A speaker's golden fleece is delivering the perfect program, one which resonates with absolute authenticity by satisfying the Three S's: Subject, Situation, Setting. On its completion the audience will hoist the speaker to their shoulders carrying them out of the venue proclaiming unbridled tributes to its perfection.

That's the fantasy. Reality is otherwise. There are no perfect programs for many reasons, mainly that everyone in an audience is a different audience seeking original goals, what moves one, may not intrigue another, yet seeking perfection should not be abandoned. What follows is my view of a program's structure which approaches that high water mark.

Program creation is a recursive, re-entrant, iterative process, often chaotic. Had I more hair left I might be be pulling it out during the effort. The challenge satisfying a singular goal:

Performing a program which actualizes an audience as a catalytic experience.

Several obstacles hinder this aim: Everyone differs; therefore, what moves one may or may not energize others. No matter how well prepared we are we will not deliver it as planned. Still, no matter the cognitive state of each in attendance, the program will be influential. What to do? Go for it.

Worry not. Develop the program you feel is best which has been my objective s 1957. I have come to believe excellent programs have five parts – Set Up, Opening, Body, Closing, Sign Off – as detailed:

Set-Up: The first words spoken with a singular purpose: Get get their attention and focus.

Opening: Make three points – Identify the topic, Establish your credibility, invite the audience to become engaged participants in the exploration – in whatever order, however best delivered.

Body: This is the true program structures and delivered to fulfill your purpose.

Closing: A wrapping up which could be a summary, a call to action, an encouragement to pursue the topic further or whatever encourages the audience to see this as a milepost or interregnum in their journey.

Sign Off: An anchoring line which reinforces the program's value.

That's the general structure. It's a framework, not a prescription. Before I begin a program's creation I form a succinct view of what I want to accomplish, usually defining an envisioned outcome by completing this sentence stem:

“When I have ended this program the audience will be thinking and feeling...”

While my process for achieving this varies, the goal is the same: Deliver a program that everyone in the audience can carefully consider, no matter their worldview, by exploring the content as ideas to consider, not instructions or directions to be followed.

Summary: An overview of The Perfect Program objectives.

Checklist: I complete a final check before delivering a program.