Communicating simply.
Twenty twenty four ought to be the year of simplicity.
Beginning with communication. Simple communication is king.
Can we agree that good ideas need to be shared? The more people who digest and engage with a good idea (ie: democracy, social services, public schools, etc), the more likely the idea is to become a reality. The more simply an idea can be broken down and communicated, the more people will be able to engage with it.
So how do we put this into practice?
As a rule, I ask my clients to describe their idea to me as though I was 8 years old. If it’s clear enough for a child to understand, it means 2 things:
the communicator clearly understands their topic (often when we use big $5 words- it’s an indication that we may not fully understand the topic)
the listener will be able to quickly engage or ask more direct question to understand
In both cases, everyone wins. Communication is clear, succinct and easily digested.
Here’s a great article that presents a framework to follow: What, So what, Now what.
What else should be simplified this year?