Tip 646: Use Specifics, Not Generalities

From the Public Speaking Workshops: Use Specifics, Not Generalities

There is a difference. 

Specifics are more visible. 

Specifics are more engaging. 

Specifics are more believable. 

Consider the Exercise 

Think of a “thing.” 

It can’t be specific. It must be general. A “thing.” 

Hard, isn’t it? Nothing comes to mind. “No thing” comes to mind.  

Okay, now think of a car. 

Easier, but not easy. Four wheels. A hood. A trunk. (Everything else fades to gray.) 

Okay, now think of a Candy Apple Red 1966 Mustang convertible. 

Wow! Yes! Beautiful car! 

A question for you: Is the top up or down? 

In your mind, you turn and look at the car. The top’s down. (It’s a convertible, isn’t it? The top’s supposed to be down.) You answer, “It’s down!” 

Last question: What color is the interior?

In your mind, you turn and walk to the car. You look at the interior. You turn back to answer the question. “Black! Buckets in the front. Bench in the back.”  

We never mentioned the top being up or down. We never mentioned the interior. You supplied those details because you had specifics to work from. 

The same thing works in your presentations. 

This is fun. 

We love this stuff.