We live in a sound-byte society, with slogans like "just do it" or "what’s aaaaaap." We "cut to the chase" and "get to the bottom line" faster than ever before. We measure our effectiveness in the number of emails read and respond to, rather than the impact or quality of our efforts. However, the reason we communicate hasn’t changed. We still have a desired outcome from our communication, which can suffer as we speed up delivery. Let’s look at the reasons we communicate, and whether brevity hinders or helps.
#1 - Come to agreement or understanding: On the benefit side, faster, wider communication channels allow us to involve more people, and to communicate at all hours of the day (or night!). Instant communication enables us to clarify a point quickly and easily. On the bane side, our faster, briefer communication often requires us to make assumptions. It’s easy to overlook how our message might be perceived or understood in the seconds that we have to communicate. For example, have you ever had someone completely misunderstand your emails?
#2 - Convey or receive information: On the benefit side, our faster communication and advanced tools enable us to deliver large amounts of information quickly and easily. Through instant messaging, I can have the information I need for a critical decision anywhere, anytime. The bane is that it’s easy to deliver the wrong information when our communications are hurried and short. If I didn’t understand your request, if I wasn’t careful in how I researched the information, or if I didn’t give you the assumptions and limitations of my information, you received inaccurate or misleading information. Have you ever said, "You didn’t tell me that!"?
#3 - Connect with others: On the benefit side, with email and fast communications, it’s easy to stay in touch with more people with a minimum of effort and time. I won’t write snail mail or pick up the phone during the work day to stay in touch with someone, but I will take 30 seconds to pass along a hello or a resource. On the bane side, these fast, relatively impersonal communication methods are starting to replace real, interactive, meaningful exchanges between people. Relationships can become more superficial.
I suggest using brevity as a communication tool, but realize its limitations. Consider these factors:
- What is the complexity of the subject? The more complex, the more time it may take to get the communication right.
- What is at stake? If it’s someone’s life, slow down; if it’s someone’s lunch, zoom on.
- What is your relationship with the other person? Image your communication from the other person’s point of view. If they don’t understand how you communicate or don’t feel comfortable asking for clarification, slow down to ensure your message is being received.
Brevity can be both a benefit and a bane. Periodically assess how your relationships, decisions, and directions might be improved by taking some extra time to communicate. Ask some thought-provoking questions, get present with people, and be aware of assumptions. Maybe even ask the question "What’s aaaaaap?" and actually wait for the reply.
