Final Argument #3 - the Roadmap

Tell 'em how you're going to tell 'em

This episode presents the second technique in the Final Argument series of posts. It again borrows from an essential public speaking technique in the handbook Think! Write! Speak! Speechwriting for Professionals (available from Amazon in ebook and paperback, here).

You have already caught the decision-maker’s attention with your creative opening line.   Now, it’s time for you to present your arguments. But wait! There’s another step! Before you tell the decision-maker what you have to say, you should let your audience know how you will deliver the goods. We call this the ‘Roadmap’.

There are a few reasons to do this:

1.     The decision-maker may use your outline as the framework of the reasons for the decision. If so, happy days! You are on your way to success!

2.     If you explain where you are going and how you will get there, the decision-maker may not interrupt with questions you will answer in due course anyway. You learned to answer the judge’s questions immediately, right? Well, that interruption can be inconvenient, especially if you were just about to get to that subject.

3.     A roadmap that outlines a speech lets the audience see how tightly reasoned it is. How competent you are. It inspires confidence in your abilities, like telling a traveller how easy the route is.

So much for the reasons why. Let’s turn to the technique. The roadmap should be a flexible device meant to guide the decision-maker through the outline of your argument. Not only will this not be a one-size-fits-all tool, but you might adopt a different method each time you present an argument. Indeed, the roadmap applies equally to all presentations you make. Not only those in the courtroom.