Brevity

I can’t think of anyone in a leadership position who does not value brevity. Einstein said “If you can’t explain it simply, you don’t understand it well enough.”

People struggle to be brief because they are afraid of being misjudged. What presenters forget, is that the person you are speaking to will have to repeat it to others. If you (the expert) can’t boil it down, then how do you expect them to.

Brevity implies command over a topic, it generates faith and goodwill in the presenter. It’s how the best of us communicate the most important ideas. It works for a reason.

A boss’s plea for brevity

If you successfully say three things to me about something important,

I will be yours.

If you try to say six things to me,

I will assume you don’t have your shit together yet.

If you have to say ten things to me,

I will try to pick out three things so I can convince myself you are not an idiot.

If you say more than ten things to me,

I will decide we are both idiots and never meet with you again.