Signposting
Tell listeners where they are and what comes next.
What & why
Announcing your structure out loud gives listeners a frame to slot each point into. When they know a talk has three parts and then hear second, they can file what follows in the right place instead of working out how it connects, which lowers the effort of listening. Over a longer talk that running map is often what keeps an audience from losing the thread, since they can always tell where they are and how much is left.
Before & after
“Anyway, our revenue grew last quarter. Oh, and the new hire starts Monday.”
“That concludes our analysis of the problem. Now let's turn to the solution I'm proposing.”
When you’ll use it
Multi-part presentations: "First, we'll examine the current situation. Then, we'll explore three solutions. Finally, I'll recommend the best path forward."
Training sessions: "Now that we've covered the theory, let's move to practical applications" (transition signpost)
Progress updates: "We've discussed the challenges; next, let's look at what's working well" (bridge between sections)
Complex explanations: "Before we dive into the technical details, let me recap the three main benefits we just covered" (summary signpost)
Pro tip
When to use this: Use in any multi-part presentation where audiences need to track progress or when covering complex information that benefits from clear structure. Use ordinal markers and brief labels for each section.
Questions & answers
What is signposting in presentations?
Why is signposting important for business presentations?
What are the most effective signposting phrases for professional presentations?
Learn more
Practice this concept
Practice signposting a talk
Record a short talk, review the transcript, and compare it with a clearer rewrite to see where the structure or transitions need work.