Be simple in your words

Long talks don’t really work. We should keep our words clear, simple, and easy to understand. I came across a great example in Simply Said by Jay Sullivan—let me share it with you.

Try reading this aloud:

Everyone’s active participation in the bank’s events is crucial to helping us develop a conscious and cohesive firm culture that we can all be proud of and that will help us attract high-quality associates.

Now, turn your head away from the paper and repeat the statement you just read.

You can’t do it, right? It’s too long. You have to translate what it means to you.

Now try the same with the next sentence:

We hope to see you at as many firm functions as possible.

You are probably able to repeat that sentence easily because the message stands on its own. Save the “why” and the details for separate sentences. Those sentences help me buy into your idea, but they are separate from the idea itself. Give your audience a simple concept to grasp and convey to others.

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Here’s another example:

You may want to consider bringing closure to this issue in the near future before the economic situation changes drastically enough that the fundamental reasons for structuring the deal as we have envisioned it no longer exist.

By the time someone finishes saying that, the audience has already zoned out.Instead, just say:

"We need to close the deal soon."

Simple. Direct. And people will actually remember it.