The Impromptu Speakers Newsletter

Stop Putting Your Team To Sleep

​Read On My Website / Read time: 2 minutes

Last week, I coached a marketing VP who had to present an update to her leadership team. Her approach was like most people's: a simple list of what changed.

"Here's update one. Here's update two. Here's update three."

Sound familiar? That's how most of us give updates. And it's why most updates are instantly forgotten.

Yawn...

Think about the last team update you sat through. Did it grab your attention? Did you care about the changes being presented? Or were you secretly checking email?

Most workplace updates follow the same forgettable pattern:

• Here's what we did
• Here's what we changed
• Here's what's coming next

It's factually correct but emotionally empty. It doesn't make anyone care.

The Missing Ingredient: The Problem

The secret to memorable updates isn't slicker slides or fancier language. It's starting with a problem your audience actually cares about.

I call this the PCSB framework:

• Problem: What challenge are we solving?
• Cause: Why does this problem matter to us?
• Solution: What's our approach to fix it?
• Benefit: How will this make things better?

Let me show you what this looks like in practice.

The Traditional Update (Boring)

This update gives information but creates no emotional connection. It doesn't make me care.

The PCSB Update (Compelling)

See the difference? The second approach:

• Starts with a problem the audience cares about (slow response times)
• Explains why it's happening (inefficient processes)
• Presents solutions (system improvements)
• Shows clear benefits (faster responses, more time for important work)

How to Apply This to Your Updates

Next time you need to give an update, try these simple steps:

1. Start with the problem Ask yourself: "What issue is this work solving that my audience cares about?"
2. Briefly explain the cause What's causing this problem? Why is it important for us to solve?
3. Present your solution clearly Now share what you've done or changed.
4. Highlight the real benefits Don't just say "it's better" - quantify how much time, money, or frustration this will save.

When you speak like this, your updates won't sound like jargon. Your leadership teams will remember what you said. And they'll be calling you back to speak.

Try this approach in your next update. Your ideas deserve to be remembered - and acted upon.

Until next week,

Preston

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