Speak Eloquently Simple, Please!

Language is the source of misunderstandings.
~ Antoine de Saint-Exupéry

Language is an art. Most languages are, but especially in the Anglo-Saxon world it is highly valued if you are a proficient artist in the beautiful language that is English. Being eloquent and using prose-like languages full of quirks and subtle jokes or references is a skill enjoyed by many. The Anglo-Saxon world is proud of its language and the heritage that’s intertwined with it. More so than other languages, and especially more so than the Dutch (but that’s another story).

However, that same language can be the cause of a lot of misunderstandings. Even between different variants of the same language, British English and American English, a lot of confusion can arise. If an American wants to table a topic for instance, they mean that they want to let it rest for a while and postpone the discussion. The British on the other hand will table that topic if it needs immediate discussion. The same expression, but a world apart. Winston Churchill once said about it: “Two nations divided by a common language.”

Eloquent can be simple as well

Eloquent speech is not from lip to ear, but rather from heart to heart.
~ William Jennings Bryan

Being eloquent doesn’t necessarily mean that you have to use uncommon or unknown (but often beautiful) words. There’s a time and place where we enjoy that kind of language. A time when we indulge in the richness, and wish we could write or speak like that.

But there’s also a time where being eloquent means that you use simple words, and avoid that rich language. As William Jennings Bryan said (so eloquently) it’s not about getting from lip to ear, but from heart to heart.

In theatres, movies and books this relates to conveying emotions from one person to the other. In politics it’s conveying a belief or a cause from one person to the other. Rich language aids the speaker or author in those circumstances by creating a fertile ground for the audience. They can genuinely experience the emotions themselves, or the power of the specific belief, or the necessity of fighting for a named cause.

However, in a business setting (or any setting where you simply want to get things done) getting from heart to heart is something else entirely. Being eloquent in business simply means that you make sure that the other person understands what you mean and what you want them to do. In this setting rich language is a pitfall, because it creates ambiguity err…you increase the chance of misunderstandings to happen. The “table” expression is a perfect example.

In business you simply want to get your message across (effective), with a minimum of effort on both sides (efficient).

Choose simple words and wordings

Everything should be made as simple as possible, but not simpler.
~ Albert Einstein

One of the habits you can adopt is to simplify your vocabulary. Remove unnecessary words and by-phrases and replace words that are prone to misinterpretation. When you’re talking to someone you have the ability to catch misinterpretations as they happen (but even then you might not recognize them instantly). In disconnected communication like email that possibility does not exist. You are simply not there when they read the email. So use simple words and wordings, especially in email!

An example:
Let’s take a look at one of those typical sentences you could come across in an email message:
“I sincerely feel it is part of your set of responsibilities to achieve the desired results within a reasonable amount of time.”

There are multiple problems with this sentence and the message it tries to convey:

• What are the desired results? Is this clear to both of you?
• What is a reasonable amount of time? Hours, days, weeks?
• Do you give the same meaning to “responsibility”? How do you know?
• It might also trigger a response that starts a discussion whether your assumption regarding the responsibilities is correct (Imagine for a second what that response might look like…and how many words it would have.)

The likelihood that this sentence gets the message across is low (ineffective), and the resulting discussion takes a lot of time and thinking power (inefficient).

Now compare it with this sentence:
“Send me the performance report on newspaper sales no later than next Monday at noon. Thanks.”

Simple and clear (and even pretty polite). It gets the message across, is easy to read and will trigger short responses like “Ok.” and “That’s not going to be a problem.” And in case you sent it to the wrong person, you can expect a short answer too: “Not my job. Forwarded it to Charlie.”

Keep it short and simple

I made this letter longer than usual because I lack the time to make it shorter.
~ Blaise Pascal

Pascal’s words are wise ones, it takes more time and effort to get the same message across while using less words. So it might look like a productivity hack to skip that additional effort and go with the longer message. Bad idea.

In the bigger picture, you may have won some time writing your message (quite the paradox, long messages take less time to write). But it will also take the receiver more time to read and comprehend it. Even worse: your lack of effort effectively gives the receiver permission to do the same to you! If you are not putting in the effort, why should they? So you can expect long answers back, that take more time to read and comprehend.

So use words sparingly. Every sentence and every explanation that you add to your message might confuse the recipient. Edit your message ruthlessly and strip it down to the bare essential. It’s easier to understand, elicits better responses and as a benefit it also has an aura of authority to it as well.

Simple isn’t always easy

Simple can be a really hard thing to do. I sure as hell don’t master it, just take a good look at this post. I’m not trying to convey emotions, beliefs or causes. I’m just trying to explain a phenomenon I witness around me and a way to deal with it. Yet it could’ve been said in a lot fewer words, without hurting the message. However I do use these habits a lot and I try to be simply eloquent (or eloquently simple?).

Do you recognize this phenomenon? Are your co-workers confusingly eloquent? (I bet they are!)

Photos by kevinzim and Martin Kingsley