I have always talked about clarity and conciseness as an entry point into good, professional communication.
Lots of management books tell us that managers with good communications skills, are often more effective leaders. ‘John Wayne in pinstripes’ was a term Andrew Pettigrew used to describe how leaders need that ‘gung-ho’ approach in a leadership position. This has more relevance to me now as, when I was a child watching John Wayne, he always seemed to say very little – yet get to-the-point.
Brevity is a lost art in this era of information overload and never-ending online meetings don’t help either. As we lose face-to-face meetings, we lose important interpersonal skills. Those subtle nuances we display, the hand gesture in conversations, the smallest of body language signals that tell our listener that we are about to stop speaking – are lost online. Often, as only one of us can speak at a time, people use the platform to talk for way longer than they should – filling up the airtime and using up precious time!
What’s the answer to making every communication count?
I try to live by three guiding principles:
- State your mission – try to tell your audience what you’re going to talk about. Announce the ‘steppingstones’ you want your audience to join you on, taking them from one place to another. Ideally no more than three stones too!
- It’s OK to get it wrong sometimes – the key is not to be perfect, but to be mindful of the way people are reacting to you. Look for those subtle responses and hone your communications to be more centred on what your audience wants to hear – making yourself memorable.
- Say what you have to say clearly, concisely and shut up – brevity is the core ingredient in reaching clarity. Clarity makes sure that your audience understands exactly what you are saying, but brevity makes sure you do not lose the audience’s attention. Saying your point, then stopping is all important, and leaving a few pauses at the end can add gravity and presence to your message.
So, no matter who you are talking to, whatever the medium, brevity is your friend. Whether Wayne uttered the immortal phrase or not – we all remember his simple catchphrase that epitomises clarity, brevity, and impact – “Get off your horse and drink your milk!”
Think on Your Feet® – or in your cowboy boots – to master Clarity, Brevity and Impact™
Think on Your Feet® helps you package responses to tough questions – when caught-on-the-spot.
Watch a one minute overview of Think on Your Feet® here.
We teach you six tried and tested communication ‘structures’ – to help you respond quickly and concisely; and Bridging techniques, which help you deal with those really tricky questions! Ensuring you can deal with whatever is thrown at you – so you’ll never be caught on-the-spot again!
Delivered worldwide – online or face-to-face. Indigo is an official Think on Your Feet® distributor. Find out more about Think on Your Feet® here.
