This is the most powerful communication tip I’ve learned (after 20 years of tech leadership):
Lead with the key takeaway, then expand on the details.
❌ Here's how NOT to do it:"
We noticed that our application is experiencing delays, so we started analyzing the database queries. After running diagnostics, we saw that a large part of the latency comes from slow read operations and inefficient indexes. To address this, we’re considering restructuring queries, introducing caching, and optimizing response payloads to improve performance."
✅ Here's how to do it:
"We've identified three fixes to reduce application latency by 40%: query optimization, caching, and response payload reduction. Here’s what we’re tackling first by Tuesday and the next steps..."
Master this one communication shift in 2025: Hit the punchline first.
And watch your influence soar.
Have a great New Year’s Eve.
PS: We tend to think in a step-by-step (deductive) manner, but our communication should start with the conclusion (inductive).
PPS: Apply this when answering questions, too!
