Creating ClarityUsing structure and logic to create clarity in business

2

Who should work to create the clarity: the writer or the reader?

"I have made this letter longer than usual because I lack the time to make it shorter.”

Blaise Pascal, 1657

(we think)

3

Some things change, some stay the same …

"I've been concerned that we've been focussed more on the writing and less on the thinking sometimes.” CEO quoted in Boss Magazine 2012

4

Clear business communication is not written like a mystery novel

5

Clear business communication is not written like a magical realism tale

Aha!

6

Clear business communication is not written like a thriller

Boo!

7

Clear business communication is not written like a scientific article

Problem

Discovery

8

Clear business communication is not written like a journalistic article

Weightiest ideas at the top so that the editor can cut at any point according to available space.

9

Good business communication is designed for time-poor, insight-hungry audiences

Answer

Support

Context

Trigger

Question

Focuses on a single, clear idea

Provides (just) enough context

Organises supporting

ideas logically

10

Clear business communication follows these rules*

The rules

• Every communication must provide some background (context, trigger, question)

• Every communication has one clear overarching governing idea

• Ideas at each level synthesise the ideas grouped below

• Ideas in each grouping must always be the same kind of ideas

• Ideas must be logically ordered

• Keep it as simple as possible

Context

Trigger

Question

?

* For more detail see Barbara Minto, ‘The Minto Pyramid Principle’, or The Power of Logic in Problem Solving and Communication by Linda Long

Agreedsituation

Preview story

11

Start your neosi free trial to make creating clear business communication easier

Go to http://www.neosi.co to try neosi

References

➔ Poetics, by Aristotle

➔ Say it with Presentations by Gene Zelazny (available from www.zelazny.com)

➔ The Power of Logic in Problem Solving and Communication by Linda Long (available from www.scc-llong.com)

➔ The Minto Pyramid Principle by Barbara Minto (available as a book from www.barbaraminto.com or as an app in the Apple App Store)

➔ People Styles at Work by Bolton and Bolton (available from www.amazon.com)

➔ The (i) help function in the neosi storyliner (obtain free trial at www.neosi.co)