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SEEMS TO ME... Were you born a Ramblin’ Man?
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he lyrics of the 1973 hit song by the Allman Brothers Band, “Ramblin’ Man” go something like this: Lord, I was born a ramblin’ man. Tryin’ to make a livin’ and doin’ the best I can. And when it’s time for leavin’, I hope you’ll understand That I was born a ramblin’ man.
Were you born a ramblin’ man? Tryin’ to get through your presentations the best you can? Well, when this County Lines article is over, I hope you’ll understand why you don’t want to be a ramblin’ man — or woman. No doubt you have been in a situation where someone’s telling a story, and he goes on for so long you can’t even remember what the story is about. Or you’re in a meeting where someone gets a question, and her response is so longwinded you have no idea what she just said. Everything you say, and the way you say it, becomes evidence of your competence, or lack of it. Have you ever walked away from a meeting thinking things like: What was I thinking? Why did I run on like that? Or, I can’t believe I didn’t know when to stop talking! It’s not uncommon for people to struggle to be clear, succinct, and direct in their communication. The symptoms usually sound something like this: “I started talking, and then I kept talking, and then I lost my point, and then I didn’t know what to do so I kept talking and didn’t know how to stop. And then I felt like an idiot.” We all know that elected officials are called on many times to make presentations on various matters — either during election cycles or in the regular course of an official’s duties. Are you one of those that cannot get to the point? Why can’t you be more concise? The primary reason is a lack of preparation and practice. You might know the subject like the back of your hand but that doesn’t mean you’re ready to express it clearly and concisely out loud. If you are guilty of making that assumption, you are falling into a trap and a rookie mistake. I’ve been making county government presentations for over 40 years, and I feel like I know and understand most aspects of county government. Yet, I don’t dare make a scheduled presentation without proper preparation. If I ever reach that point of thinking I don’t need to prepare, I’ll be heading to the house because I won’t be properly doing my job. In order to be more concise: • Be prepared. Anyone can drone on forever and a day. It takes forethought to be concise and to the point. • Consider your audience. What do they already 16
know? Give them what is necessary for them to do their job effectively. Stick to those points without getting into needless detail. • Think before speaking. Take a breath and consider the main point. State that point, then elaboEddie A. Jones rate if necessary. If you just open County Consultant your mouth and start talking you’re bound to arrive at confusion. • Be deliberate. Control the pace of your delivery. Take your time and speak in short phrases. It gives you time to consider what you’re about to say, and your listeners time to process what you just said. Don’t talk too fast. If you want to get your point across, you need to get to the point. Succinct communication requires structure and thought and starts with thinking about what you are planning to communicate, to whom and what your desired outcome is. Succinct — “clearly expressed.” All of us know that traveling today’s highway and road system can be extremely difficult without some type of GPS. If you take a wrong turn, your navigation system tells you how to get back on track. However, to do that your GPS has to know where you’re going. Whether you’re traveling or preparing a presentation, without knowing your destination and having a plan you will find yourself going in circles. To avoid rambling when speaking and to elevate your credibility, begin with the end in mind. What is the purpose of your presentation? What do you want your audience to learn? It’s easier to align your message and talking points when your objectives are clear. Even if you get distracted or veer off course when speaking, you can steer your presentation back on track when you know your destination. Every presentation should have a “key takeaway.” Your presentation may have multiple points, but what is the talk really about? Albert Einstein said, “If you can’t explain it simply, you don’t understand it well enough.” Are you trying to say too much for your audience to understand, remember, and repeat? Your presentation will not have the desired impact if you leave with a confused audience. Your listening crowd must be able to relate to you as the presenter. Dazzle your audience with your smile and make them laugh with your stories. But your talking points and supporting examples must point back and relate to your core message. If the audience doesn’t understand the point of your presentation, nothing will stick. Make your message stick by creating a memorable moCOUNTY LINES, SPRING 2021
