Page 106 - Great Communication Secrets of Great Leaders

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DEVELOP THE FIRST DRAFT
Okay, cue the lights. Spotlight on the writer. Bring up the music. Now comes
the hard part: getting it down on paper. If you have followed the guidelines
given earlier, your task will be easier. Your challenge is to put thoughts and
words to your outline points. As you craft your words, you will have to keep
some key points in mind. GREAT COMMUNICATION SECRETS OF GREAT LEADERS
What is your message?
Remember your message. It will serve as your compass. If what you
are adding does not complement the message, it is better left unsaid.
What is your thesis statement?
The thesis and the message may be one and the same, but sometimes
the wording of the two is slightly different. Regard the thesis as the rea-
son why you are speaking and what you will say—e.g., “Tonight I will
tell you why we need to cut costs and provide ways we can do it.”
What are you using to amplify your message?
Amplification comes from the content that you add. You shape your
message using your own knowledge and the information you have
gained from the research materials and anecdotes.

What visuals do you have to illustrate your message?
Visuals can be anything from flipcharts and posters to electronic
graphics. The rule of thumb is to use the graphics to support the mes-
sage, not to present the message. You can, of course, use a photograph or
a chart to tell part of the story, but you should not rely solely on graphics
to tell the story.
When crafting your presentation, you have the option of writing it out
word for word or preparing notes from which you will speak. Some people
feel that word-for-word scripting enables them to think through precisely what
they want to say. This approach is the soundest one, and it allows for the great-
est amount of advance creativity. The downside is that it is time-consuming.
Other presenters prefer to work from notes. Not only is creating a presen-
tation using this approach less time-consuming, but the approach also allows
the presenter to be more flexible and responsive to audience needs. The pre-
senter who is stuck to a speech may overlook the audience, while the presenter
who is standing and delivering from notes can shift gears more readily accord-
ing to audience needs.
Some speakers script everything in advance, then cull the words to note
cards. By doing this, they determine their flow, precision, and word choice
in advance, then deliver the presentation in a manner that appears to be
spontaneous.