[May 09, 2015] Many years ago I learned a valuable lesson on improving clarity. As a graduate student I was responsible for teaching several classes. One day I asked my class a question, and wanting to encourage anonymity I directed them to write their answer on a scrap of paper and on the folded outside to write “male or female” before handing it in to me. To my surprise several of them literally wrote “male or female.”
They had followed my instructions exactly but did not do what I meant for them to do. Perhaps they were joking with me; nonetheless the circumstance got me to thinking more about how to communicate more effectively. This is particularly important for senior leaders whose every word is scrutinized; something I’ve written on before (see link).
“Ladies and gentlemen, there are moments in the lives of nations and peoples when it is incumbent upon those known for their wisdom and clarity of vision to survey the problem, with all its complexities and vain memories, in a bold drive toward new horizons.” – Anwar Sadat1
We should strive for clarity so that we can improve on our position in life and for the betterment of all. Anwar Sadat, the President of Egypt, understood this and that it takes a special leader to fulfill that need. In the workplace, clarity is sought so that those who work there can achieve the mission and, with the right leader, achieve excellence along the way.
To achieve clarity, here are some of the mechanisms that will help:
- Start with the end in mind.
- Repeat your message often and use questions to further elaborate on the meaning.
- Eliminate vague words, phrases, slang, profanity, colloquialisms, and acronyms from your vocabulary.
- Build a positive work environment by establishing trust and taking care of your people.
- Promote a questioning attitude over obedience.
- Use workplace values and guiding principles for decision-making criteria.
- Immediately reinforce desired behavior with encouragement and rewards.
By improving clarity our relationships will improve; whether that be at the workplace, in the family, a house of worship, etc. Never take for granted that you are fully understood because if it is at all possible, you will be misinterpreted. Like my students who took me literally, it takes more than words to develop clarity of what you want to communicate in the mind of others.
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[1] http://ismi.emory.edu/home/resources/primary-source-docs/sadatbegintranscripts.pdf