By Maurice Gilbert
Everybody knows this: we have short attention spans these days. Shorter than ever. We get bored easily. How easily? You’ll be bored before you get to the end of this paragraph. I’m bored already, and I’m the one writing it.
Hey! Stay with me. We’ll wrap this up in 30 seconds. Promise.
Succeeding in your current job – or advancing to a better one – relies on quick, effective communication. You already seek efficiency in all of your tasks throughout the day (you do, don’t you?), so apply the same process-improvement-program to the way you deliver messages.
Phone call? Email? Elevator pitch? You get 30 seconds, people. So edit, hone, whittle, rehearse.
Here are 5 quick tips:
- Have a clear objective. What’s your goal? What’s the primary thing you need to accomplish with this conversation?
- Who’s your audience? Is this person in position to get you what you want?
- What’s the right approach to get what you want? How do you satisfy the needs of your listener as a way to help you get what you want?
- What’s your hook? How are you going to get their attention? (Remember! They’re bored already!)
- The close. Ask for what you want.
Now give me 30 more seconds, because I have a great example showing some of these tips in action.
Example: an employee who wants to take a continuing education course is talking to his supervisor:
“John, the implementation of SAP is critical to the company’s strategic plan. I believe it would benefit our team if I become familiar with SAP prior to the implementation. There is a course being offered at XYZ University on September 1st. Please let me know so that I can enroll this week.
Easy enough, right? Thanks for reading. Now get back to work.
Published by Conselium Executive Search, the global leader in compliance search.
