Think of your brain as a computer. Like a computer, your brain stores and analyzes data. However, your brain is much better at analyzing data than it is at accurately storing it. Your ideas for talks are your data, and you need a place outside your brain to keep these ideas. Read the whole article to know about the place and tips on how to generate ideas for your presentation or speech.
How to Generate Ideas for Your Presentation or Speech
To generate your ideas you need a place outside of your brain to keep these ideas. Some of the best places to collect your ideas are low-tech. For example, I carry around an idea notebook. I jot down ideas, articles, and stories on a daily basis.
I also keep super sticky notes in my car and purse at all times. The stickies can also come in handy for story boarding ideas.
I also use higher-tech approaches to idea collection. For example, when I know I’m going to craft a speech, I instantly create a cloud- based word processing file with the title of my presentation. This does two things. First it activates my creative brain to start looking for ideas that might relate to the topic. Second, every time I encounter an idea that relates to the topic, I enter it into the file. You can use any word processing program of course, but I like to use a cloud base program, because I can access it from any device that I might have in front of me.
Open your mind
The key is to first open your mind to receive ideas as you go about your day. And secondly, note these ideas as they cross your mind. If you don’t write ideas down, I can almost guaranty that you will forget them once you sit down to write your speech or presentation.
What kinds of thing might you write down? Generally, I think of three categories ideas:
- Facts and information
Look for facts and information, often a bookmark and link to articles, white papers, books and bland post that can in reach my speech or presentation.
- Stories
Second, look and listen for stories, these may be stories people tell each other, things you see in the news or your story may simply be recollections of past experiences.
- Things that inspires
Look for anything unusual that simply inspires you. It may or may not belong on your presentation but the fact that you noticed is important. If it resonated emotionally with you, it may help you connect with your audience.
Conclusion
One final thought, you will be collecting lots of ideas, so, think this is brainstorming, you probably won’t use every idea you jot down and some of them may be even crazy or silly, but remember when you finally sit down to assemble your presentation or speech, your crate of brain will love.