I do re-post this article to share how impactful concise communication is.

 Key takeaways:

1. If you're over-explaining concepts, presenting too much information, or trying to be someone you're not, you're likely to lose attention quickly.

2. Concise communication requires preparation. Nail down one takeaway you want to convey and eliminate fluff from every form of communication, including presentation, emails, and conversations.

3. If you have to communicate on the fly (you do it quickly), use the PREP framework — point, reason, evidence, and point — utilise bridging and flagging statements to connect the core subjects you want to highlight, and ask questions.

Here are 9 ways to communicate clearly and effectively.

1. Prepare in advance

Without preparation, you can't be brief. Before any important meeting, take five minutes to review the agenda and other provided materials. Jot down notes for yourself. Organise your thoughts and earmark where you want to contribute. 

If you'll be speaking, go through the extra steps of creating talking points and anticipating objections and questions. I like to have my clients prepare a few "frequently asked questions" to have in their back pocket, just in case there's silence at the end of their presentation.  

2. Provide a pre-read

If you have a lot of information to share, consider preparing a pre-read. This is a document that provides background information on a topic. It means you can give your audience needed context and then be briefer in your time together. A pre-read may be reports, slides, or detailed analytics. 

3. Complete the sentence, "If you walk away from this conversation with one thing, I want it to be ______." 

If you were forced to boil down your main idea to one sentence, what would it be? Use this as the subject line of your email or repeat the phrase verbatim when you speak. It'll ensure you're drawing your audience's attention to the biggest takeaway you want them to remember. 

4. Use the PREP framework

When you're forced to speak impromptu, you can speak strongly and coherently using the PREP framework. Here's how it works: Make a point succinctly, back it up with a reason, provide evidence, and end by reiterating your point. For example:

• Point: I believe we should take direction A
• Reason: We've received positive feedback about this approach 
• Evidence: For instance, our president said he supports it 
• Point: That's why I believe direction A is best

5. Use bridging and flagging statements to highlight and punctuate your points

Flagging and bridging refer to two PR tactics that you can take into the boardroom. Flagging is like sticking a flag in the ground or waving one in the air to say, "pay attention — this is important!" Whereas bridging helps you make a transition from one idea to another. Bridging is especially useful when you want to change the subject or steer the conversation in a different direction. 

Examples of flagging statements are: 

• It all boils down to…
• The heart of the matter is…
• I can't underscore enough…

Examples of bridging statements are:

• I cannot speak to ____, but what I can say is… 
• While ____ is important, it's also important to remember that… 
• Before we leave this subject, I'd like to add… 

6. Know your audience 

Consider what concerns and objections are top of mind for the people you're communicating with. What do they care about the most? What problems are they trying to solve? Most importantly, what's in it for them if they listen to you? How will what you are sharing with them help save them time or make their job easier? Frame your message in terms of how it impacts your audience. 

7. Ask questions

Oftentimes concise communication is about saying nothing at all. You need to listen first. Specifically, ask plenty of open-ended questions like: 

• What do you make of what I've shared?
• What do you think is best?
• How does this look to you?
• What would you add or change?
• How do you feel about it?
• What's your impression of X?
• How does this fit into your plans?
• What part is not yet clear?
• Can you say more?
• What is an example?
• What support do you need? 

8. Edit your emails

A good rule of thumb: emails shouldn't be more than five lines. If your email is longer than that, condense it down or make it a phone call. 

Make sure your message is scannable. That means short paragraphs and sentences. Use bullet points and numbering to make the text easier to digest. 

9. Eliminate fluff 

Hedging language, such as "I just wanted to check in" or "Could we maybe find a time to chat?" minimise the power of your words.

With concise communication never more important than now, it's important to first recognise why you're struggling to be concise. Then take these steps to communicate clearly and effectively to be the respected leader you deserve to be.

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Source: https://www.businessinsider.com/ways-to-be-more-confident-concise-communicator-2020-10?r=US&IR=T Accessed on Thursday 19, 2020