How To Quickly Use Fewer Words For Greater Results
????Val Wright
Global strategy and innovation expert, speaker, and author of Thoughtfully Ruthless ??, Rapid Growth, Done Right?? and Words That Work ??
If a CMO of a complex global $10 billion-plus company can write their strategy on one page, why can’t you? One of the executives I am working with created a paper placemat for her CEO to review her new strategy. All on one page. It enabled her to get her new three-year plan approved in record time, and allowed the executive team to consume her new strategy at the right level without getting lost in the details.
She did it by using the following Executive Team Communication Rules.
Ten rules for communicating to your executive team and board:
- Start with the headline first. Your audience will ask you for the detail they need next.
- Do not use a 125-page deck to convey your message.
- Speak at the right altitude for your audience.
- Provide your point of recommendation, not your endless debate.
- Be clear on the intent of your conversation and state it to prevent crossed wires.
- Don’t use a paragraph when a sentence will do.
- Don’t use a sentence when one word will do.
- Don’t use a word when silence will do.
- Preview key recommendations one-to-one before communicating topics of importance.
- Recap and summarize what will happen next before the meeting ends.
If you follow these guidelines you will not just improve your influence at the executive level, you will also improve your ability to deliver an impactful presentation.
You can find more communication and influence tips in my book Rapid Growth Done Right here.
Dedicated to growing your business,
Val
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Thank for the article Val. It is spot on! Many years ago, I took a class called "Get the Fog Out of Your Writing" and it was invaluable to me and I have used the techniques ever since. Recently I was chastised by a manager saying that my writing style is too terse, too succinct, and I need to add more fluff. I disagreed!