Episode #219: Primacy And Recency For Speakers (Part Two)

In Part One, we looked at the ideas of primacy (the first thing we remember) and recency (the last thing we remember) and what this means for speakers. Now in Part Two we will go deeper with our entry and exit points of the chapters within the talk and how to choreograph the big crescendo for our polemic’s sparkling conclusion.

We naturally have to pump a lot of energy into designing the opening stanza of our speech. On the surface of it, this would seem to be our one big chance to establish our theme, point of view and talk direction with the audience. The opening is a battering ram to smash into the brains of the assembled masses and launch a takeover of their every thought. This is easier said than done though, because any lapse of logistics or vocal quality and energy will see them scampering for the mental exists to get their internet fix mainlined through their phones.

Even if we do manage to hijack them at the start, we cannot presume we won’t lose them somewhere midstream. That is why when we do the planning for the talk we need to design distinct chapters into the talk. These chapters are constructed around the evidence that supports our central proposition. Now these chapters have a primacy and recency function as well. The opening of the chapter has to dislodge that last thing we told them and replace it with the new bauble.

Most speakers pay no attention to this chapter idea and just arrange their talk to move from one section to the next. The sections of the talk compete with each other for audience attention and we have to be aware of that. At each chapter start we need a mini-battering ram to blast the tunnel deeper into the listener’s mind. We have just told them some scintillating detail backing up our overall point and now we need to dislodge that, so we can ship in the next point.

Stories are good for this exercise as are questions, quotes, facts and statistics. We are wading deep in our evidence portion of the talk at this point, but the facts need to be arrayed before the audience in such a way that makes them irrefutable. In a forty minute speech each chapter will be about five minutes long, so taking out the blockbuster opening and the first stupendous close before the Q&A, we probably have time for six or seven chapters. So that means we need some variety with each opening. Starting each chapter with the same thing becomes predictable and boring. Predictability is the speaker’s nemesis, because it invites the audience to escape from us now that they know what is coming next.

In the planning stage investigate the point you are making to support your overall argument and see what type of opening the evidence lends itself to. There may be some doubling up with opening gambits, but try for as much variety as possible to keep audience attention on you the speaker. The end of each chapter is mini-close as well. That means we have to come up with a zinger one sentence finisher that really makes your key argument sing. This is all a matter of planning and that is the rub. Most speakers do a poor job of planning because they are waist deep in slide assembly and logistics. This is what they call planning but that is delusionary.

We have used each chapter to make our case and each chapter ending to summarise the facts and evidence of that section. At the first close, before the Q&A, we need to bring the whole juggernaut to a crescendo. Again, this is all about our design creativity and communication expertise. Naturally the vocal delivery is a rise at the end of the final sentence that barks credibility, power, conviction and belief.

We finish strongly, implant a pregnant pause that invites the audience to recognise we have finished and that they may now unleash their frenzied applause. We then glide straight into the Q&A, following which we add another powerful close. It can mimic the first one, it could be different, it is all in the planning and what type of impact you want. Nevertheless, the vocal delivery will again be triumphant, strong and commanding. Many speakers end with a whimper, their voice quietly falling away. Don’t be one of them. Go out powerfully, with energy, verve and supreme confidence. Deliver an ending they won’t forget, because we know the power of recency and we want our message to stick.