Matt Abrahams [Archive.org URL]

One of the things that happens when we speak spontaneously is that many of us are uncovering what we want to say while we are saying it. That leads us to speak more than we need to. Being concise, clear, and focused is key… We want people to understand how we came to our conclusions or the suggestions and recommendations that we’re making. That information is important. But you don’t have to say it all at once. It’s really important to focus on what you say. How do we focus? First, think about your audience. What’s important and relevant to them? The more we understand our audience, the more relevant and concise we can be. Think about the goal of the interaction. What do we want people to know, feel, and do as a result of what we’re saying? Again, that helps us prioritize and restrict what we’re saying. Focusing on what we say is critical, and structure helps. Structure gives us a framework where we can focus on what we’re communicating.

Like this content? Why not share it?