I’ve noticed people started making references to “talk tracks” a lot. I figured out what it meant: essentially it’s “what is the narrative?” The narrative is important because it’s basically the argument you’re making to convince others that you’re right. So what are the lessons learned on talk tracks?
- The talk track has to be compelling and clear. You should be able to write the talk track in 5 sentences. If you can’t, you haven’t done all the work necessary to figure it out. I always write out the 5 sentences to make sure we’ve stayed on track.
- It’s almost always the storyline: “Where we are, where we want to be, and how we’re going to get there”. Yes, the topics change, you might have nuances to explain, but pretty much…that’s it. Every time I get presented to? Those are the questions in my head.
- Adjust your presentation to the purpose and audience. General rule of thumb: the larger the audience, or if you’re making a presentation standing up, fewer words. You’re performing. You’re making a presentation that’s sharing information. If it’s a smaller group, and you’re looking for a decision to be made or affirmed, more words…especially if it’s likely your presentation will be forwarded to others…you’re the lawyer. Make sure your legal brief can stand on it’s own.
- The best talk tracks are simple, sprinkled with key facts which support your points. If you’re saying that expenses have been increasing as a result of this problem, point to a fact that brings it to light. For instance, “We have a 40% reject rate on new applications, and we now have double the backlog”. Facts and details accentuate the case: but it’s like salt…you need enough to enhance the flavor, but not so much you ruin the dish.
- Edit, edit, edit: be relentless. Take out anything that’s repetitive, or adds no value to the presentation. Read it…and read it again. I loved editing on airplanes because I was 100% focused on the presentation with no distractions. You’ll know when you’re done when you don’t have any more changes.