Three Short Talks That Stop the Waffle and Start the Influence

Most people think their presentation skills will magically kick in when they need them. They trust adrenaline, charisma, or “I’ll just wing it.” And that’s exactly when things unravel: too many words, not enough clarity, and zero influencing power—especially when speaking to senior management, where every minute counts and every tangent dilutes your message.

The real goal is simple: be clear, be succinct, and choose a structure that matches the tone of the moment. Different situations demand different shapes. A Board briefing is not an inspirational talk. A five‑minute proposal is not a fireside story. Yet people often treat them the same, which is why they don’t get what they need from the room.

So here are three simple, printable structures, each designed for a specific purpose, each helping you stay sharp, credible, and influential.

1. The Briefing to the Board (30 minutes)

Purpose: A strategic update that boosts credibility and earns trust.

This structure keeps you focused on what senior management actually cares about: priorities, impact, and risk.

• Opening: Hook them fast. Outline what’s coming. Clarify when questions fit.
• Big Picture Data: Map your update to their strategic goals. Give a headline, support it with data, and ground it with a real example.
• Collaboration: Show cross‑functional alignment. Boards want to see you’re not operating in a silo.
• Future Forecast: Be outcome‑focused. If there are multiple paths ahead, show you’ve mapped them.
• Conclusion: Summarise, invite questions, and offer a clear next step.

This is the structure that stops rambling dead in its tracks and positions you as someone who understands the wider game. There’s an example here for you.

2. The Inspirational Talk (30 minutes)

Purpose: Fire them up, shift perspective, spark action.

When influencing through emotion and story, structure is your safety net. It keeps you from drifting into autobiography and ensures your message lands with intention.

• Opening: Introduce the theme with an analogy or a shared human truth.
• Body:
  • Story 1: The beginning or the first challenge
  • Story 2: The crunch point
  • Story 3: The resolution or realisation

These can be chronological or separate stories tied together by a single theme. Unsure how to go about telling a story? Go here for that.

• Conclusion: Reinforce the theme, share the legacy of your learning, and give the audience something to carry forward.

This is how you stay inspiring without becoming indulgent.

3. The Proposal (5 minutes)

Purpose: Rapid influence when time is tight.

This is the PROEP—your go‑to when speaking to senior management and you need a fast, confident “yes.”

• Proposal: State what you want in two sentences.
• Reason: Show you understand what they want from this.
• Objection: Name the elephant. Address it. Offer the solution.
• Evidence: Stats, facts, or a precedent that proves it works.
• Proposal (again): Re‑state the ask, now reinforced.

This is the antidote to waffle. It’s clean, sharp, and impossible to misunderstand. Go here for examples.

Your Action

1. Print These Out.
2. Keep Them Handy.
3. Refer to them when the moment calls.

Different rooms require different weapons. Whether you’re briefing the Board, inspiring a team, or pitching a proposal, these structures give you the backbone you need to stay succinct, credible, and influential.  Use them as scaffolding. Let them sharpen your presentation skills. And the next time you’re speaking to senior management, you won’t be winging it: you’ll be landing it.

If you’re serious about levelling up your presentation skills, especially in high stakes situations, then book a time that suits you for a free 15-minute Discovery Call here to see if we can work together. No strings attached: just a call to see how I might help you or your people.

Photo by Pavel Danilyuk at www.pexels.com