255. How Leaders Sound Smart Without Saying Too Much

The keys to communicating clarity, not confusion.

What separates communicators who clarify from those who confuse? The ability to “Simplify complexity,” says Adam Bryant. “I don't think you can be an effective leader if you can't do that.”

Bryant is a senior managing director at the ExCo Group and former New York Times journalist who interviewed over 500 CEOs for his renowned Corner Office column. Through those conversations, he identified a pattern: the best communicators turn complexity into clarity. For Bryant, that means checking your own expertise, considering not whether something makes sense to you, but whether it makes sense to someone else. “Empathy [is] a component of communication,” he says, “to be an effective communicator, you have to be able to get in the head of the audience.”

In this episode of Think Fast, Talk Smart, Bryant and host Matt Abrahams explore the keys to clear communication, from simplifying (without oversimplifying) to repeating messages until people can recite them back. Whether you’re leading a whole company or just one conversation, Bryant’s insights reveal how to communicate complex ideas in ways anyone can understand.

To listen to the extended Deep Thinks version of this episode, please visit FasterSmarter.io/premium.

Episode Reference Links:

• Adam Bryant
• Adam’s Books: Quick and Nimble / The CEO Test
• Ep.98 Give It to Me Straight: How to Give Honest, Constructive Feedback 

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• Matt Abrahams >>> LinkedIn

Chapters:

• (00:00) - Introduction
• (02:56) - Traits of Successful Leaders
• (05:11) - Communication Mistakes to Avoid
• (09:08) - Listening as a Leadership Skill
• (12:28) - Simplifying Complex Ideas
• (16:04) - How to Capture Attention
• (18:44) - Leading Life with Curiosity
• (20:08) - The Final Three Question
• (25:48) - Conclusion

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