Do your public policy talks send the audience to sleep

A lot of public policy talks are like Dr Meinheimer’s in Naked Gun 2 1/2.

Sincere, earnest, and sleep-inducing.

Some talks resemble an academic panel of 4 panellists who speak in a language with only a loose relationship with English.

 

A good talk should have most, if not all, of the following:

  • Keep it brief.
  • Have one central message, not 102.
  • Tell a story.
  • Make the story compelling.
  • Make it interesting.
  • Speak to interest the audience, not yourself.
  • Engage the audience.
  • Turn up on time.
  • Finish early.
  • If you have Q&A, answer any questions concisely. It’s not a post doc panel discussion.
  • Rehearse. Record yourself with your iPhone to see how much you twitch or rub your nose.

If you are hosting an event with a view to persuade decision-makers, here are some additional points:

  • Make sure they are in the audience and even better on the panel as well.
  • If the decision-makers are not in the room, you are likely having a seance with true believers.
  • Make sure some media are in the room to report on the event.
  • You are trying to persuade decision-makers and influencers, so address the points that are of concern to them.
  • Be civil throughout. I don’t know of any culture where coming across as an angry person is a good look.
  • Make sure the talks are short and the Q&A shorter. Break to mingle and have side conversations.
  • If someone in the audience wants to ask a question as a rouse to talk about their life-long obsession, say the Lizard People are responsible, politely cut them off, and move on.
  • Don’t emulate Dr Meinheimer.