Walking into work after one long night with our newborn, I wondered, “which colleagues of mine have been up all night?”
Why not communicate clearly enough so anyone who’s been up all night can keep up? The discipline will only make us clear communicators for the well-rested, too.
Three principles, which we’ve hit before, this time from the perspective of a sleepy person listening to a rambling communicator:
- Start with why.
Sleepy Staff Officer: “Oh jeez, what are we even talking about right now? Just tell me what you want me to do. Do I even need to do anything? I’m so tired. Why the hell is this person talking?” - Give just enough background and context.
Sleepy Staff Officer: “Wow, there’s a lot of information in the conversation. I should’ve started writing some of this down. I thought I knew where this was going, but now I’m too sleepy and embarrassed to ask. Am I supposed to remember all of this? I’m not sure how any of this is important. Did I just doze off? I hope they didn’t notice.” - Get off the X.
Sleepy Staff Officer: “Just. Tell. Me. What. You. Need. I’ll do it. I’ll do anything for coffee. Where is the coffee? Is there a way to politely leave and go drink coffee instead?”
Talk to your audiences like they’ve been up all night. Whether or not they have, your message will be clear.
Note: Go back and read Part 1: “Talk to Me Like I Have to Piss.“
(Photo by Robert Timmons, DVIDS)
