A Little October Sunshine, a Little More Clarity

There is something wonderfully cheeky about a warm, sunny Friday in October.

You have started thinking about sweaters, darker evenings, and whether the heating really needs to go on. Then the sun wanders back in as if to say, “You haven’t put the garden chair away yet, have you?”

If it makes an appearance today, I intend to appreciate it. Possibly with a cup of coffee. Possibly while pretending the long list of things I should be doing cannot see me outside.

But this October Friday also has me thinking about clarity. That lovely moment when the clouds part, you can see where you are going, and something that felt complicated suddenly becomes manageable.

We could use more of those moments at work.

Especially when we communicate.

How often have you sat through a presentation, read a lengthy email, or listened to an update and thought, “I’m sure there is a point in here somewhere”?

And, if we are being honest, how often have we been the person making everyone search for it?

Yes. Me too.

We know our subject. We care about it. We have done the work, checked the details, and gathered enough supporting information to fill a small filing cabinet. Naturally, we want people to understand all of it.

So we explain.

Then we explain our explanation.

Then we add a little background, three acronyms, and a chart that requires its own orientation session.

Meanwhile, our audience is still waiting to find out what we need them to do.

Expertise gives us something valuable to say. Effective communication helps other people use it.

That distinction matters when speaking with executives. Your audience may be weighing competing priorities, making difficult decisions, or trying to understand a problem between two meetings. Help them find their footing.

What is happening? Why does it matter? What do you recommend? What decision or action do you need?

Those questions give your message a direction. They also help you decide which details belong in the conversation and which can wait for a follow-up question.

Think about the difference between these two openings:

“We have completed an extensive review of the project’s operational and financial performance, including several areas that warrant further consideration.”

Or:

“The project is likely to exceed its budget. We need a decision this week on how to address the shortfall.”

The second opening gives people something to work with. You can then explain the evidence, the options, and the consequences. Your audience knows why they are listening.

Clear communication takes a little courage, too. It means making a recommendation instead of hiding behind a mountain of information. It means acknowledging what you do not know. And sometimes it means stopping once you have made your point, even though you have another twelve slides ready.

That last one can hurt. We worked hard on those slides.

It is one of the reasons I am excited about Effective Executive Communications at LG3. The course focuses on making your expertise easier to understand and act on, with practical ways to structure your message, communicate with confidence, and handle challenging questions.

Before you send your next email or prepare your next update, try this: write down the one thing your audience needs to understand. Then write down what you want them to do.

Put those two thoughts where people can find them.

You may discover that your message needs fewer words, a stronger opening, or a clearer request. You may also discover that you were still working out your own point. That is useful information to have before you press “send.”

And if the October sun does come out today, take a few minutes to enjoy it.

A little fresh air. A little room to think. Perhaps the answer to that stubborn communication problem will become clearer when you step away from the screen.

Happy Friday.

Learn it. Grow it. Own it.