adding your smart
"It is with great sadness that circumstances beyond his control have transpired which have resulted in Mr. --- having to participate in a dissolution of marriage action.” *
Uhm…
We’ve all been there, right? A document makes the rounds and, because of everyone’s efforts to make the message diplomatic or professional, it goes out the door with its meaning obscured entirely. Or you’re in a meeting where someone adds a lengthy comment that is clearly meant to make them appear knowledgeable but adds nothing of value to the conversation.
Be careful of “adding your smart” to the document or to the conversation. Too much high-falutin’ or circular language
- can crush the meaning of your message,
- has the counterintuitive effect of making you look like a dope,
- or just wastes time.
For a written document, ask yourself what you would say if you were talking to a friend. “He’s getting a divorce, and he’s really sad about it, so please leave him alone.” Get as close to that as possible. It’s very clear and kind. Unless there is a compelling reason to gloss things over, stick to the basics.
In a meeting, consider listening first and speaking concisely about the issue if you have a real question or intervention. You won’t impress the boss with an empty showboat explanation. And if you are the boss, you’d be surprised by how powerful it is for a team to solve their problem without your smart direction. If all you do is ask a question or two and then wind up with an action plan, you’re golden.
If I were up for the tattoo needle, my ink would read “WAIT.” It’s also an acronym for “Why Am I Talking?”
*Yup. This is a real announcement about a celebrity divorce. But this post is not meant to disrespect the couple announcing their clearly painful and public break-up.
