Making the Most of 3 Minutes

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Find out the best tips and tricks for communicating your ideas effectively.
Posted On: May 31, 2019
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Stand out to your boss or potential employer by making your brief interactions memorable. Image courtesy rawpixels.com via https://www.pexels.com/.

By: Candice Tang, ORT Times Writer

Effective communication is a key skill to have, especially if you’re in the sciences. While you might be comfortable explaining your research to experts in your field, would you be able to explain your idea to a potential investor? Would you be able to win them over in just three minutes—the length of an elevator ride?

The so-called elevator pitch is a great way to test your ability to explain an idea clearly and concisely. Not only does it give you a chance to break down complex science into its most basic and essential parts, but this renewed way of thinking can help with preparing oral presentations, research proposals, grant applications, and other materials for a broad group of audiences.

When crafting your own pitch, remember to hit the 5WH: who, what, when, where, why, and how. Keep in mind who your audience is and adjust the level of complexity accordingly. Finally, drive home the impact of your research: why are you passionate about this topic and why should your audience care?

To truly test your skills, Ontario graduate students can participate in the annual 3-Minute Thesis (3MT) competition. Students are challenged to present their research in an accessible manner in three minutes or less before a panel of non-expert judges.

“Sharing research in an engaging an accessible way means that others can experience the excitement of their research,” said Liam O’Leary, Graduate Programming Coordinator at the School of Graduate Studies, in an email to the ORT Times. “The 3MT can be really meaningful and can serve as an additional motivator the graduate student.”

However, being clear and concise is only one aspect of effective communication. According to a new video produced by the Krembil Research Institute, making a connection with the person you’re talking to and making the initial meeting memorable with key accomplishments or suggestions are also critical to making the most out of a brief interaction.

“Being able to communicate complex ideas in an engaging and accessible way is considered a valuable skill by many employers,” O’Leary added. “We hear this a lot. Employers want to hire people with these skills.”

Check out the winners of this year’s 3MT and start practicing for next year’s competition!