As he spoke with waving arms, his untucked and wrinkly button-up shirt lifted to expose the bottom of his large belly.
His thick black beard made up for the hair missing from the top of his head.
One couldn’t help but notice the little piece of white spittle that had formed on his upper lip. Sometimes it moved to the bottom.
And everyone hoped it never made its way to the front row.
I sat in the front row.
Yet, the impassioned lecture, from what some might consider a madman, enthralled us all.
There was no denying the man was brilliant.
What made him so captivating?
And how did I learn so much, even though I was in constant danger of being spit on? Looking back I’d say it’s because he used the 4-T structure of communication.
What is the 4-T’s structure?
1. Tell ’em what you’re gonna tell ’em
2. Tell ’em
3. Tell ’em what you told ’em
4. Tell ’em what to do next
Simple right? Powerful too.
Why are the 4T’s so powerful?
Because it’s a structure that works best for learning. Why bother sharing ideas if they’re not going to have an impact?
If you’re lucky enough to have an audience, then talk about ideas that mean something. Ideas that help people. Ideas you’re passionate about so you can motivate people to take action.
Do you believe what you do?
Then share it in a way that allows people to understand. Your passion combined with the structure of the 4T’s allows your audience to remember, feel inspired, and pass your passion along to others.
This passion spreads your ideas
And if you share your idea in a way that people can remember, you’ll be on your way moving people down the path you want them to go.
Passion and the 4Ts are a powerful combination.
You can find the 4-T structure almost everywhere
Look at any type of professional media. Look at education. The structure is based on how we learn. Heck, take a look at a Reality TV show.
The shows follow this 4-T structure. And there’s also some type of recap of what’s happened to this point. Why? To refresh your memory. So you can better understand what’s going on.
What’s going on inside you?
Why should people care? Share what you know. But not in a cold, dry, ‘business-like’ way. You can be professional, personable, and passionate at the same time. (Hmm, 3 P’s.) That passion makes people sit up and listen. It’s what we connect with.
So when you get the chance spit on everyone!
Spit until others are spitting with you. It’s this love of what you do that reaches people. That instigates change.
Don’t keep it in.
Let it out and let it out often. Because eventually you’ll hit someone and believe it or not they’ll be happy you did!
Summary:
- Organize your thoughts based on the 4T’s so your audience remembers your point.
- Get passionate. Transfer that energy and engage your audience.
- Always have something to do next. Otherwise what’s the point?
The next step:
Check a webpage, an article, a speech, whatever. See if you can make it better with the 4T’s.