No doubt you’ve heard variations of this saying: “I didn’t have time to write you a short letter, so I wrote you a long one instead.” The point brings a smile to anyone who values brevity and eschews clutter in writing and speaking. It is much harder to be succinct than it is to be verbose.
Brevity is a weapon for clarity by those who wish to say something important. Succinct leaders cut the fat out of composition and do their best to eliminate any word that isn’t absolutely necessary. In memorandums and briefs, those who value impact often write in bullet points or short, sharp sentences to emphasize what really matters.
Because time is of the essence, leaders always prize team members who articulate ideas and arguments crisply, making points quickly and concisely. They suspect that anyone who requires too many words to express themselves likely lacks clarity in their thinking.
In a world where information is too plentiful and often overwhelming, brevity helps to capture attention and emphasize what really matters. Compact messages are usually more memorable and impactful. Team members who want to stand out quickly learn the power of brevity and strive for it in every interaction. They never use two or three words when one word will do.
Good leaders frequently remind others that brevity is a virtue and do their best to set a good example. They encourage team members to live by this adage: “Be bright, be brief, be gone.” More importantly, they live by those words, as well.
A Daily Dispatch from the Front Lines of Leadership.
