How, you ask? Well, here’s what your audience is thinking but not saying out loud: Cut to the chase, please! Spare
me all that info, just tell me what you want me to know! Yep, that’s what
they’re thinking. You’ve thought the very same thing when others are speaking
or leading a meeting, so you can pretty much assume others will be thinking it
when you’re speaking or leading a meeting.
So, given your topic or your purpose for the meeting, take a preemptive
strike and imagine that someone in the audience told you to cut to the chase. What would you say?
Once you’ve thought of that, jot it down, and clean it up a bit, and voilĂ , you have your opening and closing comments.
In the middle you can offer up some background information your audience may
need, but only as much as they have the appetite for, so be careful with that!
Bottom line? Just cut to the chase. Everyone will be happier. Everything
will be clearer. And all will be well.