Monroe: Visualize the future

4. Visualize the future

In the two previous sections of your speech, you showed your audience what the problem is and how the problem is relevant and then you showed them how the problem can be solved.

Now it is the time to speak to your audience about what it means that the problem will be solved. How will the future be changed after the problem will be addressed and solved? What are the consequences or the results of solving the problem? In very simple terms, you just want your audience to think about this question: what will happen?

There are two possible options here. The future could be a negative one: if no changes are made to the current problematic situation; or positive: the future will be a better one if the problem is solved by using the solution you indicated earlier. If changes are made to the current problematic situation, then things will be better, and this is how. You can, of course, indicate both options in your speech.

This can depend on the exact context of your speech and of your audience, but do not be afraid to really appeal to people’s imagination in trying to get them to visualise. Especially if it is an emotional topic and an emotional context, you could possibly ask your audience to actually close their eyes and lead them through an actual visualisation exercise. However, the best way is to carefully consider your topic, your audience, and the context of your speech. Such visualisation tricks are best used with smaller groups, where there is complete silence and when you have already gained the trust and attention of your audience. Otherwise, it is also ok to simply state how the future will look if your audience helps you change the current situation.