Structure Your Talk in 30 Minutes: The MAP Framework
When time is tight, structure is leverage. MAP—Message, Audience, Path—helps you prioritize what matters and ditch what doesn’t. Spend 10 minutes on each step and you’ll have a talk that’s clear, memorable, and easy to rehearse.
Message
Write one sentence: “After this talk, my audience will [do/know/feel] X.” Make it observable. Replace vague verbs (understand, learn) with actions (email, choose, install).
Audience
List 3 facts: what they value, what blocks them, what language they use. Speak their vocabulary, not yours. This step informs examples, metaphors, and your close.
Path
Outline your route in three chunks. A reliable sequence: Problem → Possibility → Playbook. Name each chunk with a short, punchy headline that can stand on a slide.
Opener and close
Open with context and stakes: hook, problem, promise, and a quick map. Close with a single next step and a time box. If everything breaks, you can still open and close.
Worksheet
Copy this into a doc:
• Message:
• Audience (values / blockers / words):
• Path (P → P → P):
• Opener (hook, problem, promise, map):
• Close (one action + deadline):
Rehearsal
Rehearse transitions only, then do one timed run‑through. If you have more time, add stories and proof points, not extra slides.