Ernest Hemingway is recognized as the father of the six-word story – a string of six words that tell a complete story. That seems simple enough, right? But when you start to think about it, there is a unique challenge in telling a story in so few words. According to Aristotle, for a story to truly be considered a story, it must include a beginning, middle, and end. I remember completing the six-word story exercise as a high school student in English class. As I recall, it was difficult to condense a story – a beginning, middle, and end – into just six words. But the truth is, it can be done. And for presenters, the ability to convey your presentation message and tell your presentation story in a sentence so short is highly valuable. For starters, it shows that you have a focused idea and overall concept. But it also demonstrates that the elements you’ve chosen to detail in your presentation story are clear and direct – not muddled with unnecessary fluff or extraneous information.
So, can you tell your presentation story in six words? If you can’t, here’s why…
1. Nonessential information
Have you taken steps to define your 3 main points? If you haven’t, you may be headed down a rabbit hole of nonessential information. After you’ve decided on a presentation title or theme, you should set aside time to think about those crucial points that must be covered. These points must serve no other purpose than to provide support for your call to action. That’s the reason you are presenting anyway… To encourage audience members to adopt an idea, change a perspective, purchase a product, or invest in a service. Only include the information that is absolutely necessary. Otherwise, your audience will miss the point of your entire presentation story.
Flimsy structure
If you can’t boil your 30- or 60-minute presentation into six words, it could mean that your presentation story lacks a true beginning, middle, and end. Don’t disappoint Aristotle! Outline your content prior to building a PowerPoint or Keynote deck so that you can establish the structure of your presentation before fleshing out the supporting points and details.
Undefined objective
The source of both flimsy structure and nonessential information can almost always be traced back to an undefined objective. What is driving the need for your presentation? Who is your audience? What do they need or want? These are all questions you need to ask yourself when defining your presentation objective. After answering them, take a stab at creating a six-word story for your presentation. Reference the example below:
New marketing platform seeking qualified investors.
The six-word story exercise is one that many presenters would benefit from participating in when they are in a rut. It will help you discover the essential information, provide narrative direction, and address a specific objective. Check out the following resources for more about improving your presentation story!
In Six Words, These Writers Tell You An Entire Story
3 Signs of Presentation Storytelling Doom
Many Hats: The Story of the Presenter
Storytelling Structure for the Business Plan Presentation
