EPIC TIPS FOR SPEAKING POWERFULLY
Let’s say you have the chance to speak with a member of Congress at a town hall meeting, connect with a busy editorial writer on the telephone, or catch the attention of a friend. Typically, you will only have one or two minutes to get your point across. Learning to speak powerfully about an issue is one of the most important tools in a change agent’s toolkit.
Here are some tips that we hope will help make you a more effective communicator and advocate:
Use the EPIC Model
By using the “laser talk” format, you’ll make the most of your opportunity. First you need to engage the listener’s attention. Next, you present a problem you want them to know about. Then you inform them about a solution to the problem. And finally, you call them to action. An easy way to remember these four sections is to use the word EPIC:
E stands for engage P stands for problem I is for inform, and C stands for call to Action
Engage Your Audience
Get your listener’s attention with a dramatic fact or short statement. For example, you could say:
“By 2020, the older adult population (60+) in Santa Clara County is expected to nearly double to 428,300 individuals, representing more than 1/5 of the country’s population.”
State The Problem
Present the cause or causes of the problem you introduced in the first section. How widespread or serious is it? For instance, you could say:
“Currently there are 9,842 seniors living below the Federal Poverty Line countywide who do not have access to nutrition and the numbers are expected to grow.”
Inform about the Solution
Inform the listener about a solution to the problem you just presented. Develop your solution by examples of how and where it has worked in the past. You could cite a recent study or report or tell a first-person account of how the solution has been effective. Here’s another example, you can start out by saying:
“Last year’s grant helped us deliver nearly 100,00 meals to more than 600 clients.”
Call to Action
Now that you have engaged your listener and presented the problem and solution, what do you want them to do? Make the action something specific so that you will be able to follow up with them and find out whether or not that have taken it. Present the action in the form of a yes or no question. You could potentially say the following:
“I would like to meet with you to discuss the role you can play in ensuring this funding is secured. When would you have time to meet for a few minutes?”
Also, it is crucial for you to do the following:
Practice Your Delivery
Any good actor or musician knows that you would never appear on stage without a full rehearsal first, and it is no different with public speaking. Taking the time to educate ourselves about the issues, preparing a brief talk and then practicing our speaking skills is the first and most important thing any advocate needs to do.
Often times, you will have one to two minutes to speak, so it is important to write your remarks down and practice making your points in the allotted timeframe. As you practice, you’ll discover where you need more practice or things you may want to change. Be flexible and always stay on the lookout for interesting facts to update your talks.
Source: Adapted from RESULTS Laser Talks and Powerful Storytelling and www.action.org
Comments