicators understand this.
Clarity and motivation are related, but while we can be clear and not motivated, I don’t think I can motivate you in the direction I want, unless you first have clarity. Great illustrations accomplish both clarity and motivation, with a major in motivation. Learn to ask the question of every illustration you tell, “How can this motivate people to action,” and it will take your talks to the next level…like immediately.
Let me give you a few examples. Suppose I’m preaching on the Spirit filled life, and my main point is how to be filled with the Spirit means He is in control of our lives. An illustration which stops at clarity would be a person who has the steering wheel of a car. She is in control of the car, and that’s what the filling of the Holy Spirit looks like. Like this woman has control of the car, the Holy Spirit wants control of your life. That’s clear, but not motivating. An illustration that motivates is me saying the Holy Spirit is like a designated driver. Now the purpose of the designated driver is to watch a person carefully, and when they are getting drunk, he sticks out his hand and asks for the keys. That’s the Holy Spirit. He wants to be in control. He wants the keys to our lives. He wants the keys to our attitude. He wants the keys to our anger. He wants the keys to our tongue. Have you given him the keys? What area of your life are you still holding onto the keys? See how I’ve played with this illustration, and stretched it out so that it ventured beyond clarity and into motivation? All this takes is when we think about illustrations we ask the question, how can this motivate the audience to action? That one simple tweak will move your talk to the next level.
In moving illustrations from clarity to motivation, I have found the following to be helpful:
First, be clear on the point you are making. Illustrations are no good unless there is first the point. I always want to first setup the illustration by stating my point.
A great illustration is one where the audience gets the point before you give the point. There should be no guesswork when it comes to illustrations. No one should struggle figuring out what you mean. In fact, you want your audience to beat you to the punchline.
Don’t confuse motivation with inspiration. Sometimes when we are motivated to do things it’s because we have been challenged in an area of our lives where we are not doing so well. Yes, there are times when people will applaud, or even cheer, a great illustration. But there are other times when the silence is thick, as the illustration has challenged some of their core beliefs, assumptions and practices. That’s great too.
Your energy should match your illustration. This is really key. If all you want is to be clear, then you will open the door to boredom. But if you want to motivate, then you will put the appropriate energy into the illustration, because you are leading people down a path called change. If you feel the illustration will lead people to applaud, or make them feel good, then be upbeat. If the illustration will challenge them in some way, you probably want to slow your speech, reign in your gestures, or at least incorporate the appropriate pause.
Finally, illustrations should be concise. The longer the illustration, the greater the likelihood we are overcomplicating things. Simplicity is our friend, so keep it short.
Where I’m speaking:
I am preaching this Thursday evening and Sunday morning at Resonate Church in Fremont, California. If you are near the bay area, come hang out! I’d love to meet you.
What I’m reading:
