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 finish my discussion on one of those topics: the practice of keeping it simple. Or, AKA – The Art of Simplicity.
The fifth, and final, observation in keeping communication simple is: Say less.
“We don’t communicate in full sentences anyway. We don’t need all those words.” Shepard Smith
(News anchor)
“Don’t fall in love with your own voice.” John Maxwell
As John Maxwell wrote: “You can hardly go wrong by keeping things short when you communicate. But there are a million ways to go wrong by talking too long.”
BEATING A DEAD HORSE. When you say something very clearly to people, that doesn’t mean you have said less. Many people like to “beat a dead horse.” Saying less can be very rewarding to the listener who, in many situations, then shows appreciation to the speaker. In regards to communicating, Anne Cooper Ready wrote in her book, Off the Cuff, “In today’s over-booked society, nothing is more appreciated than the gift of a little found time.”
IN HIS BOOK, Brief: Make a Bigger Impact by Saying Less, Joseph McCormack believes that in the business world, the only way to survive in business today is to be a lean communicator. Busy executives expect you to respect and manage their time more effectively than ever. You need to do the groundwork to make your message tight and to the point. The average professional receives 304 emails per week and checks their smartphones 36 times an hour and 38 hours a week. This inattention has spread to every part of life. The average attention span has shrunk from 12 seconds in 2000 to eight in 2012 (last year for stats).
COUNTER INTUITIVE. Maxwell believes that it may seem counter intuitive, but if you want to take your communication “to the next level and connect with people, don’t try to impress them with your intellect or overpower them with too much information. ”
There was once a Frank and Ernst cartoon where a teacher asks: “Can you explain the phrase ‘Talk is cheap’??” A student answers: “It’s because the supply always exceeds the demand.”
So, throw your listeners a lifeline and be brief.