Author : Michael Angier
Have you ever tried to listen to someone but found yourself
becoming impatient because they were rambling? Ever checked
out of a meeting because the speaker was droning on with too
much intro, explanation or background?Of course you have. We all have.Unfortunately, most people who use ten words when two will
do are blind to the fact they're losing their listeners. They
have no idea how much they detract from the power of their
presentation by being verbose. They lose their audience.
They lose their ability to influence. Sometimes they even lose
their friends.On the other hand, people who make their point quickly
and effectively are easy to listen to. They use fewer words
and have more power. By holding your attention and getting
to the point, they're more effective communicators.People listen much faster than you speak. Unless you're really
holding someone's attention, the tendency is for their thoughts
to wander to other things. Here's three things to keep in mind
to help you become more succinct:1. The Bottom LineThese days, we expect information to be delivered quickly.
Younger people, especially, have short attention spans. We
may not like this, but that's the way it is.It's up to us to deliver our messages in a succinct, interesting
and compelling fashion. We have to GET attention, HOLD
attention and make our request or our point QUICKLY. We have
to get to the bottom line.2. Stop the Pre-RambleThe U.S. Constitution begins with the Preamble. It's a one-
sentence, masterfully written, powerful introduction to one
of the world's most important documents.But far too many people practice what I call "pre-ramble".
They provide too much detail. And they take way too long
introducing what they want to say. In the process, they lose
the listener—or don't even grab them in the first place.Better to just say what you have to say than spend too long
setting up what you have to say. Be brief. Instead of saying,
"I'd like to tell you a story," just tell it.3. Less is MoreMany people think the more said, the better. Not true. A
good writer knows short sentences are more powerful than
long ones. Short paragraphs carry more weight. If a word,
a sentence or a paragraph doesn't do any
work, it shouldn't be there.What we need to do is edit what we say as well as edit
what we write. Aleksandr Solzhenitzyn said, "Everything
you add to the truth subtracts from the truth." Let us speak
less and SAY more.Don't get me wrong. I'm not advocating being so curt that
we're rude or lose our style. We need sufficient detail to do
the job—just not TOO much. Be considerate enough of your
audience to convey your message in a way that it can be
heard.Remember, brief is better.Action PointAsk some of your friends for their honest feedback. Ask
them if you talk too much, too long or take too much
time to get to the point.Really listen to what they have to say. If they say you
practice any of the above traits, get to work on
becoming more succinct. Speak less and say more.Related Articles:You Never Know When Your Words Will Make a Difference
A story from Colin Powell's My American Journey illustrates
this well.
http://www.successnet.org/members/articles/yourwords.htmListen, Pause, Clarify & Validate
We all know that listening is even more important than
speaking when it comes to good communication. But
how do we really listen?
http://www.successnet.org/members/articles/angier-validation.htmMistakes Count Against You
We're all using email more and more these days. But
when did we really learn email etiquette? Read this
article for a crash course in eMail 101.
http://successnet.org/members/articles/osgoodby-mistakes.htmMichael Angier, founder of SuccessNet.org, transforms
businesses into world class companies. Discover the
10 Pillars to a World Class Business. Get your
no-cost report at http://WorldClassBusiness.com
Keyword : Communication,speech,self skills,self-improvement
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