Team presentations — be they interviews, orals or shortlist presentations to win a project, or leadership presentations at the annual retreat — get “lost in transition,” when what they need are chapters. In this post, Dean talks about resistance to “chapterizing,” and why breaking the presentation down into smaller topics has tremendous value.
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I keep running into baffling resistance—almost monthly—from people who don’t like the idea of putting chapters in their presentations. Teams preparing for AEC shortlist interviews, leadership presentations, or high-stakes pitches often push back on breaking their message into clear, distinct segments. But chapters make presentations stronger, more confident, and far more engaging. To me it’s so obvious that the resistance is always surprising.
I suspect the hesitation comes from a belief that everything needs to transition smoothly. People fear sharp breaks. But the whole point of chapters is to break things up. Imagine a 600-page novel with no chapters—no progress markers, no mental breathing room. Chapters give your audience structure, clarity, and momentum.
Not everything needs a seamless segue. In the past—think 1970s television—storylines flowed meticulously from one moment to the next. Today? We jump straight to the next point. Monty Python made a joke of it with, “And now for something completely different.” TikTok culture has only accelerated our comfort with abrupt shifts. Audiences adjust instantly.
Hollywood uses contrast—loud to quiet, night to day, action to stillness—to jolt attention and re-energize viewers. Human attention thrives on variation, not sameness. In presentations, especially in business development communication training, AEC interview preparation, and leadership presence coaching, chapters help people stay alert and connected.
Your audience isn’t following one perfect linear thread. They’re processing ideas emotionally, logically, visually, and relationally all at once. Chapters help them sort the complexity.
If you’re guiding a prospect through a project interview—schedule, budget, logistics, approach—those topics don’t need to flow into each other. They’re separate. Chapters make them digestible and memorable. They help your team demonstrate confident presence, strong storytelling, and clear leadership communication.
The point of a chapter isn’t transition—it’s clarity. It’s momentum. It’s structure that supports confident communication and more persuasive AEC presentation skills. Chapters sharpen your message, keep audiences engaged, and create a sense of real progress throughout your talk.
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