Loud Thinking

Use Better Metaphors to Win an Audience Over

If you’re trying to engage an audience, using well-chosen metaphors can offer a shortcut to understanding. You just have to pick the right ones. Dig for connections that make an idea clearer in your mind. The brighter the idea shines for you, the more likely it is to resonate with your audience. Very few people, if any, can come up with a brilliant metaphor on the first try. Brainstorm some ideas. Write down obvious choices right away to get them out of your head and to make room for more creative ones. For example, to illustrate partnership, steer clear of the cliché handshake in front of a globe, and go for something like a photo of Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers. To illustrate a goal, avoid the bull’s eye and opt for something more unique, like a maze. The more unusual the metaphor, the more it’ll stand out in people’s minds.

Adapted from “Finding the Right Metaphor for Your Presentation” by Nancy Duarte.