31 Dec 2025 · 1 min
A short podcast excerpt in which TJ Walker introduces the 'So what?' test: after every sentence or two in your speech, ask 'so what?' and ensure your next statement answers that implicit listener question. He advises recording your speech on video, pausing every couple sentences to evaluate whether each point clearly matters, and retooling the content when answers are unsatisfactory.
Do you want to hear a question that will dramatically improve your speech, your content, your presentations? So what? That's right. That's the question I want you to ask when you are reading your speech, when you're watching a video of yourself, deliver the speech. After every sentence or two, I want you to sort of sit back, put a skeptical look on your face, and say, so what? And make sure what you say next basically answers the question. We've all heard speakers going on and on and on and on. Whether we're consciously or subconsciously thinking it, we are thinking, so why is this person going on and on? Why do I need to know this? So what? You're telling me stuff. So what? We ask ourselves that question when we hear other speakers. We should be asking that question of our own speech. Make sure your speech passes the so what? Test. So before you go to deliver it, especially a big important one, record it on video and stop after every couple of sentences and just ask yourself, so what? Are you satisfied you have a good question or a good answer to that question? If not, time to retool the speech?
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