3 tips for CLEAR communication

Engagement begins with clear communication.

Often people don't take action because they don't understand. "If you confuse, you lose", as Donald Miller says.

Here are three ways to communicate anything more clearly, whether it's an instruction, a marketing pitch, a company mission, a team goal, an invite to dinner, or even a request to your child.

1. Use a metaphor

Think of an everyday metaphor that explains things. A recent metaphor I saw a client use:

"Our new software initiative is like a sailing boat. You can't change the shape of the boat that we are giving you, but we will train you in how to adapt it to the seas you're sailing."

2. Use common language

A member of my Engagement Coaching Group likes to share this realisation: the word "cuppa" is an informal slang for "cup of tea". When engaging her colleagues in taking a break, offering a "cuppa" has a more endearing effect than asking "would you like a cup of tea?"

In the same vein, I like to say that "engagement is making friends".

3. Make it dog-simple

There's the idea of explaining something to a 5-year-old. But I like the idea of making an idea so simple that even a dog could understand it. Take away sentences, and reduce it to a single word, tone of voice, with gesture.

Can your idea still come across then?

"SIT!" "Treat!" "Click!"

Try these three out and you'll probably find people take more action.