To influence is to exert a powerful force to shape people’s thoughts, feelings, opinions, and actions. In what way can we influence others by saying less? Is the absence of words strong enough (or not enough) to change the outcome?  What is the right balance to achieve?

Taking just a few minutes to get ready before communicating can translate into at least some success versus serving up another hot mess.

Recently, I got two different messages that referenced the same topic: what happens when my boss is or isn’t clear and concise. In one, the sender laments the pain and confusion caused when her boss is all over the place. In another, he praises how his boss made brevity an issue for the entire team to tackle. In this episode, I provide some advice on what to do when brevity is becoming a serious leadership challenge.