Executive Business Coach Chuck Boyce’s Blog: The Art of Saying it Simply

After the glow of the New Year festivities begin to fade, it is time for those of us in the northern hemisphere to hunker back down for the short days of winter. When sunlight is scarce, I’ve noticed that for me sometime so is inspiration. So one of my business resolutions for 2011 was to seek out and share two quotes per week that are inspiring and hopefully thought provoking.

As I began my quest, using various internet sites and putting the quotes into my calendar I was really struck by how they were mostly short and simply stated. Many were fewer than 12 words, yet they convey a crystal clear message.

I decided to take inspiration from this simply and put together this list of Strategies for Better Communication.

Words build a relationship as they communicate your message. It is through word selection that the recipient of your message is going to decode your tone and get a sense of your style. It is best to use words that are easily understood, and leave little room for interpretation. Most likely you’ve received or sent a message that was completely misunderstood by the recipient.

Target your words to the intended target audience. Avoid using terms that are technical, slang or unlikely to be familiar to the recipient. When a dentist is explaining a complex procedure to a patient, she is going to use significantly different words than when it is explained to a gathering of her peers.

Be mindful of local customs. The global economy makes it much more likely that you are going to be communicating with people with a variety of regional customs. While many times these exchanges can provide for comic relief, they can also turn a friendly communication hostile. Do your homework and find a trusted expert familiar with the local customs if you’re venturing into new territories.

In the age of twitter, text messages, and shorter communications, it is important to master the skill of saying things simply. The simpler the message, the more likely it is to be understood.

“Independent Executive” Chuck Boyce is an expert small business coach who can help you get the most out of your business. For more information on how you achieve your business goals, go to www.breakingfreeblog.com.

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