Get Real, Get Tough, Talk Straight

Mar 13

The great enemy of clear language is insincerity. When there is a gap between one’s real and one’s declared aims, one turns as it were instinctively to long words and exhausted idioms, like a cuttlefish spurting out ink.
–George Orwell

The JT International News Wire sent me a link to A Little Tough Talk Can Carry the Day in the WSJ. Here’s what writer George Anders says about weak and mealy-mouthed executive communication:

This is an especially bad time to be timid. The rise of blogs and YouTube videos means that any gabber with a funny story or provocative point of view can gain world-wide attention within days or even hours. If bosses can’t define the agenda with words that delight and startle, someone else will.

Want to be a real communicator? Speak the truth. Use plain language. Get real. Get tough. Talk straight.

About the Author

Frank Roche

Frank started IFRACTAL over 7 years ago with Sarah Chambers. Together, they've created HR communications and HR software for some of the world's leading companies. Frank is also studying Flamenco guitar and origami.

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Comments

JT says:

March 16, 2008 at 6:14 pm

The challenge of the massess having access through the web to make you look silly is such a potent and sobering idea. No matter how bad the news, no matter how stupid the decision, no matter how disasterous the outcome. It is much harder for the “communication aftershock” to be worse than the original quake if your official communication is honest, clear and blunt. Sincerity and candor is hard to criticize through sarcasm and wit.

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Frank Roche says:

March 17, 2008 at 7:24 am

Nothing like shining a bright light in dark corners. Now all news is the news of the people. (How about Bear Sterns, btw?) I agree, get it out of the way early. Say what you need to say and get on with it. Waiting and “strategizing” never works. Honesty always does.

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Wally Bock says:

March 17, 2008 at 5:47 pm

Nice post, Frank. The point that’s left out is that you don’t do the communicating just once. It’s something you do over and over and over and over again.

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Frank Roche says:

March 17, 2008 at 6:10 pm

Wally, thanks. As you say, communication isn’t a sometimes thing, it’s an all the time thing.

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