Executive Presence: Memorize your content with taglines

Memorize your content with taglines

Memorize your content with taglines

Obama’s speechwriters often use phrases that could be set to song. Aside from the obvious, “Yes we can”, parallel constructions are used, for example, “ It’s not because of this, it’s not because of that.” as well as other short pithy phrases or soundbites. Executive speakers should adapt this approach for two reasons. First, it helps the presenter memorize the content. Second, it also allows the audience to quickly digest key messages without having to think too much. An important factor in short presentations. In The One Minute Presenter, this is known as taglining your message. Go through your presentations section by section and sum up each part with a short sentence of no more than seven words. Try to make it catchy, like a billboard slogan. This process really helps you go even deeper into your message and how to make it appealing to your audience.

Executive presence is enhanced through face-to-face presenting to senior management. Ensure your next presentation builds your credentials in their eyes with these three tips: paint stories from your data-heavy content, bring your message closer to the audience through connecting phrases, and tagline every section in your presentation so that your message comes out crystal clear. A final test of whether you are ready to face your senior management is when you can stand up, without a slidedeck, and deliver a punchy impactful presentation.
Are you an Executive? Learn how Warwick helps ambitious executives speak with executive presence here.