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How to Teach a Person Something

BY RIX QUINN

It’s much harder to teach somebody today than it was 20 years ago. Why?

(1) Radio and TV, the Internet, newspapers and magazines all send us information. (2) So, we’ve got less time to absorb more data, and therefore, (3) the time we allot to each new message shrinks.

So, how do you climb inside a person’s brain when it’s already overloaded? I stumbled upon several techniques while researching my book, Words That Stick.

1. Write (or speak) simply. Even the smartest people want information that’s easy to grasp immediately.

2. Tell a story. Most of us love stories where the hero confronts – and solves – a problem. Examples: Jack and the Beanstalk, Little Red Riding Hood.

3. Think in three’s. Ever notice how many jokes begin with "There were three guys…"? And how many famous phrases begin with three references? Example: "Life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness."

4. Keep the message brief. Explain your concept in the fewest number of words.

5. Remember Ben Franklin. Think about his epigrams like "He that speaks much is much mistaken." His sayings are timeless because they teach moral truths.

6. Reinforce your theme. Think of a way to deliver the most important point right at the first of your message. Then, reinforce or repeat that point at the end, using different words.

7. Why do we remember songs? Probably because the chorus – generally the major theme – gets sung several times. Repetition aids recall.

8. Add a quote. Quoting somebody famous often helps the reader remember the new information better.

Rix Quinn's new book Words That Stick: A Guide to Short Writing with Big Impact offers all sorts of ideas to help folks write better.