This week, I want to share a few lessons I’ve picked up from the book "Smart Brevity," written by the Virginian co-founders of media sites, Axios and Politico. Their short and sweet formula makes practical sense for improving communication, and I think it can benefit us all.
The “Smart Brevity” Model:
- One Big Thing: Start with your main point in a single, clear sentence.
- Why It Matters: Follow up with a few short sentences explaining why this point is relevant.
- Go Deeper: Offer the option to dive into more details with sources, bullet points, graphs, videos, and other useful resources.
To test it out, let’s put their method to the test!
One Big Thing: Using Smart Brevity’s model and practical tips can make your communication more concise, and as a result, more digestible, keeping our teams better informed.
Why It Matters: In healthcare, effective communication is crucial to delivering superior patient care. As the book suggests, by keeping it brief:
- We respect each other’s time.
- We make our messages more accessible, relatable and credible.
- We ensure our points stick.
Go Deeper: If you’re looking to improve how you communicate, learn more about the "Smart Brevity" book or watch the TED talk. While the recommendations may not be applicable in every interaction, I believe they can be immensely useful in the right situation, both in and outside of work!
Have a suggestion for a book that can improve our work at UVA Health? Share it with me through the Be Heard Suggestion Box!
Take care and be well,
Wendy