He–Hi–Ho: A simple model for communicating smarter

Anu: Good morning, Coach! I would appreciate some help. I’ve been struggling with getting my point across to people. Do you have any tips on how to be more effective in my communication?

Coach: Good morning, Anu! Absolutely, effective communication is key to success. Tell me more about what you’re struggling with.

Anu: Well, it feels like every time I try to explain something, people either lose interest or seem confused. They never seem to have the time to listen to my points. My emails are often ignored. It's frustrating because I know I have good ideas, but I can't seem to get them across.?

Coach: I see. You might be overwhelming your audience with too much information. Excessive detail when they don’t need it can lead to people feeling that you are beating around the bush, not respecting their time and not empathising with their need for a quick answer.

Let me introduce you to a fun and practical method to help you. I call it He-Hi-Ho.

Anu: He-Hi-Ho? Sounds like something out of a Bollywood song!

Coach:(Laughs) Yes, it does! It’s a simple yet a really powerful communication tool. The idea is to structure your message in a way that’s clear and concise.

Anu: Interesting! Tell me more.

Coach: Sure, let's break it down. The He-Hi-Ho method stands for Headline, Highlights, and Whole story. It’s inspired by Barbara Minto’s Pyramid Principle and how news articles are written. Here’s how it works:

• Headline (HE): Start with a brief overview of the entire message. Think of it as the essence of what you want to convey, in one or two sentences.
• Highlights (HI): Follow up with 3-5 key points that support your headline. These should add detail but still be concise, covering the most important aspects.
• Whole story (HO): Finally, provide the full details, but only as much as the other person wants them. This way, you avoid overwhelming them with information.

Anu: Coach, why is structuring communication so crucial?

Coach: Great question, Anu! The structure is vital because it helps in several ways

• Focus: It ensures your key message is clear right from the start.
• Retention: People remember information better when it’s organized logically.
• Engagement: Structured communication keeps your audience engaged by providing information in digestible chunks.
• Efficiency: It saves time for both the speaker and the listener, making interactions more productive.

Anu: That makes sense. So how do I actually use He-Hi-Ho in a conversation?

Coach: Let’s do a role-play. Imagine someone asking how a meeting went.

Anu: Okay. How was the meeting?

Coach: (Thinking) Headline: It went off quite well. We’ve agreed on all the major points, and they need to get some routine approvals. We plan to sign the agreement on Monday.

Anu: Nice! Now the Highlights.

Coach:

• They had an issue with the price, but we closed with a 10% discount and a slightly reduced scope.
• We addressed our concerns about the timelines and worked out a win-win solution.
• We’ve built a good working relationship, and this could be the start of a fruitful partnership.
• Input from our legal and finance teams was invaluable, and this cross-functional approach can help us be more agile.

Anu: Excellent! Now, if they want more details?

Coach: I’d then provide the whole story, but only the parts they’re interested in.

Anu: Perfect! I’ve got it. Now let me try. Ask me a question.

Coach: How was your vacation?

Anu: Headline: We had a great family time and met some old friends. The national parks were amazing, and Raghav’s graduation ceremony was the cherry on top.

Coach: Highlights?

Anu:

• We did the West Coast this time
• The first leg included California and Yosemite with some dear friends.
• The second leg was a bus tour from Vegas to the stunning Grand Canyon, Bryce, and Antelope Canyon.
• We ended with Raghav’s graduation in Boston, which was a proud moment for all of us.

Coach: Wonderful! Now, let’s say I’m intrigued by your Grand Canyon trip. How would you continue?

Anu: I’d then share more about that specific part of the trip, like the breathtaking views, the hike, and the overall experience.

Coach: Exactly! Remember, it’s like humming "Old McDonald had a farm… E-I-O." Headline, Highlights, Whole story.

Anu: Coach, what if someone asks about something more complex, like our quarterly performance?

Coach: Ah, great question! Let’s try that. How was this quarter's performance?

Anu: (Thinking) Headline: We had a strong quarter with significant growth in key areas, though some challenges remain.

Coach: Good! Now the Highlights.

Anu:

• Revenue increased by 15% compared to the previous quarter, driven by strong sales in our new product line.
• Customer satisfaction scores improved by 10%, reflecting our enhanced service quality.
• We expanded our market share by 5%, entering two new regions.
• Operational costs were higher by 7% due to increased marketing spend, but this is expected to stabilize next quarter.

Coach: Excellent! Now, if they want more details?

Anu: I’d then provide the Whole story, but only the parts they’re interested in, like specifics on the new product line or details about the cost increase.

Coach: Perfect! See how versatile the He-Hi-Ho method is? It works for everything from casual chats to detailed business reports.

Anu: Absolutely, Coach! This method really simplifies communication. I’ll definitely start using it. But how do I build this skill?

Coach: Practice, practice, practice. Try using just the He-Hi for things like a movie you see, an article you read, or a meeting you attend. The more you practice, the more natural it will become. and remember this can be used for other mediums too like emails or presentations.

Anu: Got it! Thanks a lot, Coach!

Coach: Anytime! Now go and impress everyone with your newfound communication skills! Next time we meet, I’d like to know about your experiences of using it.