In Communicating At Work: Keep It Simple

In Communicating At Work: Keep It Simple
Whether we're talking about sales conversations, meetings,
e-mails or other written messages, presentations or
reports, when it comes to communicating at work, keep it
simple.

One of the most common complaints in today's workplace is
lack of communication. This problem arises in many ways:
poor meeting skills resulting in frustration and annoyance;
poor writing skills resulting in long, rambling e-mail
messages and reports that waste the time of both writer and
reader; sales pitches that fail because the salesperson
doesn't listen to what the client is saying; boring,
unhelpful presentations that waste everyone's time and
convey little information.

But an underlying problem in all of these situations is
that we tend to cloak all our messages in language that
obscures our meaning. It might be technical jargon we use
inappropriately for people who shouldn't be expected to
understand it, or it could be just longwinded, complicated
explanations that are hard to follow. In either case, the
result is that the message is lost.

So what's the answer? Keep it simple! In the workplace,
where communication is essential, you'll never go wrong by
tending towards simple explanations. In fact, the more
complex the subject, the more important it is that you
express your message in simple terms.

Have you ever bought something that used technology with
which you were unfamiliar? Maybe it was a kitchen gadget, a
complicated camera, a musical instrument or your first
introduction to a new hobby. Think about the buying process
you went through. Did the sales person take the trouble to
explain things in simple language you could understand, or
did he or she babble on in some unintelligible words and
expressions that left you baffled and frustrated? Chances
are that the approach the person took had an effect on
whether or not you bought.

Think about the type of information you must convey to
others at work in the course of your own job. Are you
making your message clear and simple? Consider your jargon
and the language you typically use, and see if you can come
up with simpler ways of explaining things. Then make a
practice of using them --- your colleagues and clients will
thank you!

If you'd like to see the value of simple explanations of
the complex, visit the children's section of your local
bookshop or library and look for books on outer space or
other highly complex subjects. Interestingly, even though
these books are written for children, their simple
explanations will not insult your adult intelligence, and
you may well find you've learned something new by reading
them.

So remember, for the most effective workplace
communication, keep it simple!

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Helen Wilkie is a professional speaker and author,
specializing in workplace communication. Subscribe to her
free monthly e-zine, "Communi-keys" at
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