How to make your communication memorable

Matt Abrahams, a lecturer at Stanford Graduate School of Business, shares practical advice on how to make public presentations memorable and how to cultivate the right mindset for successful communication.

He offers a variety of techniques to improve communication skills, including leveraging technology tools, establishing clear goals, and structuring content effectively.

Never lose your audience, because once you lose them, it’s very hard to get them back. – Matt Abrahams

It’s crucial to tailor content to meet the needs of the specific audience.

This makes the message more relevant and meaningful to them, increasing the likelihood that the message will be remembered.

Feedback is essential for improving communication skills.

Trusted individuals and digital recording can provide valuable feedback.

Resources such as ‘No Freaking Speaking,’ Stanford Continuing Studies, and Toastmasters are recommended for learning and practicing communication skills.

Making messages memorable is a key aspect of effective communication.

Learning valuable tactics and techniques and having fun during the communication process can help make messages more memorable.

It is my hope that you are leaving here today with some specific tactics and techniques you can use to help you be more memorable and your messages to be more memorable when you communicate. – Matt Abrahams

Engaging an audience can be challenging, especially if they don’t relate to the speaker.

Using carefully considered and self-deprecating humor can help, along with understanding the audience’s motivations and facilitating dialog to build trust and break down barriers.

Cultural relevance is important in communication.

While many techniques discussed are applicable across cultures, it is crucial to consider cultural expectations and norms.

Engagement with the audience is emphasized as a critical aspect of effective communication.

The ‘what, so what, now what’ structure is recommended for giving feedback.

This structure involves identifying the issue, explaining its importance, and providing guidance for improvement.

Practicing this structured approach can make feedback concise and memorable.

Time management and preparation are essential for effective communication.

Prioritizing and becoming more efficient through practice can help with preparation.

The importance of getting a good night’s sleep is highlighted, as research suggests it is more beneficial than repetitive practice while tired.

While visual aids can be helpful in communication, over-reliance on them can detract from the message.

It’s important to balance the use of slides and other aids with direct communication to ensure that the message is effectively conveyed.