Stop Making Word Salads - Be Brief
⏲ 2-minute read | Photo by DALL·E 3 "Brevity In Communication" | last updated 3 weeks, 2 days ago
Brevity signals intelligence; being wordy says: I don't know what I'm talking about at its best, and I'm hiding something from you at its worst. Brevity is confidence, length is fear.
Saying More Is Easy
When you flood your audience with everything, you're outsourcing the decision on what's important to them. This says either:
- You don't know what you're talking about - The more information you sling to your audience, the higher the likelihood something will resonate with them and you'll stumble across the right message. You don't need to know as much about what you're talking about when you say everything.
- You do know what you're talking about, but don't want them to know - If your message is too complex, your audience will think you're trying to show off, hide something, or hear yourself talk. It's like delivering 1,000 bankers boxes’ of paper files to them. Your message is in there, but good luck having them find it.
Instead, tell them directly (and succinctly).
Succinctness is a Skill
The fewer the words, the more important each one becomes. A message succinctly delivered signals intelligence because it requires:
- An intimate understanding of the material (you know what they need to know)
- Self-awareness, restraint, and conviction (to deliver only what’s necessary)
- Knowledge of your audience (i.e., empathy - a valuable leadership trait)
And, be aware of these common excuses:
- "But I'm Just Trying to Give You Context" - Sure context is important, but choosing the right context is more important. Figuring out the difference is the work of being succinct.
- "It's Just a Complicated Subject" - It's probably not. If it is, you can tailor your message to who you're talking to (even for really complicated stuff).
Write, speak, and present succinctly1. Your audience will thank you.
Here's How
- Scroll through Michael Covington's presentation on writing and thinking clearly. By the end, you'll be surprised to realize how good of a writer you already are.
- Read Smart Brevity2 - you can do this in a day, it's quick.
- Read Subtract by Leidy Klotz - it explains our addition instincts, and the importance of less.
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Unless you're writing poetry, sparkling prose, or a novel - in that case, write to your heart's content!↩
Smart Brevity inspired this piece. You should read it, but also read about its limitations, then strike a balance between simplification and nuance based on the medium and the audience.↩