In his book, Everyone Communicates Few Connect, John Maxwell writes about five principles in connecting with others, and five practices one can use in establishing that connection. Today, I am going to continue my discussion on one of those topics: the practice of keeping it simple. Or, AKA – The Art of Simplicity.
The third observation in keeping communication simple is: Say it over and over and over again.
“Don’t repeat yourself. It’s not only repetitive, it’s redundant, and people have heard it before.” Lemony Snicket
“The first time you say something, it’s heard. The 2nd time, it’s recognized, and the 3rd time, it’s learned.” William Rastetter
As John Maxwell has written, “Repetition is essential in communication if you want people to understand and buy into what you are saying. If you want to be an effective communicator, you have to be willing to keep emphasizing a point.”
As a trainer in a previous job, I trained many people. One that stands out was someone who went through training and was put “out on the floor” before they were ready. A few months later, I was asked to retrain the individual again -repeating several times some information. Unfortunately, the person just could not grasp much of the information required to do the job.
THREE basic reasons (out of many) why repeating something may be necessary: 1.The sender is not communicating effectively. 2. The receiver is not able to understand the message: just not getting it, or could be not familiar with topic, or maybe has a learning deficiency. 3. A combination of both. No matter what, patience is always important when you want others to understand something.
What are your thoughts about repetition? Do you think it is necessary to be repetitive on some topics? Are you willing to emphasize a point to make sure a person (or persons) understand that point? Or, are there other tips you can provide? Your comments are welcomed. Don’t hesitate to share your thoughts.