If candy can grab your attention like a fast car, so can T.I.C. T.A.C.S.—seven ways to pull in listeners and hold them, from your first words to your last. Try one of these T.I.C. T.A.C.S. in your next presentation. You can quickly engage any audience with a T.I.C. and make your message memorable with one or more T.A.C.S.
All eyes are on you, when you open a presentation with one, two or all three T.I.C.’s:
T – TEASE your audience
I – IGNITE curiosity
C – COMPELLING VISUALS
The “T” in T.I.C. stands for tease your audience in your opening. Don’t give away your main message too soon. If you jump into your main points immediately, you give your audience no reason to listen for the big finale. You want to entice the audience to come along for the ride. Like a good TV cliffhanger, make your listeners want to tune in for the rest of the show. A good tease gives the audience reasons to stay with you and tells them what they gain, if they do.
The “I” in T.I.C. stands for igniting curiosity. The best way to do that is to ask a surprising question. Throw your audience a pitch they aren’t expecting. You can frame a topic in an unexpected way that clicks their curiosity button. Questions that start with “Have you ever” or “imagine” pull your audience into your message and engage their curiosity.
And the “C” in T.I.C. stands for a compelling visual. Give your audience a compelling visual to help them visualize your message. You can share a personal story, slides, photos, video or a prop (like Tic Tac candy) to visually bring your message alive for your audience. Visuals help your listeners see the point you’re trying to make.
Your message will stick with the audience after your final words, when you close with one or more T.A.C.S.:
T – TAP into a bigger picture
A – ASK your audience to take action
C – CIRCLE back to your opening
S – SIGN OFF with a memorable slogan
To “T”, tap into a bigger picture, remind the audience how your message relates to their vision or values. Martin Luther King’s “I Have a Dream” speech ended on a high note and tapped into our values of fairness, justice and equality in a memorable way.
To “A”, ask your audience to take action, move your audience from passive listeners to engaged participants. Ask them to buy into your ideas, buy your product/services or turn your words into powerful good deeds. When your listeners take action, you know your message has taken root with them.
To “C”, circle back to your opening, remind your audience of a story or example you mentioned in your opening. You can also start a story in your opening and finish it at the end. That’s called a circular close. It ties your message up in a nice package.
To “S”, sign off with a memorable slogan, capture your message in an easy-to-repeat phrase that summarizes your main point and makes it unforgettable. Television advertisers use this powerful communications tool to perfection. Can you still hum TV jingles from decades ago? For your next presentation, see if you can come up with a catchy phrase that sums up your message in less than 10 words.
Make it easy for your audience to remember your message by closing with T.A.C.S. (tap into a bigger picture, ask your audience to take action, circle back to your opening or sign off with a memorable slogan).
Can candy make you a better presenter? Tic Tac candy can freshen your mouth and T.I.C. T.A.C.S. can make your message as unforgettable as your favorite candy or Prince’s “Little Red Corvette”!
Are your presentations getting the job done? Discover the six proven ways to connect with your audience and get them to take action in my free checklist, “Make Your Message Stick (Like Glue) to Any Audience”. To get audience connection and take action ideas, email to Rosalyn@portercoachyou.com
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