At LatimerNext, we believe in breaking down good communication into specific skills that can be practiced and improved: clear messaging, effective visuals or slides, powerful presence and delivery, channeling an “executive voice.”

But here’s the big picture. The reason your team needs to practice each of these skills and get better at them is very simple. It’s so that they become easy to listen to. 

When their message is confusing, disorganized and unclear, people have to work hard to figure out what they are saying. Clear messaging makes them easy to listen to.

When their slides are visually overwhelming, text heavy and distracting, people have to work hard to absorb those slides. A simple and visual slide deck makes them easy to listen to.

When their delivery is distracting or annoying, people have to work hard to stay focused on what they are actually saying. A powerful presence makes them easy to listen to.

The common denominator to all of our work comes down to this: make the message clear and valuable, and then make sure the slides or delivery don’t get in the way.

It’s a simple competitive advantage; when it is easy to listen to you, people will want to listen to you.