Why clarity and concision are the keys to impactful public speaking
One might say the 1864 election was determined by the ability to distill a message to its very essence.
Abraham Lincoln was part of a three-way race against George McClellan and John C. Freemont. The electoral vote would be spread across three viable contenders, making each state’s vote critical. And the then-territory of Nevada was set to vote for Lincoln… IF they could become a state in time for the election.
Nevada approved their state constitution on September 7, 1864 and (to insure at least one would be received) sent two copies to Washington, D.C.: one by boat (by way of San Francisco and Panama) and the other by stagecoach and train. The transit time would take between 20 and 25 days. Alas, word came back via telegraph on October 25th that neither missive had reached the capitol.
To be admitted to the union in time for the election—now less than two weeks away—they’d have to transmit the state constitution (175 handwritten pages!) by telegraph.
One telegraph station converted those flourished, cursive letters into dashes and dots and transmitted it. But because there was no single telegraph line that extended from Nevada to Washington, it took four separate transmissions… meaning the receiving station had to write down the message and re-transmit it. It took four telegraph stations to complete the task. Just think about the labor-intensive nature of that effort!
The message finally made its way into the right hands and Nevada was admitted to the union on October 30th. Nevada voted for Lincoln in the election on November 8th. (Plot twist: their votes weren’t actually needed to cinch the election for Lincoln; Fremont dropped out and Lincoln roundly defeated McClellan.)
One of the reasons I love working with TEDx speakers is because they are forced—not by the cost and effort of transmitting 175 pages worth of content, but by the 18 minutes they’re afforded—to distill their idea to its very essence. Doing so is what makes it compelling and easy for their audiences to understand the idea… and then share it with others. The idea has to have value in itself—to be worth spreading—to be selected for a TEDx program. But the most successful talks are purposefully honed to their sharpest edge (in terms of both the idea and the structure of the talk) in order to be engaging, accessible, and spreadable.
Clarity and concision aren’t just for TEDx speakers
The principles of clarity and concision apply in every communication scenario—on and off the red dot. As speakers, we’re responsible for ensuring our message is clear and succinct. The clarity and concision are what ensure our stakeholders can grasp it and then actually share it with others… re-transmit it.
How would your career benefit from your ideas spreading further—on or off the red dot?
- When you present to your boss or board, would your recommendations be better received… more likely to be implemented?
- Would you be better positioned to make an impact on your organization and those you serve?
- Would you be viewed as someone ready for the next step in career growth?
- Would you (and your team) be more effective at winning new clients and customers?
Your ideas are worth spreading—even if they don’t belong on the red dot. Take the time to hone your idea, pitch, or recommendation into something that can easily be translated to others (across the country or at least the organization). It might just change the outcome of an important decision that affects many.
I’d love to help you share your ideas in the clearest, most impactful way. To learn how I can help, sign up for a complimentary consultation, check out my upcoming workshops, or email me for information about my coaching packages.