Clarity is kindness: the 20 second technique

I’ve been looking for ways to share my ideas more clearly and briefly. While I can express my thoughts, I realized that my presentations were often too long, which made my listeners bored and confused for two main reasons:

1. I talked too much.
2. My audience had short attention spans.

I discovered that I hadn’t created a method to filter my ideas before presenting them. The challenge was the mental effort required to organize my thoughts. Writing allows for editing, but speaking is spontaneous and needs quicker thinking.

One helpful technique I found is to limit my speaking time to about 20 seconds before pausing for a moment of silence. This pause is crucial because it gives me time to process my thoughts and find a clear way to explain them, much like giving a short pitch. By focusing on key points and then pausing, I can engage my listeners better.

Instead of timing strictly, I now use verbal or thought cues, such as:

1. “That’s my main point.”
2. “Here’s the core idea.”

After these cues, I pause to let them respond. This approach makes the pauses feel natural in my speech rather than like a trick.

Since I started using this method, my meetings have become 50% shorter. I can share my ideas more quickly and clearly, which respects my audience's time and reduces confusion. This practice not only helps me communicate better but also encourages my listeners to engage. Overall, it has saved me time and energy by making conversations faster and more effective.