Thursday, July 15, 2010

Get To The Point!


Never in history has the human brain been asked to track so much information. Practically everyone is using cell phones, email, and digital assistants to transmit data and ideas as fast as they can, meanwhile causing information overload. Therefore, the presenter with the message that is concise and easy to understand will win the fierce battle for attention.

Choose the shorter, more familiar word instead of the complicated one. Get to the point quickly. We form impressions in a matter of seconds. If that impression is blurry, confusing, or complicated, we may leave you – never to return.

Use visuals that illustrate what you are saying. A picture is worth a thousand words – make sure they are the right thousand words that support your message.

John F. Kennedy's speechwriter may have been thinking, “It is no longer appropriate for a citizen to ascertain the level of benefit which she or he might wish to accumulate from his geographic governmental unit…”when he had the President say, “Ask not what your country can do for you.”

In a world characterized by an information “glut,” it is the simple, timely, pertinent message that gets through and is remembered.

2 comments:

Fred E. Miller said...

The goal of all communication: visual, written or spoken; is the same. We want the recipient(s), as quickly as possible to GET IT!

They may not agree with everything.

They may not agree with anything.

But unless they GET IT!, there cannot be a conversation going forward.

To your point, make it SIMPLE for them to GET IT!

TJ Walker said...

Yes, clarity is key!