Sometimes Saying Less is More - Crisis Communication Strategy 3

Today’s world is anything but slow and steady. In fact, in an age of information overload, saying less is a skill we need to possess to be successful. When a crisis strikes, cutting out material that we see as essential, but really isn’t, is hard. Getting to the point quickly means you have to make a lot of decisions about what’s essential and what’s not essential.

We love to talk, but the problem is much of what we say every day is ignored. Getting to the point right away is crucial to keep and attract listeners. Research has found that the average professional receives 304 emails per week, checks their smartphone 36 times an hour and gets interrupted every eight minutes (or 50 to 60 times per day), given that, it’s not hard to imagine why our attention spans are shrinking (from 12 seconds in 2000 to eight in 2012).[1]

The next time you face a crisis and begin taking down notes on what you are going to say, remember, saying less might be a lot better than saying more.

[1] https://www.fastcompany.com/3030659/less-is-more-why-youre-saying-too-much-and-getting-ignored