How to Stop Rambling – Fewer Words, More Impact!

Whether you’re presenting in a meeting or pitching something to a client, try giving them your BLUF.

How to give your BLUF so your message is clear, engaging, and to-the-point:

The bottom line? 😉

👉 When I say BLUF, I mean Bottom Line Up Front. Cut to the chase, THEN contextualize.

As human beings, we want to feel connected to the people we’re talking to. We want them to know where we’re coming from, so we often think we need to give them context before we make our point.

The truth?

If you confuse them, ya LOSE THEM. 

While giving context upfront makes sense to YOU, because you know where you’re going with it… too much context can confuse people when they don’t know where you’re headed.

It’s like being handed a detailed map for a road trip, but the person giving it to you hasn’t shared the destination, so you’re just stuck trying to guess where it’s leading to… 

So here’s how to give your bottom line up front:

Give them your BLUF.

Give them your Bottom Live Up Front ⎯ cut to the chase, lead with your point ⎯ THEN contextualize. 

Use these 3 steps:

1. Listen to the language of the question.
2. Use that language to articulate a direct response to the question being asked.
3. Bring your BLUF to life by providing concrete examples and stories of you in action.

This works because it makes processing what you’re saying easier on them, and it helps you distill and communicate your main point more succinctly. 

Why giving your bottom line upfront works…it:

✔️ Shows your audience that you’re listening to what they’re saying, and that you’re fully engaged in the conversation—not stuck in your head.

✔️ Helps your audience process what you’re saying by directing their attention to the most important part of your message immediately.

✔️ Gives you a buffer and a jumping off point when answering tricky questions… because you don’t need to come up with your own.

✔️ Helps you stay on topic and skip the rambling, making your answer even more clear, engaging, and to-the-point.

You might feel like you need to explain your way into your bottom line… you don’t. By sharing your key point upfront and THEN filling in the details, you ensure that you’re answering the right question to begin with… and answering it in the most succinct and direct way possible.

Ready to stop rambling and start communicating with clarity, confidence, and ease?

Jump on the Presence Under Pressure waitlist today!

Our signature 8-week group coaching program for big-hearted, ambitious women will open up for enrollment again soon. If you’re interested in joining an intimate cohort of other exceptional women — who not only want to learn how to communicate more clearly and confidently under pressure, but also want to support you in stepping into your *next level* — get yourself on the waitlist today! 

In your corner,

Brenne

In your corner always,