What’s your point and how to convey it: Joel Schwartzberg

Show Notes

Get to the point! Do you know what your point is?
How to make your point

Episode 157 (Joel is based in New Jersey)

In this conversation with Joel Schwartzberg we explore:

• What is a valid point?


• The structure and litmus test of a point


• How to tie sub-points to the big mission


• How many points are too many?


• How to create a meeting agenda based on points


• What the magic words to clarify your point?


• The importance of an action step


• The role of inspiration in your point

About our guest, Joel Schwartzberg:

He was the national champion in public speaking on the collegiate level. He's a frequent contributor to Harvard Business Review, Inc.com and Toastmaster magazine.

He is the author of Get to the Point, Sharpen your Message and make your Words Matter. His clients include State Farm Insurance, Comedy Central, and Brennan Centre for justice.

Learn about his books and services at

www.joelschwartzberg.com

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Excerpt from this conversation with Joel Schwartzberg:

So the funny thing about points is, we assume we know what one is because we use that language all the time.

Get to the point, what's your point? Did you make your point, and it's presumed that it's something like an idea or a topic may be even a theme.

But the truth of the matter, and what's most instructive and helpful for us is if we reimagined this word point, as something very specific, it's not a topic, it's not a theme.

In essence, it's an argument or a proposition, you're basically making a case for something that if you nail it, your audience will think a new, or they'll take an action step that you want them to take.

And that only happens when you make this proposition, this argument to them a case and you can tell it's a point because you can prove it with data with storytelling with reasonability, with all of Aristotle's tools, going way back when, but just as an example, because that's a description, and I like to really drill down.

Let's talk about podcasting. So if I said to you, George, or you said to me, I want to talk today about podcasting. That's your topic.

But what have you told me about podcasting? Is it on the rise? Or is it becoming antiquated? Is podcasting a good thing or a bad thing? Have there been evolutions in podcasting? Is there a good way to podcast a bad way to podcast? I have no idea the point you're trying to make if you use the word podcasting, and even if you said the importance of podcasting, or the evolution of podcasting?

Are those things good or bad? Is it going up or down? This is why it's so important to distinguish between a theme and a topic or a point.

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Your host is George Torok

George is a specialist in executive communication skills. That includes conversation and presentation. He’s fascinated by way we communicate and influence behaviors. He delivers training and coaching programs to help leaders and promising professionals deliver the intended message for greater success.

 

Connect with George

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