Most people want to communicate well. I don’t think anyone goes into a conversation saying, “I want to totally frustrate Joe.” Especially if they are talking to Joe. 😉

So why is it that this frustration is so common? The most likely problem is “busyness.” We all have a lot to do and are looking for opportunities to save time.

Because of this we cut corners and use terms others may not be familiar with. It is like we are talking in shorthand or another language.

When we do this, we are not taking the time to communicate clearly. Result? The message gets muddled.

I have a friend who knows a lot of things but is somewhat vague. When talking to me he gives me facts, which are accurate, but unclear.

What seems to be missing in the communication is the what or the why. This brings frustration since I don’t know why he is telling me these things or what I should do with them.

Bring Clarity to Your Message

We need to ensure that we are conveying all the appropriate information to others. One way to do this is by writing out what you are going to say.

When you have it written down, you have something to work from. You can re-read it and tweak it before telling the other person.

Another thing you can do is read it out loud. How does it sound when you read it?

Have you ever thought something in your head that sounds great? But when you say it out loud it is not. Yeah, me too. Writing it out would have saved me some embarrassment.

Writing out your thoughts produces clarity, increases trust, and brings the results you want.

Michael Hyatt in his book No-fail Communication said you should include 3 things when communicating with others.

1. State what you want to say

• Tell the person what you want to accomplish. One way to do this is to use a tool like Mind Mapper. Mind Maps let you map out your thoughts into a logical flow.
• This step states the big picture, not the individual steps to get there.

2. Give the Why

• Tell the other person why this thing matters. Other people do not know what you know, and they don’t know what’s in your head.
• By making your intentions clear with the Why, you are sharing the reasoning behind your thoughts. This gives the other person more flexibility in executing your intentions as they understand the end goal.

3. State the result

• You need to help other people see the result you are aiming for.
• Determine what a “win” would look like. Then explain to others what they would see and feel.
• Write out what you want to happen – in the present tense. Ex: I have lost 20 pounds and can fit into my before baby jeans.
• Check your description of the win against the “why” to ensure that what you want is possible and logical.

By giving the overall picture of what you want and the rationale behind it, you can help others understand and excel in executing your ideas.

Bring clarity by eradicating unclear communication. This will end the frustration for everyone.

Small Steps To Clear Communication

Now it’s your turn. Use the 3 steps above to write out the What, Why, and Results for your next communication and let us know how it brought clearer communication. I know you’ll be amazed at the results.