Clear and Confident with PREP

by Aubrey Patterson

Have you ever had to deliver a presentation on short notice?

Maybe you've been put on the spot and asked for your opinion during a meeting or an important job interview?

Or perhaps you've found yourself uncomfortably staring at a microphone, giving an interview with the local press?

The PREP Method is easy to remember and a great way to organize our thoughts, whether we are preparing a presentation or searching for a proper response.  

Behind every brilliant performance there were countless hours of practice and preparation.   
                                                                                                                                                    - Eric Butterworth

PREP:

P ⇢ Point
R ⇢ Reason
E ⇢ Example
P ⇢ Point

1. Begin by making a point. Most people want us to be direct. This is especially true when speaking with senior leaders and those leading interviews; they want to hear the bottom line early. 

2. Follow the point with a reason that entices people to get on the same page with us. This reason should clearly state why the original point is true. 

3. Support the point and reason with clear examples. We might be tempted to over-explain, but ideally we should stick to warmly delivering a few examples to further illustrate our original point.  

4. Finally, come back to the original point. This further emphasizes the importance of your message.

If you have an important point to make, don’t try to be subtle or clever. Use a pile driver. Hit the point once. Then come back and hit it again. Then hit it a third time – a tremendous whack. - Winston Churchill

Here's a sample for you:

Situation: Mark is retiring at the end of the term and you need to give a short speech at a banquet. 

PREP:

P ⇢  Mark's departure is going to be difficult. He is a wonderful person and administrator and we will miss him tremendously.

R ⇢  Mark hasn’t only been a wonderful principal. He has also been a friend and a source of strength for all of us. In addition to this, Mark has left his stamp everywhere. He will be forever a part of our school.

E ⇢ Our new gymnasium and classroom additions were due in large part to Mark's work. He was responsible for growing a wonderful culture with us and he completely delivered. Mark has also done a fantastic job of building relationships with our community. I know his departure is a loss far beyond the walls of the school. 

P ⇢ These are but a few reasons why Mark's retirement is going to mean a big loss for our organization. Although we will miss him tremendously, we wish him a wonderful time in the next stage of his life.

The PREP Method provides clarity and helps us deliver a message with confidence.

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