In today's fast-paced world, where attention spans are shrinking, and information overload is a constant challenge, communicating effectively and concisely is more critical than ever. This is where the art of being brief comes in. Coming from a person who struggles with being brief, this is becoming a vital skill for the future. The brain is being trained to pay attention to 30-second sound bites of information, so for those of us who are more long-winded, we need to do the work beforehand to make our messages clear, concise, and impactful.
In his book "Brief: Make a Bigger Impact by Saying Less," Joe McCormack emphasizes the importance of brevity in communication. He says being brief helps ensure your message is understood, remembered, and acted upon. McCormack suggests that you can substantially impact your audience by cutting out unnecessary information and getting to the point quickly. One of the key benefits of being brief is that it helps grab and maintain your audience's attention. A long-winded and unfocused message will likely be ignored in a world where people are bombarded with information from all directions. By being brief, you can get your point across quickly and efficiently, making your audience more likely to stay engaged.
Another benefit of being brief is that it can help to avoid misunderstandings. There is less room for misinterpretation or confusion when you are concise and to the point. This is especially important in professional settings where miscommunications can have serious consequences.
After reading the book, I was shocked at how often I noticed meetings, conversations, and discussions going longer than needed. Meetings that could have been ½ hour were going an hour with a detrimental effect on the extended time. Several times I suggested to leaders to get to the point and let their people work! Productivity would double.
Being brief in communication is a crucial skill in today's fast-paced world. By focusing on the most critical points and eliminating unnecessary details, you can grab and maintain your audience's attention, avoid misunderstandings, and substantially impact those you are communicating with—everything you need to push your career forward. So go forth and be BRIEF!
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