The average person lists public speaking as one of their biggest fears, fearing it more than heights, small spaces, bugs, and in some cases, even death. Mark Twain quipped, “There are two types of speakers. Those who get nervous and those who are liars.”
Thankfully, the FOCUS!® Method addresses all the most common speaking concerns executives and leaders have when presenting impromptu or a prepared presentation, ranging from blanking out, not sounding credible, and deciding what information and message to convey.
The FOCUS! Method provides a way for both introverts and extroverts to “say less, and say it better” in all occasions – in meetings, interviews, one-on-one, and presentations with large audiences. It enables you to organize complex thoughts and ideas effectively, and then quickly deliver them in a way that is designed to be heard, remembered, and persuasive. It gives you a simple format to start, navigate, and end your message with, and therefore allows you to speak “off the cuff” about topics in which you are the expert. When you use this method, your anxiety will be significantly reduced, if not eliminated altogether.
Why Does the FOCUS!® Method Work for Public Speaking?
The science behind the FOCUS!® Method is the Rule of Threes and the use of hierarchical memory. The combination of the two creates a unifying theme that relates to all the key points in threes, which are easy to recall and easy to navigate.
The Rule of Threes is simple: the best way to structure things is in groups of threes, because psychologists and neuroscientists tell us that our sensory memory can hold one to seven pieces of information, but our favorite number is three. Think of your phone number—10 random numbers are tough. But 3 sets of numbers are easy!
Perhaps because three is the smallest number that is required to make a pattern—and a pattern works because it’s powerful and memorable and easier to embrace. We’ve seen this throughout our history: Newton’s three rules of motion in physics, the three-note building blocks in musical harmony, the structure of essays (introduction, body, conclusion), prizes in competitions (1st, 2nd, 3rd), acronyms for companies and organizations, traffic lights, and so on. It seems that everyone has tapped into the power of three. There’s even a website, http://www.threes.com that contains thousands of examples of threes.
So how can we apply this to making our speeches more memorable?
Well, first we must acknowledge and embrace the fact that our listeners are likely to only remember three things from our presentation. Therefore, it’s critical that we are intentional about what these three things are! When you create the content of your speech, develop a “headline” message, and three key sub-points, along with 3 simple supporting facts for each sub-points. The key is that you never ask listeners to remember more than the headline and these three clearly-stated key points. This combination of simplicity and repetition allows your audience to process the information and transfer it from working memory into long-term memory.
IMprove Your Public Speaking with the FOCUS!® Method
The FOCUS!® Method ensures that before you begin to speak in public you will:
- Know exactly what your first statement will be.
- Know what you will say to finish.
- Know precisely which aspects of your topic you are going to cover.
First, tell listeners what your key point (“headline”) is and identify the three sub-points (in 3 concise sentences) you intend to address. This provides the listener with a mental “map” or preview of what you are going to say.
Furthermore, it immediately increases the listener’s attention by eliminating doubts about your position, how long you will speak, and which areas you will cover.
Second, address each of your sub-points, speaking spontaneously and in a conversational style.
Third, finish by repeating your headline and sub-points. This is the imprinting part; you imprint the message in your listeners by stating, validating and reiterating.
If you were to use the focus Method to answer a question, you would clarify and restate the question if necessary, then choose your headline. You would then write down or think of your three sub-points and deliver your headline and three points. Remember to speak spontaneously to each point and recap your headline and three points.
Where Can You Learn the FOCUS!® Method?
The Focus Method is just one of the transformational public speaking units in our Two-Day Commanding Presence: Advanced Communication & Presentation Skill Workshops. Participants will get a chance to create their own Focus Method presentations using current topics or issues and practice delivering them to other participants. We will record the presentations and provide 360-degree feedback.
Training for private groups in various formats: half-day, one-day and two-day formats are also available Learn more about our training here