Module 2 · Communication · Lesson 2 of 10

Saying it clearly

Lead with the point, use plain words, and explain difficult ideas in steps.

7 min read · Level: Beginner · Free — no account needed to read

The idea

Clear speaking starts with knowing your point before you open your mouth. Lead with it — “I’d like to move our meeting” — and then add the reasons. People listen better when they know where you are going.

For difficult ideas, go in steps: the big picture first, then one piece at a time, with an example for each. Plain words beat impressive ones. If you can explain it to a twelve-year-old, you probably understand it well enough to explain it to anyone.

Why it matters

Clarity is a kindness: it saves the other person effort and leaves less room for misunderstanding.

See it happen

Anika needs to tell her manager that a project will be two weeks late.

The first reaction

She starts with a long account of everything that went wrong, and the manager interrupts, confused, halfway through.

With the idea

She leads with the point: “The project will be two weeks late. Here are the two reasons, and here is my plan.”

What changed

The manager heard the news first and the explanation second, which made it far easier to respond calmly.

Easy to get wrong

• Burying the point at the end of a long story.
• Using jargon to sound knowledgeable when plain words would do.

Try it now: Point first

1. Think of something you need to tell someone soon.
2. Write it as one sentence that says the point.
3. Add no more than three short reasons or details underneath.

Questions to think about

• When do you tend to talk around a point instead of saying it?
• Who explains things clearly to you, and what do they do?

Your challenge this week

Start three conversations this week with your main point in the first sentence.