We live and work in the age of non-stop communication. For example, the 24 hour news cycle, mobile phones and tablets, smart watches, email or text, and the 24 hour social media such as LinkedIn, Twitter and Facebook. Regardless of what your schedule may be, you can send a message or a photo and express yourself at any length, at any time to anyone. Wherever you go during your business day, there are people on laptops at the local coffee shop and people immersed in their phone screens while having lunch. As a CEO, president or business owner, these various types of communication can enhance your ability for success. It just depends on how you use the application. When doing so keep it simple. Why? Because brevity factors into your business success.
Let’s pause briefly and think about what is really being said with all this opportunity to communicate during the business day with such ease and non-stop frequency.
Have you ever noticed how, in general, people can have a tendency to repeat themselves over and over and over again? The message is not concise. The message is not direct. Sometimes, the message isn’t delivered at all. Often simply ignored.
That’s why brevity factors into your business success – and getting your message across.
Picture this:
You attend a speech given by a well-known individual. World renowned. You’ve been anticipating the event. You have a front row seat. As the guest speaker begins you’re surprised by how boring the presentation is. Not only is the speech uninteresting but the presenter is babbling on about nothing that makes any sense whatsoever or relates to the topic that was advertised. The speech doesn’t match with the audience in attendance. You may be saying to yourself: What am I doing here?!
Now picture this:
You’re communicating during the business day with co-workers, customers and vendors.
Ask yourself:
- What am I really saying?
- Am I just talking for the sake of talking?
- Do I feel like perhaps I am just babbling on and on and on?
- Do I know what others may be thinking?
- Am I consistently concise, simple and clear with my message?
- Am I truly certain the intended message is being delivered?
- Am I getting the business results I want for the company?
There is so much energy being placed today on meaningless conversation. In other words, people talking just for the sake of talking. To get attention. Yet nobody is really listening.
Business success is about effective communication.
There is so much as a successful CEO, president or business owner, you need to effectively communicate each day. The very last thing you need people, including employees and customers, to think when you’re talking is that the words are boring – whether it’s one sentence or a professional presentation.
There’s plenty in today’s business world to cause distraction. But you do not want anyone to be distracted from the message you are wanting to get across. It could be disastrous to your business objectives and goals. Don’t allow yourself to be “tuned out”!
When talking with an individual or a group of business people consider observing their body language.
- Are they listening? How do you know if they are listening?
- Do they seem preoccupied with something else?
- Are they checking their phones or their watches?
- Walking out of the room to take a call or to call someone?
- Are their eyes glazing over? Looking bored?
- Are they yawning?
- Seeming anxious in any way?
- Can you pull them into the conversation with questions?
- Are they initiating questions to further engage with you?
You may not have their full attention. Your message may not be getting through to the intended audience or product the business results you are seeking.
Remember: Attention spans are not as lengthy as they may have previously been due to the complexities of modern daily living. That’s why brevity, being concise and clear, can go a very long way towards success for you each business day.
When talking to employees, business associates or customers, try to be consciously aware enough to directly hear yourself. Hear what you are saying. When possible, record your words so you can listen back to them. Especially when preparing for a major sales presentation or will be a speaker at a meeting. Note: When recording, always make others aware for legal reasons.
Consider:
- What words are unnecessary?
- Is there specific substance and meaning to the intended conversation or presentation?
- What would I want to listen to if I were listening to myself talk?
- Do I directly focus on the intended audience – whether it’s one person or hundreds?
- Do I guide others along in what I have to say?
- Do I ask questions to insure people are understanding and interested?
- Do I edit my words so people will grasp the message clearly?
According to the dictionary, the definition for brevity is:
- concise and exact use of words in writing or speech
- to be short.
For the sake of brevity, I conclude this article by saying:
To your success!
Business expert and strategist, Howard Lewinter, guides – focuses – advises CEOs, presidents and business owners throughout the United States to MORE success – MORE profit – less stress. Business problems? Business issues? Get MORE from your business! Talk business with Howard: 888-738-1855.
Also published as a guest blog post on Linked Into Business.