SIMPLY SAID:COMMUNICATING BETTER AT WORK AND BEYOND BY JAY SULLIVAN

Key Concepts

• Audience-Centricity: The primary rule of all communication is that "your message is never about you... It is always about how your audience... needs to use your content". Frame all information around what is in it for them (time, money, feelings).
• Clarity and Conciseness: Keep messages short, simple, and direct. Limit your core message to one sentence, preferably fewer than 10 words, and avoid jargon or overly complex language. Big ideas, not big words, make an impact.
• Bottom-Line Up Front (BLUF): Whether in presentations or documents, state your main point or recommendation at the beginning, not at the end. This gives the audience the necessary context to understand the details that follow.
• Active Listening: Communication is a two-way street. Great communicators are great listeners who ask open-ended questions, take notes, and paraphrase to confirm understanding. This builds trust and respect.

• Effective Delivery (Oral and Written):
• Oral: Use eye contact (one person per full sentence), vary your voice tone, incorporate natural pauses to allow information processing, and use open body language to convey confidence and engagement.
• Written: Write short sentences (aim for a maximum of 17 words), use strong, active verbs, and structure documents logically with clear action steps and deadlines.

• Authenticity: While techniques are important, they must be delivered authentically. If your style or humor feels forced, your audience will notice and stop listening.
• Leadership Through Communication: Effective leaders articulate a clear vision (values, vision, plan) by tying objectives to the needs of the individuals they lead. They delegate effectively by providing context and clarifying expectations.