You know that when you're preparing a speech or writing a report, organizing your ideas is critical. But few people pay attention to organizing their ideas when engaged in casual conversation.
However, to be clearly understood, it's helpful to deliver even everyday conversation in an organized way. For example, you can organize and share your experience according to a time line, from beginning to end. Every listener immediately understands the time pattern.
When talking about a problem you dealt with, consider using the PAR formula (Problem-Action-Results). What challenge did you face, how did you overcome it, and what were the results? This problem-solution formula is embedded in a time line, giving it even greater clarity.
Organizing patterns help you stay on track and avoid rambling or skipping around.
Therefore, if you are promoting your services, applying for a job, or just building your credibility, it's most effective when you let others know that you think logically, are a problem-solver, and that you can get results.
Exception: If you're just conversing for the fun of it, organization is less important. (Unless, of course, you forget the sequence of a story or punch-line of a joke.)
Until next week, Loren