White Sparrow Coaching

The RAFT Method: Origins

I was asked to help write a speech for a woman who was getting ready to receive a lifetime achievement award. We spent about an hour talking about how she had become so advanced in her craft as well as her favorite memories along the way. I put together a draft and read it aloud for her to review. Her facial expression was inscrutable when I finished, so I asked her what she was thinking.

Instead of answering, she asked “How did you just do that?”

The truth was, I had never really thought about it. But I realized that there had to be some kind of formula behind what I was doing, and that I needed to figure it out. It’s not magic, it’s a method.

I kept coming back to the premise that good communicators are guides. They bring you along on a journey through their ideas from Point A to Point B. The way they do that varies depending on why you’re there, what the terrain looks like, who’s traveling with you, how you’re getting there, and when you need to arrive.

• I started with what I always ask my clients first: “why?” Why are you giving a speech, writing an email, telling a story? The Reason you’re doing something is your ultimate destination. It is the primary determinant for everything else you do. Your tone of voice, vocabulary, even the length of your message all rely heavily on your Reason.
  
• Your Audience is the next major factor when creating a message. If no one gets your message, then there was really no point in writing it, eh? The Audience’s background, relationship to you, and expectations shape things like the details you include and the jokes you can make (if any, yikes!).
  
• Formatting your message is about choosing the right vehicle. How are you getting your Audience where they need to go? Sometimes we don’t get control over how we present (like my client’s acceptance speech), but many times we do. This piece isn’t as crucial as your Reason or Audience, but anyone who has had to sit through a meeting when it could’ve been an email understands the power of Format.
  
• There are about a bazillion quotes out there about perfect Timing. Maybe that’s because it’s a truly finite resource. How much time do you need to get your message across? When will your Audience be most open to what you have to say? When will they need to use the info you’re giving them? When we craft our most important messages, deciding how long they should be and exactly when to share them can make or break their reception. Consideration for others’ Time is an immediate way to show respect, and that always resonates with your Audience. 

Put these four superheroes together and you’ve got the RAFT Method: Reason, Audience, Format, & Timing. Use these pillars to anchor your content and generate authentic communiques to connect with readers and listeners. No matter if the terrain of your idea is straightforward or a remake of The Iliad, RAFT will help you get your fellow travelers to your destination. It’s essential for your most important speeches, lectures, and letters, but it can also be used when you’re not entirely sure what to write in a text or how to respond to a weird email.

Not sure how to tailor RAFT to your specific situation? Email me: andrea [at] whitesparrow.coach or fill out the form below. I can’t wait to chat with you!