The situation
You’ve just attended a breathtaking wedding ceremony for a couple you adore.
You’re happy, nostalgic, and generally emotional – you’re feeling all the feels.
You head to the reception where the best man gets up to deliver his speech.
You’re stoked to hear his meaningful toast honoring the happy couple.
There’s a hush over the crowd as he begins…
“Merriam-Webster defines marriage as…”
*Groan* Could there be a bigger buzz kill?!
You promptly zone out for the subsequent fifteen-minute speech. You’ve flipped the switch from dream audience member to distracted day-dreamer.
The best man will not be regaining your attention until you hear, “So, let’s raise our glasses to the amazing couple!”
Dull definitions derail great communication
Defining a term exactly as it appears in the dictionary is one of the easiest ways to put an audience to sleep.
(Funnily enough, speakers also hit the snooze button when presenting direct definitions. In my experience, it’s a sure-fire way to dampen your own creative process.)
The best man in our wedding example could possibly have shared the most touching, inspiring sentiments about marriage, love, and the couple. Yet given his opening line, it’s likely he lost many of his listeners before he even got there.
And our best man isn’t alone. We’ve all been to that work presentation, continuing education seminar, or workshop where we’re force fed definitions instead of ideas. Or maybe…raise your hand if you’ve been the speaker doing the force feeding. (Ring a bell?)
The fact is, these talks are usually boring as hell and a huge inspirational turnoff.
So, why do people use boring definitions while communicating?
Definitions are used by speakers because…
Definitions bridge the language gap between a speaker and their audience
Definitions are an essential part of the communication equation.
If Neil deGrasse Tyson tried to explain astrophysics to the average person using the same terminology he’d use speaking to colleagues in his field, his talk would most certainly fall flat. This is because most people don’t understand what concepts like “stellar dynamics,” “physical cosmology,” and, “magnetohydrodynamics,” truly encompass.
It’s only by explaining what these concepts are via definition that Mr. Tyson can bridge the gap between astrophysicist and audience member…thus leveling the playing field to share the significance of meaningful discoveries in his field.
In other words, when a speaker intends to share a profound thought, or an intricate piece of information from their field of expertise, they must first redefine or translate the language they will use. They must do this by using definitions their audience can easily understand.
Definitions can provide an easy route from Point A to Point B
Sometimes, you want an easy way to get from Point A to Point B.
Whether you’re an inexperienced speaker or alternatively a person who needs to convey a great deal of information in a limited timeframe, using a definition can get you from Point A to Point B pretty darn easily.
The problem arises when people choose to deliver textbook definitions.
Think of it this way…
A dictionary definition is akin to the highway. It may be the fastest, most-reliable route from Point A to Point B, but it’s not all that memorable and your passengers will probably fall asleep in the back seat due to disinterest.
However, using a more creative approach to sharing a definition is like the scenic route. It might add few extra minutes to the travel time, but everyone in the car will never forget that giant ball of yarn you saw along the way.
Then, why do people continue to use boring, dictionary definitions in speech?
In talks ranging from heartfelt speeches to pivotal business presentations, people overwhelmingly agree that straight definitions ineffectively control audience attention. Likewise, the entrepreneur creating marketing webinars, skill-building workshops, and branded communication materials can expect to deter engagement from leads and lose opportunities of connection with followers when using dictionary definitions.
So, why do people keep using them?!
I believe the answer is because they don’t know what else they can do.
Modern education teaches us reading, writing, and arithmetic – yet you’ll be hard pressed to find a required high-school class devoted to the fourth “R” – rhetoric. Without adequate education or training, how can the average person be expected to overcome the attention drain of presentations known as the definition?
Here are 10 ways to present a definition without losing your audience to boredom
1. Define using lay-speak
Let’s start simple here, folks. If you’re going to bother defining something, make sure you use words that your audience – not YOU – will understand.
Sometimes, it’s tempting to use floofy language when defining a term.
This is especially common when presenting for high-level executives and/or professionals, or in academic settings. It’s urging to sound more intellectual, and to reach the level you think the people in the room are at.
In actuality, even the highest-level thinkers will get bored by an over complicated definition. So, don’t use words they’d have to think about (or look up); and don’t be so long-winded that they can’t follow you. Keep it simple.
Being able to distill a term or concept to its most basic elements is a skill all its own. In many situations, it will actually allow you to appear smarter because:
- the simplicity of your definition will allow connection with a wider audience; and
- you’ll be able to show that you’re knowledgeable enough on the subject to cut away unnecessary jargon while preserving full meaning.
Need an example?
Term to be defined: communication
Merriam-Webster Definition:
“A process by which information is exchanged between individuals through a common system of symbols, signs, or behavior.”
Lay-Speak Alternative:
“Communication is when two people connect with one another.”
Be honest – which definition would keep your attention during a presentation?
Food for thought
While on this topic, it’s worth mentioning that your definition shouldn’t contain the term you are defining.
Bringing back the Neil deGrasse Tyson example from above, I Google searched the definition for “physical cosmology.”
Can you guess what the first result stated?
“Physical cosmology is a branch of cosmology concerned with the study of cosmological models.”
NOT helpful. Don’t do this, lol.
(Full disclosure, the next sentences in Wikipedia went on to describe the terms in this definition. But I ask, who’s paying attention after a first sentence like this one? And why not simply open with the more descriptive definition?)
2. Define by example
Using an example is a crazy easy way to share the definition of something. Not only can using an example boost audience engagement, but it can also improve retention.
But here’s the key: provide the example before you give the actual definition of the term. Then, follow up with the definition as you normally would.
Definitions have a tendency to be sterile whereas examples can have more personality, making them more memorable.
Sharing an example before you give the textbook definition can help you preserve the audience’s focus on what you’re saying by piquing audience interest. It also helps your audience make connections to their own life and circumstances. This helps not only with retention, but also connection.
Why is this important? Because by the time you get to the definition, you want an audience that’s anticipating what you’re going to say. Get them to feel like they’re on the same page as you, rather than totally zoning out.
Need an example?
Term to be defined: ethos
Defining ethos by example (ending with actual definition):
While studying to be a paralegal, I had one of the most incredible professors. During the course of his career, he excelled both academically and in practice as a police officer, pilot, physician (M.D.), attorney (J.D.), and he was a Ph.D. in psychology to boot! It always blew my mind that he did all of this, yet also stood out as a thoughtful educator. With the titles he earned, positions he held, and experiences he had, my professor was the positive embodiment of ethos – or ethical appeal and credibility.
Compare the above to a speaker who says:
“Ethos is your ethical appeal or credibility. An example of ethos is…”
Which do you find a more interesting presentation of the definition?
(In the first example, the audience may not have even realized a definition was being shared. In the second, it sounds like you’re reading directly from a textbook.)
3. Define by contrast and comparison
A surprising, yet effective, way of sharing what something is, is by sharing what it isn’t.
The next time you need to define a term in a presentation, try engaging the audience by defining it with antonyms OR contrasting descriptions. (Remember those things from middle school English? They’re back!)
And speaking of antonyms…
A perfect pairing for defining by contrast is defining by comparison. So, grab your thesaurus and start picking out some synonyms for your term as well!
While you can use either a compare or contrast approach individually, I find that these two strategies work even more provocatively when paired. Take a look at the example below to see how using a contrast + compare approach can build intrigue.
Need an example?
Term to be defined: innovation
Defining innovation using a contrast + compare approach:
Innovation isn’t novelty; It’s more than that. It’s transformation. It’s bringing together various new products and original ideas in a way that affects society as it moves forward.
4. Define by likeness-distinctions
In a similar vein to the compare/contrast approach to definitions, we have what I call likeness-distinctions. Here, instead of dealing with terms that are exact antonyms and synonyms, you distinguish two terms that people commonly perceive to be the same.
Need an example?
Classic examples of the likeness-distinction include listening vs. hearing, memorization vs. comprehension, looking vs. observation.
A likeness-distinction definition for “listening” may look something like this:
“Most people think that if they hear you that they’re listening. But that’s not true. Hearing is an involuntary response to sound; it requires no effort or further engagement from the hearer. Meanwhile, listening is a voluntary, focused, and intentional act that requires active participation in the form of concentrated attention. The key difference between a hearer and a listener is the desire to understand the meaning of what the speaker conveyed.”
Something to note…
While the likeness-distinction may feel similar to straight definitions, in the right setting, they can pack a punch. This is because you are challenging what a person already thinks (that these two words are similar) by giving them evidence to the contrary (that they’re not the same).
When you challenge something a person believes in, it will naturally activate the problem solving area of their brain. They will initially get defensive. Then, they’ll want to evaluate whether your challenge is worthy and determine if the evidence you presented should be accepted. By providing compelling evidence, you have the opportunity to not only command attention, but also to gain credibility with your audience that you are an authority figure on the subject matter.
Who knew you could do so much by simply defining a word?
5. Define with graphics (or video)
A picture is worth a thousand words, right? Well, considering the average person’s speaking rate is somewhere between 125-175 words per minute, sharing a picture to help define a term is going to save you a lot of time.
People are genetically conditioned to be attracted to and process visual media easily. (Which is precisely why using text-rich slides in a presentation can be so distracting and ineffective.)
Need an example?
Before going on a trip to Iceland, I remember my mom trying to explain what a Fjord is to me. She spent what seemed like days giving the most detailed descriptions of how the sea meets the cliffs. She described how deep, long, and narrow the inlet would be where we were going. She told me about the historical connection between glaciers and Fjord formation.
It was all interesting…but honestly, I didn’t really give it a second thought.
Then, she showed me this:
My excitement level increased tremendously because the picture captured what the verbal definition couldn’t. Think about the ways that you can use images and video to supplement definitions in your next presentation to create greater impact.
6. Define by demonstration
Who doesn’t love a “wow” factor? I find that definition by demonstration is exactly that. Done correctly, it can provide breathtaking, deep understanding in almost no time at all.
I find this type of definition works particularly well with abstract and scientific concepts.
Need an example?
I once watched a TEDx talk by Andrew Szydlo in which he defined the term “chemistry” by conducting twenty-five experiments in his fifteen minutes on stage. Through demonstration, he communicated the definitions for terms and concepts like sublimation, liquid nitrogen, and hydrogen explosions in a way that had the audience literally “ooo-ing” and “ahh-ing.”
By using demonstration, Szydlo not only commanded attention, but also ensured comprehension, retention, and post-talk discussion of what he had taught and his message.
Feel like this type of talk is too gimmicky for you? That’s understandable. Sometimes, we don’t have the ability or desire to put on such a grand exhibition to impart a single definition.
That doesn’t mean we can’t still use demonstration. Demonstration can also be helpful in defining terms that relate to a particular process.
For example, let’s take the term “folding” as it relates to cooking and baking. Folding is “a technique used to gently combine a light, airy ingredient with a heavier one.”
Simple definition. Great. But if you’re David and Moira on Schitt’s Creek, you’re probably still going to fail at making those enchiladas.
For most people, it’s easier to understand what “folding” is by watching someone actually fold ingredients together or having a more detailed description of how the process is carried out.
7. Define with history
A fantastic way to neutralize the boring nature of definitions is to pair them with something interesting – like trivia. Preserve your audience’s attention by sharing the history of a word.
This actually doesn’t have to require a great deal extra time on research either. When getting certified to be a copyeditor, I started using a physical dictionary for the first time since elementary school. Did you know a dictionary contains more than just definitions? Shocking, I know.
A good dictionary shares the etymology of words. Sharing a term’s origin can give it heightened meaning and allow for better engagement as a person has the opportunity to connect with it more deeply.
Need an example?
As a former prosecutor, I find a fun example is the term “assassin” – i.e. a person who murders another with intent.
The term assassin is derived from the Arabic word “hashshashin” meaning “hashish eater.” The present meaning came about during the Crusades and relates to the practices of a Muslim sect that would get high on hashish before killing Christian leaders.
Et voilà! You go from boring definition to something people will remember to share at dinner parties.
8. Define by use or function
With technological advances, there are countless terms we use that people are aware of in passing, but don’t really understand in earnest. For terms like this, a great way to share a definition is by sharing the use or function of the term.
I can’t tell you how many times someone explained to me what “the cloud” is before I could claim to have even a rudimentary understanding of its true function. Anyone with me? And it wasn’t until someone described to me all the things that you could use a QR code for that I realized how brilliant they are, cared to scan them when I saw them, and even ventured into using them myself.
Need an example?
So, instead of giving an IT definition of the cloud, QR codes, and CTR (click through rates) – or if you’re a social media guru how about reach, impressions, and interactions? – share the use or function of the term.
By sharing the alternative use/function definition of a term you are sharing a greater depth of meaning that will, dare I say, be of better use to your audience.
9. Define with senses
Let’s change it up and start with an example…
Think about the day that your child graduated from high-school. The sense of anticipation, elation, and pride, mixed with the sadness and longing knowing it wouldn’t be long before they leave your little household for college. That’s “bittersweet.”
Think about holding a jar of banana peppers close to your face and body to open the tight lid. When you finally do, you catch a whiff of the pungent vinegar as it sprays in the air. The saliva starts to develop in your mouth even before you take your first bite into the flesh of that neon yellow, pickled specimen. That’s “tangy.”
These are examples of how powerful sensory appeal can be when defining a term. You can create an actual emotional or physical reaction in someone to help them understand what something really means.
A TEDx talk that exemplifies this concept beautifully is by David JP Phillips called, “The Magical Science of Storytelling.”
During the course of this talk, Phillips defines different neurotransmitters by creating experiences through storytelling that generate and release those neurotransmitters in his audience members.
By allowing his audience to personally experience the sensory nature of each of these chemicals, he holds their attention and builds connection. Furthermore, he doesn’t just teach them that “X is the chemical that makes people happy” or “Y is the chemical that makes people anxious.” Instead, he connects an actual feeling to the learning experience, which allows his audience members to recall each transmitter with a connection that goes deeper than verbal communication alone.
10. Define with story
And we end with storytelling. If you’re an entrepreneur, you’re probably tired of people telling you how powerful storytelling can be – and I feel that. (I get sick of it too, and I’m a communication coach!)
But the fact is, storytelling works. And thus, I must address it, however briefly.
The reason I mention storytelling on this list is not to give examples of how storytelling can make something more persuasive, memorable, and intriguing – and thus attention grabbing. (There are plenty of blogposts, books, and videos floating around illustrating this point.)
I include storytelling on this list because…
Storytelling is the easiest medium by which to translate what you have learned in steps 1-9 on this list into practice. So easy, in fact, that you would probably naturally move toward using story to employ these strategies without even thinking about it.
But I encourage you – think about it.
As a student of communication, use this opportunity to think about how pervasive storytelling is in our human experience.
Think about how much more compelling you can be by sharing a story with others.
Even better – think about how much more fun you have when you’re sharing a story or experience, rather than approaching your presentation purely as a means to deliver information.
It is true that as a communicator, your audience is important. But as a human, if you don’t feel moved to share your ideas, the communication stops before it starts.
Storytelling can be your means to capture your own attention and excitement while you create and share your work. It makes it personal. It allows others to relate to your unique personality. And it’s a bonus that your attention and excitement will likely transfer to your listeners.
Let’s get back to our best man…
This poor guy. His reception speech could have gone exceptionally differently if only he knew some these strategies!
Instead of the Merriam-Webster definition, he could have defined marriage as:
- “The love you feel in this room as a result of this couple’s commitment, friendship, trust, and affection…that’s what makes a good marriage.” – definition by example
- “A marriage is two people building a new family.” – lay-speak
- “A marriage isn’t just a piece of paper…it’s not that complicated. It’s a choice. Today, two people chose to care for each other and build something magical.” – define by contrast + comparison
- After projecting an affectionate picture of the couple on a screen, he could have said, “This is marriage.” – define with graphic
- “I still remember the night these two crazy kids met…” – define by story
All valid definitions of marriage…but with more heart, interest, and applicability to the speaker’s scenario.
It’s time to redefine your approach to definitions
You now have ten, non-boring ways to shed the mind-numbing nature of Merriam-Webster and breathe life back into the definitions of your next big speech or presentation.
Because seriously, with these attention-grabbing strategies in your speaking tool belt, why would you ever risk giving a “best man buzz kill” kind of speech?
