The Decker Grid™
The Decker Grid ™ helps you:
Prepare in half the time
Create and maintain focus
Build listener-friendly messages
Involve and connect with your audience
Move from information to influence
Increase your effectiveness in all speaking opportunities
Subject Date
As seen in Communicate to Influence: How to Inspire Your Audience to Action
1. Cornerstones: Focus Your Thoughts
Subject STEP 1
2. Frame your message
SUBJECT around the listeners.
Point of
STEP 2
View (POV) Get focused with a
The “ask” without showing clear Point of View.
your selfish ambition
STEP 3
Tell them what to do.
POINT OF VIEW (POV)
STEP 4
What’s in it for them?
1.
Listeners
List three adjectives that
best describe your listeners
LISTENERS
3a. 4a.
General Benefit
ACTION Step What’s in it for them?
After they buy off on POV, Make it as individual
what should they do? as possible
GENERAL ACTION STEP BENEFIT
3b. 4b.
Specific Benefit
ACTION Step What’s in it for them?
Timed, physical Make it as individual
and measurable as possible
SPECIFIC ACTION STEP BENEFIT
The Decker Cornerstones™ © 2015 Decker Communications, Inc. www.decker.com
2. Create: 3. Cluster:
Brainstorm Supporting Ideas Organize Your Thoughts
Set a short time limit of 3–5 minutes Find natural groupings
Use the principles of brainstorming: Underline the key points and themes
don’t edit or organize Add ideas as you go
Use trigger words
Quantity, not quality
The Decker Grid™ © 2015 Decker Communications, Inc. www.decker.com
4. Compose: The Decker Grid™
Opening
Point of View ACTION
SHARP (POV) (General Action Step) BENEFIT
SHARP POINT OF VIEW (POV) GENERAL ACTION STEP BENEFIT
Main Body
Key Point 1 Subpoint 1 Subpoint 2 Subpoint 3
KEY POINT 1 SUBPOINT 1 SUBPOINT 2 SUBPOINT 3
Main Body
Key Point 2 Subpoint 1 Subpoint 2 Subpoint 3
KEY POINT 2 SUBPOINT 1 SUBPOINT 2 SUBPOINT 3
Main Body
Key Point 3 Subpoint 1 Subpoint 2 Subpoint 3
KEY POINT 3 SUBPOINT 1 SUBPOINT 2 SUBPOINT 3
Closing
POV ACTION
(Repeated from Opening) (Specific Action Step) BENEFIT SHARP
POV (REPEATED FROM OPENING) SPECIFIC ACTION STEP BENEFIT SHARP
The Decker Grid™ © 2015 Decker Communications, Inc. www.decker.com
