A few years ago I wrote a book called “BRIEF” to help our military’s elite special operations forces communicate clearly and concisely. They needed proven techniques to be more efficient and effective and they were eager to start communicating at a much higher level. It’s funny because I never intended to become an author until a few military leaders asked me to do it. Given the enormous sacrifices they make for our country, I couldn’t say no.
Recently I found out that “BRIEF” was given special recognition by our nation’s top military leaders. Gen. Joseph Votel who is now a four-star general at US Central Command, added the book to his SOCOM recommended reading list alongside “Leaders Eat Last” by Simon Sinek and “Teams of Teams” by Gen. McChrystal to name of few. Needless to say, it’s an honor to share company with both military and thought leaders alike.
Since the book was released, word has spread to business executives, entrepreneurs and aspiring professionals looking for an edge. It’s been translated into Chinese and Korean, with expected translations in Arabic, Turkish and Russian.
Continuing to support special operations missions
But what’s really special to me is that I have the opportunity to work alongside our military’s elite and continue to support their mission. At The Brief Lab facility in Southern Pines, NC (near US Army Special Operations Command and Joint Special Operations Command headquarters at Ft Bragg) we teach the BRIEF methodology to military leaders and operators. We help them:
• Develop a heightened awareness of their audience and how they’re drowning in information
• Learn visual mind mapping techniques to organize complex thoughts
• Eliminate and trim detail that confuses people
• Develop clear, high-level executive summaries that are compelling
• Speak in headlines that make it easier to follow
• Master the art of the elevator speech and short story
Battlefield to boardroom
We do the same for business leaders at The Brief Lab in Chicago where our business is based. Although the corporate environment has different challenges than the battlefield, it turns out that most people are looking for a way to communicate more effectively.
I’d like to thank Gen. Votel for his recognition of “BRIEF”. And if you’re interested in the book, you can download two free chapters by clicking right here .
BANNER Credit: USSOCOM
