I love concise messages. So when offered the opportunity to read Brief: Make a Bigger Impact by Saying Less by Joseph McCormack, I was all in. McCormack’s book about being brief showcases the author’s credibility from the beginning, when he notes that when things don’t go our way at work:
There’s always a reason (a.k.a. an excuse):
- Bad timing
- An off day
- Competing factors
- Favoritism or office politics
Actually, he argues, when things don’t go our way, it’s usually about us—what we say and how we say it, as well as what we do and how we do it. If we want better outcomes, we need to master brevity.
Your career is driven by words and how you use them. For example, take these make-or-break moments in your career that depend on how you communicate:
- Your boss explains the need for improved processes. You present new ideas and initiatives.
- Your customers express their needs. You describe how your company’s products and services can meet them.
- Your manager declares the desire to build talent. You define your capabilities.
Your biggest career challenge is cutting through the maddening clutter of noise, distractions and interruptions that are exacerbated by digital communications.
“Brevity is a choice,” McCormack writes. “When you want to get more, decide to say less.” Think about that for a second. Consider how much workplace air you fill with talk that grabs the undivided attention of others. For most of us, it’s not much.
...About the book
Brief: Make a Bigger Impact by Saying Less
by Joseph McCormack
John Wiley &
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