Vilfredo Pareto (1848-1923) was an Italian economist who noticed that 80 percent of the land in Italy was owned by 20% of the people, and that 20% of the peapods in his garden produced 80% of the peas. He invented the 80/20 rule, more formally known as the Pareto Principle.
It’s now a common rule of thumb that many real systems have approximately this intermediate imbalance: 80% of profits come from 20% of customers, and 80% of your results come from 20% of your efforts.
So how does the Pareto Principle work in public speaking? What is the magic 20% that accounts for 80% of your speaking success?
The strategic intent of your presentation?
The information you provide?
The elegance of your visual aids?
The stories you tell?
I would say “none of the above,” despite their relative importance. Instead, I believe it’s how you come across, how you connect authentically with an audience.
As Emerson said, “Who you are speaks so loudly that no one can hear what you’re saying.”