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Brevity Wins Every Time

Need to communicate something important? Do it fast!

Since the turn of the century, this century, the average adult attention span has dropped from 12 seconds to 8 seconds, based on a Microsoft study, which when compared to the 9 second attention span of a goldfish, according to a study by the National Center for Biotechnology Information. Let me be clear, goldfish have a longer attention span than humans.

Ever wonder why you have to remind everyone from your last meeting what the point was? Well, now you know. So let me make this brief. If you don’t deliver a message clearly and concisely in 8 seconds or less the game is over. But remember that not everyone is listenting during the first time you deliver the message so you have to deliver it multiple times in multiple ways so maybe 30% or the listeners will walk away with what you want them to hear.

Sitting in a room full of ‘busy’ people listening to you while answering emails on their laptop and looking for texts on their phone is not productive unless you beat them into submission by using every tool in your communication kit. Being longwinded and using 5 syllable words is not a good idea.

Here are some simple tips:

  • Gain attention by opening with a provocative statement
  • Be clear about what the message is right up front
  • Concisely explain why the message is valuable to ‘them’
  • Repeat the message multiple times in multiple ways, visual aids help
  • Close by reinforcing the message
  • Check for understanding and connection by asking what was heard

Don’t waste time with long presentations that build to a climax. Hit hard, hit fast and hit again!

In the words of Franklin Delan Roosevelt “Be sincere. Be brief. Be seated.

March 12, 2024 Posted by | Uncategorized | Leave a comment