Building an idea … in the minds of others

This is the basic function of communication; that is, to transport an idea that we have in our own mind, to the minds of those in our audience.

If the idea is an important one, it is important to stay focussed on it; rather than trying to cover off too many topics in a single session. Again, the concept is to get that one main idea out of our own mind and into the minds of others. Remember, it probably took us time to develop and crystallise that idea ourselves, and therefor it is only reasonable to accept that it might also take time to re-create it in the minds of others. Often this process is as much about shedding a lot of non-central or peripheral ideas as it is about delivering the main thrust.