#Signpost communication how to#
#Signpost communication free#

What Is The Difference Between A Signpost And A Transition?Ī signpost is a verbal or visual marker indicating the direction you are taking your speech/presentation or where you are presently at in order to help your audience move through different concepts, connect the dots, and help them stay engaged.

#Signpost communication how to#

How To Create Signposts In The Conclusion Of Your Presentation.

How To Use Signposts Throughout The Body Of Your Speech.

How To Build Signposts Into Your Presentation Opening.

Types of Speech or Presentation Signposts.

Why Are Signposts Important In Your Speech?.

#Signpost communication free#

If you're interested in finding out more about Creative Warehouse and how me might be able to help you, please have a look at our website, and feel free to get in touch. One last, important point (yes, yet more signposting!) The impact of the pairing work well together to emphasise a new section of your talk, and once again help refresh the audience's attention. Notice also how signposts often come with a change of slide when you're presenting, as I suspect the example above would. Finally, if you remember one thing from this talk/report/blog, I hope it's that. It helps to really make sure the audience is listening, and to reinforce your key messages safe in the knowledge they're being taken in. Signposting is particularly useful at the end of a presentation. They all help to bring the audience’s attention back to you when it might be in danger of waning.įinally for this blog, one more important point… (See what I did there? Pure signposting!) Signposts are also useful as you progress through a talk, report, or even blog, to hold the attention of the audience. We don’t have customers, we have partners. We listen, we do the very best we possibly can for the people we're working with, and we're committed to this core principle: That humility, integrity and reliability are key values. In our case I would then go into the facts, the remarkable range of experience of the Creative Warehouse team, and something which is critical to me:

Why are we doing so well at Creative Warehouse? Why have we had the privilege of working on such great projects? Why, I suspect, have you invited us here today to talk to you?! That’s because of our magic ingredient… Signposting is particularly important when it comes to your magic ingredient, secret sauce, or unique selling point.Īt that moment, you can really lay on the signposting to make clear something important is coming: It has to be one of the strangest I've every written.Īnyway, back to the point (note the signpost), which was this: And now let me show you an example of our work… That could be introduced with more signposting, making clear we've reached a new section of the presentation: (And no, I'm not telling you the rest of the tale - you'll have to come to one of my talks!)Īfter the story, to switch back to the business case I might talk about a media and public relations campaign we had run. The reason for our existence is a fear we were failing. But first, let me tell you a story about Creative Warehouse, how we came about, and also confess something.

I would signpost that too, as it's slightly outside of a standard business case or pitch for work: Don't believe me? Let me take you through some of the fascinating projects we've worked on.įrom there, I often go into a story to emotionally engage the audience. I'll also follow it with another, to show the audience the ground I'm going to cover:

That makes it clear immediately what I'm going to be talking about with one big and obvious signpost. We can solve all your communication problems with style. Right from the very start, you need to make crystal clear what your topic is, and how you're going to address it.įor Creative Warehouse, my company, I sometimes start a presentation or pitch for work with: This is probably the most important form of signposting. It's the first time I've seen that in Cambridge! If so, that's where signposting can help.Ī few well judged words here and there can greatly help to ensure your communication is clear, concise, and compelling.Īs with their physical counterparts, signposts enable us to find our way and reach our destination.īy the way, the picture is an example of how signposts can grab your attention. Do you worry that you might lose your audience when you're crafting a talk, putting together a presentation, or writing a report?