Speak Up! Effective Communication with Craig O'Neill 10 Tips for Public Speaking: Tip #9 Structure Your Message [E088] - Speak Up! Effective Communication

Episode 88

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Published on:

30th Mar 2026

10 Tips for Public Speaking: Tip #9 Structure Your Message [E088]

Thank You To Our Partners AutoFlow, Shop Dog Marketing, In-Bound

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In our episode today:

We are on tip number nine of our 10 Tips for Public Speaking series.

The Toastmasters version of this tip is: concentrate on the message, not the medium.

We already addressed the medium back in episode 081 (You are the medium) so today, we take that as settled and turn our attention to the message itself.

Tip #9, in my framing, is this: structure your message. The heart of that tip is something most speakers never think about deliberately: the transitions between their points.

I talk through why the most common preparation approaches, like heavy notes, teleprompters, and full memorization, all share the same fundamental flaw. They prioritize the words over the connection with the audience. Then I walk through the simple framework I use in my speaking workshops: introduction, body, conclusion, with transitions planned at every step.

I also share a story about my son, who prepared a speech on drone laws in the car on the way to a Toastmasters meeting and delivered a genuinely strong talk with no prior speaking experience. The structure outline I shared with him worked!

Our word of the day is cohesion: noun

The quality of forming a unified, well-connected whole.

A cohesive talk is one where the audience always knows where you are taking them.

Sincerely,

Craig O'Neill

Thank You To Our Partners AutoFlow, AutoLeap, Shop Dog Marketing, In-Bound

AutoFlow at AutoFlow.com. Your partner in technology, Autoflow consolidates your client interactions - before, during and after the visit to a single thread. Learn more at Autoflow.com

Shop Dog Marketing at Shop Dog Marketing.com. "Want to see your auto repair shop thrive? Let Shop Dog Marketing be your guide. Our customer-first approach, combined with AI-driven creative content, ensures top rankings.

In-Bound at CallInBound.com. Cover your communication needs and revolutionize your auto repair business with AI-driven call analytics from InBound.

Contact Information

  1. Email Craig O'Neill: speakup@craigoneill.net
  2. Join Our Virtual Toastmasters Club: https://remarkableresults.biz/toastmasters

The Automotive Repair Podcast Network: https://automotiverepairpodcastnetwork.com/

Remarkable Results Radio Podcast with Carm Capriotto: Advancing the Aftermarket by Facilitating Wisdom Through Story Telling and Open Discussion. https://remarkableresults.biz/

Diagnosing the Aftermarket A to Z with Matt Fanslow: From Diagnostics to Metallica and Mental Health, Matt Fanslow is Lifting the Hood on Life. https://mattfanslow.captivate.fm/

Business by the Numbers with Hunt Demarest: Understand the Numbers of Your Business with CPA Hunt Demarest. https://huntdemarest.captivate.fm/

The Auto Repair Marketing Podcast with Kim and Brian Walker: Marketing Experts Brian & Kim Walker Work with Shop Owners to Take it to the Next Level. https://autorepairmarketing.captivate.fm/

The Weekly Blitz with Chris Cotton: Weekly Inspiration with Business Coach Chris Cotton from AutoFix - Auto Shop Coaching. https://chriscotton.captivate.fm/

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About the Podcast

Speak Up! Effective Communication
With Craig O'Neill
A perfect compliment for an individual and for small businesses is to be a better communicator. Craig O'Neill exemplifies influence and leadership in helping people find their fullest potential as communicators. “Speak Up!” is a podcast that clearly focuses on learning to communicate more effectively so that we can influence positive change in all our interactions.