So many of you have asked for help on how to structure your presentations, I thought it was about time I shared one of the simplest and most underrated talk frameworks of all time…

While the idea of crafting a powerful and inspiring narrative for our audience to go on is nice, it’s not always realistic.

Especially, if you’re short of time and need to land multiple points. This is where the listicle comes into its own. It’s…

1. Easy to remember 🧠

2. Simple to implement ✅ 

3. Perfect for last minute talks ⚡️

4. Loved and remembered by audiences 🤩

5. Responsible for 100's of millions of views online 📈

Best of all?
Very few people use it (so when you do, it’s going to stand out!).

Cue Celeste Headlee’s TEDx talk ‘10 ways to have a better conversation.’ So good, it’s now racked up over 30 million views, promoted to a TED talk and now sits in the top 25 most watched of all time… Enjoy 🍿

Now you’ve seen it in action, here’s a breakdown of how to nail it every single time…

Part 1: The Opener

1. Get their attention ⚡️
   Loads of ways of doing this - an anecdote, shocking stat, surprising insight. Celeste opened her talk with two questions that were:
   
   ✅ Specific | ✅ Relatable | ✅ Inclusive
   
   —
   

2. Make them care ❤️
   If you want your audience to listen, they need to understand why your topic matters now. Celeste built her case for change with:
   
   ✅ Research | ✅ Everyday examples | ✅ Short stories
   
   —
   

3. Build credibility 😇

   Your audience needs to buy into you before the message. That’s why Celeste shared a credibility story. It was:
   
   ✅ Short | ✅ Understated | ✅ Honest

Part 2: The Listicle

The secret to a great listicle is to move fast. Celeste shared 10 points in 6 minutes 15 seconds —> 30 seconds per point.

1. Start with a promise 🥕
   ‘I'm going to teach you how to interview people… I have 10 basic rules…but honestly, if you just choose one of them and master it, you'll already enjoy better conversations.’
   
   ✅ Promise | ✅ Number | ✅ Focus

   
   —
   

2. Say the number, deliver the headline 📝
   ‘Number eight: Stay out of the weeds…’

   ✅ Short | ✅ Specific | ✅ Instructional

   
   —
   

3. Give your headline depth 🧠

   ‘…people don't care about the years, the names, the dates, all those details that you're struggling to come up with in your mind. What they care about is you. They care about what you're like, what you have in common. So forget the details. Leave them out.’

   
   ❌ What not to do | ✅ What to do | 💬 Example
   
   —

Rinse and repeat steps 2 and 3 ♻️.

Part 3: The Call to Action

You’ve delivered the goods. What do you want them to do next?!

Simple? Very. And equally powerful.

Now don’t get me wrong, it’s not a format for every presentation. Part of its power lies in the fact that it’s different. But pick your time and moment and it will go down like a treat.

Alex