Communication Cheat Sheet: How To Speak, Communicate, Deliver Your Message Better
Hi Guys,
This article aims to make you communicate or drive your message better to other people. I will provide you a cheat sheet at the end of the article. This article heavily inspired & referenced from the training provided by my company, Shopee ID. Hope you are going to enjoy this, let's go, check it out! :)
1. Start with WHY?
Why you need this? Let me provide you with a set of words below.
What do you think about the picture above? Can you remember those words within 5 sec?
I don’t think so, you can't remember well all those words just within 5 seconds. At least not for me XD. Maybe you are a person with a very good ability to memorize. But let’s be frank here, it is hard to remember those words. Now check the next picture below.
What do you think about the picture above? Can you remember those words within 5 sec?
Again, I don’t think so, you can't remember well all those words just within 5 seconds XD. Maybe we still cannot remember well all those words, but, it’s a lot easier than the previous one. After we restructure those words, make a categorization, and put each word in the correct or related category, it easier for us to memorize it.
This cheat sheet basically just tries to help you structurize on how you prepare the message you are going to deliver. I think we can agree, the 2nd picture is easier to memorize compared to the 1st one. Then let’s answer our question, why?
Information is power. But without a clear structure, information becomes noise.
2. Pyramid Principle
How you normally tell your story? Let me help you with a picture.
Let me explain to you more about what the picture above trying to tell. How did you prefer to hear a story from someone, when the objective is to get the point as fast as possible. Here is a story example with 2 different ways on how to narrate it.
a. What -> Climax
One day, I woke up at 8am in the morning. Then I get ready to work. I go to the office with GOJEK, but suddenly on my way there’s a crash accident which delayed my travel to work. Once I arrive to the office, only 10 minutes left until work start. Instead of lift, I used stairs to reach my desk. Again, on my way there’s an accident which made me need to wait about 20 minutes. In the end, I arrived late about 15 minutes at my work, I hate this day.
b. Climax -> What
Today I arrived late about 15 minutes at work, I hate this day! woke up at 8am in the morning. Then I get ready to work. I go to the office with GOJEK, but suddenly on my way there’s a crash accident which delayed my travel to work. Once I arrive to the office, only 10 minutes left until work start. Instead of lift, I used stairs to reach my desk. Again, on my way there’s an accident which made me need to wait about 20 minutes.
Which one do you think is easier to process? The 1st or 2nd one? I choose the 2nd one. Both stories have one same point, arriving late in the office and hating that day. It is easier if we told the point at the beginning of the story.
Story going to be a lot easier to process. If we already know what’s the point of the story itself.
3. Golden Rule
3 is the golden rule. Have you ever realize, since we were a kid most things usually separated into three. We have been indoctrinated with number three. Three is just right, neither more nor less, not much yet not less, not excessive but not deficient.
We can combine this golden rule with the pyramid principle. To separate the message we wanted to deliver into 3 sub-messages. There are three benefits of doing this: 1) Persuasive, 2) Rhythmical, and 3) Memorable.
Below is the framework and an example, how you can implement Golden Rule + Pyramid Principle.
How to read the structure above:
So, I wanted to tell you guys about Bandung city. First, I going to tell you about the food. Second, the entertainment alternative for you. Last, the transportation you can use in the city.
There are three foods I recommend for you, which is Porridge, Satay, and Dumpling. Those are my top Bandung typical foods. After filling in your stomach, you can entertain your days to the mountains, go to the park, or even just go to the mall. At last, how can you reach all that? I can tell you three transportation you can try, which is Angkot or angkutan kota, Bus, or Taxi.
4. Cheat Sheet
Finally, you’ve done this far, now is the time for the cheat sheet :). You already know how to use the framework. But there is a question, how to define this 3 sub-message easier? Worry not, here I am giving you a cheat sheet on how to define that 3 sub-message easier. We can categorize the sub-message at least with these 3 options:
a. Time
This plan arranges topics in terms of points in time. It’s the inevitable passing of time that moves it along.
b. Place
This plan uses geographical places as its structural filter. In a place plan, you move your listener's eyes from one to another place, such as cities, countries, buildings, rooms, machines, etc.
c. Aspect
This plan formats information using aspects or viewpoints. It communicates your ability to look at all sides of an issue
I think that’s all I can share with you. Last but not least, I have a quote from Winston Churchill. Xiexie guys :D
If you have an important point to make, don’t try to be subtle or clever. Use a pile driver. Hit the point once. Then come back and hit it again. Then hit it a third time — a tremendous whack.
