Last week, I shared that influence begins by talking less and hearing more. When it is your turn to speak, however, how succinct you are also matters.
This brings us to a second form of restraint that defines powerful communicators: brevity.
Here’s the hard truth: in today’s attention-deficient and time-deprived world, if you can’t make your point quickly, people stop listening.
Long-windedness doesn’t make you sound smarter. It makes you sound uncertain. Uncertain communicators lose authority fast.
Brevity isn’t just a style choice. It’s a leadership and influencer skill.
The Problem: You’re Overdoing the Point
You’ve seen it. A simple update becomes a 12-slide saga. A meeting turns into a monologue. By the end, no one remembers the takeaway or believes that one even existed.
Why? Because when your message is buried under too many words, it loses its edge. And so do you. The more you explain, the more people wonder what you’re hiding.
The Solution: Pull Back to Sharpen the Impact
Brevity is more than being short. It’s about being strong and clear. Want to sound more confident and credible? Speak like you mean it with fewer, better words.
3 habits of high-impact brevity:
- Lead with the headline.
Make your point first. Don’t build up to it. Start with it. - Cut the softeners.
Drop the “justs,” “maybes,” and “I thinks.” They don’t protect you. They weaken you. - Say it once with power.
Repeating doesn’t reinforce. It waters down your authority.
Real-World Example: The Twitter Test
Twitter (now X) once capped posts at 140 characters. Suddenly, leaders, brands, and thinkers had to distill their message to its essence. The result? Some of the most viral and influential messages weren’t long. They were laser-focused.
When you say less, people hear more.
Communication Move #3: Be brief to be believed.
You’ve listened. You’ve absorbed what matters. Now, say what counts in as few words as possible. Learn to be more precise. Authority isn’t about your words taking up space. It’s about having them stick.
Stay tuned for Part 4 next week: Connection Over Perfection – Why Relatability Builds Real Influence.
Jo-Aynne Von Born, Leadership and Executive Coach
Reprinted from my weekly newsletter, Awaken Your Potential. Join here to receive for free.