Sometimes when I’m babbling, my husband will ask, “Does your train of thought have a caboose?”
He’s teasing of course, and the stakes are pretty low, so I usually keep on babbling. 🙂
There are other scenarios, however, in which the stakes are much higher than sitting around the dinner table. Babbling, an inability to get to the point, or make the point hit home, can diminish your executive presence.
- Ever been to an event where someone asks you what you do and you feel like your response isn’t particularly memorable? (👋)
- Ever been in a meeting where you were presenting information to a senior audience and you rambled on because you were nervous?
- Ever tried to influence a key decision by overwhelming your audience with ALL the facts and data (in one long, run-on sentence?)
When it comes to executive presence and influence, sometimes less is more.
Which is where 27-9-3 comes to your rescue.
Originally conceived by Vermont lawmakers, 27-9-3 is an effective way to craft a compelling, clear, and concise message for your audience, whether it’s for an elevator pitch, a rationale for a new business policy, or lobbying for more budget.
Here’s how it breaks down:
- 27 words – about the length of a sentence or two
- 9 seconds – about the length of an audio soundbite for TV or radio
- 3 points – we tend to remember things in threes
The goal is to connect with the audience, hold their interest and get them intrigued enough to hear more. Here are samples from a youth advocacy program.
In fact, while a bit longer than 27 words, this paragraph is also a viable example:
“Originally conceived by Vermont lawmakers, 27-9-3 is an effective way to craft a compelling, clear, and concise message for your audience, whether it’s for an elevator pitch, a rationale for a new business policy, or lobbying for more budget.”
And it takes practice! As I quickly learned while writing this note and trying to offer you a few examples. 🙂
In addition to hooking peoples’ attention, a benefit to the 27-9-3 model is that it forces you to distill your thoughts, prepare for what you’re going to say, and naturally inclines you to speak to the most salient information.
Here’s a sample from a colleague:
“I help companies retain high-performing women by teaching them to negotiate, network, and manage their time. We know what makes someone successful in business yet the script on “how” to do it is based on a male-centric experience. My company closes that gap.”
Again, a bit longer than 27 words, but it’s clear and you know what she’s doing and why she’s doing it.
So the next time you’re getting ready for a high-heat meeting or heading out to an event, give 27-9-3 a try and let me know how you make out. And if you need some help, the folks over at Power Prism have created a worksheet.
