Brevity

This week, I’m trying to put the lessons from Joseph McCormack’s book Brief: Make a Bigger Impact by Saying Less to work. 

Obviously, the book's thesis is that our communication will be more effective when it is concise. The book also provides tactical advice (e.g., use headers, use visuals) on how to do so. But my biggest takeaways were about the approaches that help us be more brief:

In particular:

Plan. Winging it is what leads to longer communication of lower value. Any outline would help, though McCormack provides a BRIEF Map to identify the main points. 

“It’s complex” is a cop-out. McCormack writes: “Brevity starts with deep expertise. Only with thorough knowledge can you accurately make a summary.”

Pause to check in. It’s not your presentation. Make the key point, then shut up and let the audience tell you what’s most interesting to them. 

Stories can communicate an idea more concisely and memorably. This may be more true when the subject matter is complex. 

Say less, better. Brevity that comes from shorthand, jargon, and acronyms is unproductive. Make every point clear—just make fewer of them. Talk like a human being, not a business robot. 

It’s a good book. And as expected, it’s a quick read.