Brain Storm

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How do you come up with ideas for your talk or speech?

You have been asked to give a talk, a presentation or a speech, you need to prepare and get ready. What is the most efficient way of brain storming ideas for your upcoming talk?

If you know the date of your talk and it is a month or more away then one thing that you can do is to get an envelope, write the title or subject of your talk on it and then collect ideas as you go. Every time you get to your desk you will see the title and think about it, and every time you have an idea write it on a sheet of paper and pop it in.

Then when you come to write the talk or presentation open the envelope and you should have plenty of ideas to get you started!

But what if you have to get started quickly, you don’t have time? You have to get it done to present tomorrow?

I use Mind Mapping to get my ideas out, every time I have to create a speech I start with a mind map, it helps me to get my ideas out and really explore the subject. For every speech you do you should endeavour to have far more ideas than you could ever present, then when you come to put the speech together you will be forced to cut out the chaff and focus on the key issues. For more information on Mind Mapping look up Tony Buzan.

Always remember that during the brain storming all ideas are good ideas, you should not censor your mind when you are having ideas, let it flow and right down every idea that comes no matter what it is. This allows you to be creative, give yourself permission to have bad ideas, give yourself permission to brain storm.

So remember, if you have time before the speech start work early and collect your ideas, us mind mapping to expand your creativity and do not censor your thoughts at this stage.

This will help you to get the juices flowing and the ideas coming.

Good luck with your next presentation.