Structures Can Be A Bit Shite

If someone tells me that I have to use a particular structure, then my answer is usually no.

(Although sometimes it can be less polite than that)

I'm not trying to be difficult.

It's just how my brain works.

Tell me I have to do something. I'm going to try and break it.

Yet show me something flexible and very carefully introduce it to me and I'm in.

This is why I don't really talk about using structures when I work with people on their speaking.

I talk about frameworks.

(And yes there's probably some argument here that they are synonymous but for me they feel very different so there)

For the longest time I tried to avoid planning speeches too much.

That process seemed to represent losing some of the presence and spontaneity of the delivery.

And I was definitely proud of being able to “speak off the cuff”.

Don't get me wrong that's a real skill and it's very useful, but without some planning behind it, it's never going to be quite as good as it could be.

So that's when I started to explore frameworks.

Looking at different ways that I could create a speech and then how I could also teach that.

There are many ways of putting together a speech.

Numerous structures and frameworks.

Tell them what you're going to tell them. Tell them. Tell them what you've told them. 

Beginning, middle, end.

Introduction, content, conclusion.

And they all work.

In their own way.

Over the last few years I've developed different ways of doing this.

Almost an amalgamation of different approaches.

Coupled with some experimentation.

In my coaching and workshops the frameworks I use are multiple-step and have the ability to add bits and pieces in a modular way.

But for the purpose of my newsletter today, I'm going to introduce you to something which is altogether very simple.

A wee three-step process.

Hook. Story. Action.

And let's explore each of those individually.

The hook is designed to capture attention.

Bring them to this moment and give them a reason to keep listening to you.

This can look like a story, a question, a statement.

And can you sound, visuals, and pretty much anything you want.

The story is designed to create that emotional connection.

It might be about something you've achieved.

Or something that a client has done.

It's designed to show possibility and transformation.

Action is giving them a nudge to actually do something.

What do you want them to think, feel, and say?

What do you want them to do next? 

People talk about inspirational and motivational speeches but this is the place where you make those speeches transformational.

There you.

Three things.

That's it.

You could use this today.

A post on LinkedIn.

A 60 second pitch.

Conversation with you mate.

Having a framework gets rid of what I would refer to as the blank screen problem.

You know that moment where you have to write something but the cursor blinks at you like a bastard?

It doesn't create your content ideas and stories.

But it gives you so much to begin.

My manifesto and approach to speaking is very simple.

It starts with you and it's about adding skills onto you not about turning you into some carbon copy speaker.

Frameworks like this allow you to do that.

Because they are flexible to you not the other way around.

If you're developing your speaking and you've been resisting frameworks because they feel a bit too tight, then give this one a go.

Three parts.

Flexible.

Can be stretched or compressed depending on what you need.

And if you want to explore how it might work for your speaking specifically, give me a shout.