When I was fresh out of college I got a job as a youth pastor. Once a week we made calls on prospective members, people who had visited the church.
It happened that one night we were out knocking on doors while the annual All-Star game was happening, and the team I was most loyal to (Cincinnati Reds) had several players starting! I didn’t want to knock on doors. I wanted to be home watching the game. And I was convinced that any door we knocked on, the people inside would be wanting to watch the game, too!
I asked the older fellow I was out with (he sold cemetery plots for a living), “How do you stay motivated to be out tonight?”
Related: The number one reason why people are lousy speakers
“It’s simple, you just have to convince the people we are calling on that no matter what they are doing, what we have to tell them right now is more important.”
A simple formula for a great presentation with continuing impact is message/messenger + need + timing.
Winston Churchill is a great example. He had a message that the people needed to hear at the time they needed to hear it.
The messenger can control his/her message. But, the timing may need to be manipulated = the listeners might need convincing that now is when they need to hear what the guy or gal on stage is going to say.
Additionally, the need has to be established. The stronger the need is felt, the better the message is received.
Message and messenger + timing + need are the ingredients for a great presentation. And when they all come together there can be a lasting impact.
Ask Churchill.
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