So, you have a big idea, need to share it with an audience, and are looking to structure your talk. How do you choose a beginning, middle, and end? Have you considered using the StoryHow™ PSP method?
In my recent book, The Proverb Effect, I teach how old proverbs have helped teachers teach and students learn for thousands of years. Something in their linguistic structure gives proverbs the unique capability to act as both premise and conclusion. PSP uses this dual capability to open your talk using proverb as a premise, follow it with story-based examples, then wrap it all up by repeating the proverb as a conclusion. PSP helps you open and close strong.
For example, let’s use PSP to structure a talk about the power of persistence.
The method is effective because the human brain is comfortable listening to stories and proverbs are the ultimate long-stories short.
The first example used an old proverb, but perhaps you want to use one of your own. Here’s an example of one of my PSP talks.
Let’s say that I want to share the big idea that people will only join your cause if they can relate personally with it.
Give it a try. Use PSP to structure your next talk using the following steps:
- Convert that big idea into a proverb
- Open your presentation with it
- Offer evidence through stories
- Cap off your talk by putting the word remember before your proverb
Give PSP a try and let me know how it worked out.