Have you ever listened to someone talk and felt totally confused by the end of the conversation?
It happened to me when people explained cryptocurrency and blockchain and kept saying that they are the future.
If you cannot communicate with clarity, you cannot establish trust with your audience. People zone out fast, and you only have a short amount of time to get your point across before they walk away.
Today, I want to show a simple framework to help you communicate your message across.
This framework is powerful because it can be applied in any circumstance and on any format (verbal, text, etc.) or platform.
This framework is called S-E-X-I:
S - Statement
E - Example
X - (E)Xplanation
I - Importance
By using this framework, you will never look back. It allows you to explain your ideas in detail, and emphasize the importance of your message.
Statement
Before you speak, know that the opening statement matters more than you think.
It allows you to capture someone's attention, like a hook. You need to hook them to pay attention and listen to you.
Unfortunately, many people aren't aware of this. They start their sentence with an introduction like "Hello everyone, my name is A, B, C" and go on for days without making a strong statement.
Skip the introduction, make a statement that wakes people up.
For example, "I will show you how to make a million dollars online" or "I have 5 secrets to share with you today, and I believe your life will change after listening to these 5 secrets."
These are statements, not mellow points.
Remember, a strong opening statement can make all the difference.
Example
After making your statement, follow up with an example.
This helps to paint a clear picture and provide context for the audience to continue listening to you.
Stick to the rule of one statement, one example.
You don't need 10 examples to convince your audience. Just make sure that the example you present is relevant to the audience. The more relevant it is, the better they can receive your message.
There are 4 different types of examples that you can use to illustrate your point:
Personal examples: Use examples and stories from your personal experience.
Examples from other people: Use examples from others that you've witnessed.
Stories that you've heard. Just make sure to cite the source
Data and statistics: These are also examples. Go online, look for current news related to your statement, and use it as proof. Testimonials, videos, and other media are all examples as well.
Explanation
After making a statement and providing an example, now it’s time to give an explanation.
At this point, the audience has already maintained their attention in what you have to say.
In your explanation, clarify what you meant by your statement and how the example relates to the audience. This helps to make your message more persuasive, especially for those who haven't heard of your statement or examples before.
Tell the audience the main point, how it works, and who has done it, if relevant.
Again, keep your explanation short and simple.
Importance
After making your statement, example, and explanation, the last part is to tell the audience why these things are important.
This will make your message more meaningful and memorable.
The truth is that most people will forget 99.9% of your message, unless they can apply it to their own lives.
Highlight the significance of your message to make it stick with the audience.
If you want people to take your message away with them, don’t forget the last part.
When in doubt, keep it simple and S-E-X-I
There are plenty of communication frameworks out there that you can use for everyday conversations.
Trust me, there are more than just this framework.
But whenever you are forced to give a toast and you don’t know what to say, keep it simple and remember to keep it S-E-X-I.
Be great!