The Fox in the Henhouse: Why Brevity Matters and 3 Ways to Improve it.

When I was 12, I asked my grandfather why he didn’t talk much at family dinners.

He leaned over to me and said, “Well, it’s like the fox in the henhouse. The more noise he made, the quicker the farmer came running.”

That stuck with me. It wasn’t about keeping quiet, but being smart with words.

When it comes to leadership, brevity isn’t just about saving time—

It’s about impact.

And that starts with using words that pack a punch without all the noise.

Here are three ways to sharpen your brevity as a leader:

1. Avoid Value Judgment Words

Words like “really,” “huge,” “amazing,” or “great” might seem harmless, but they mean nothing and water down your message.

Instead of saying, “We’re seeing really big declines,” go for something specific: “Bookings are 30%. down”

The clearer the detail, the more memorable it is.

Vague words are like fog—they hide the details that make your point powerful.

2. Use Active Language

Passive phrases drag out your sentences and bury your message.

Compare “Mistakes were made” to “We messed up.”

The second version is quicker, clearer, and takes ownership.

Active language cuts through the noise and lands faster with the listener.

It forces you to get straight to the point, and people respect honesty over fancy phrasing.

3. Cut the Connectors

We’re all guilty of overusing words like “and,” “but,” and “because.”

When you link everything together, you create a chain of endless thoughts that tires out your audience.

Try cutting these connectors to force a concise narrative.

Instead of, “We need to pivot because the market is shifting and our competitors are catching up,” try, “The market’s changing. We need to pivot now.”

Brevity isn’t about talking less—it’s about communicating more clearly and effectively.

Remember the fox in the henhouse: too much noise, and you get caught in your own mess.

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About the author: I have 3 decades of corporate experience including serving as CEO of Best Western Hotels Great Britain for almost 4 years. I now reside in the US training, coaching, and speaking professionally on the topic of commercial leadership.