39 lines
1.6 KiB
Markdown
39 lines
1.6 KiB
Markdown
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---
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title: "Communicate Clearly"
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date: 2022-11-05T17:08:10Z
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slug: 2022-11-05-communicate-clearly
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author: Thomas Wilson
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---
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The hard thing about most ideas is arriving at them.
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Most ideas themselves are easy. For example:
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* Many smaller changes to software reduces the chance that a single change can break things.
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* People who exercise more are more likely to live longer.
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* Everyday somebody is discriminated against because of where they were born, who they love, or what they believe.
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Always try to communicate clearly. This is especially true when you're communicating with other people.
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I am a recovering over-explainer.
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By always explaining and contextualising, I was communicating less clearly.
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For a long time I would say (or write) an idea alongside the journey of how I got there, or the consequences/next steps.
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I thought I was making my point clearer.
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I thought you always wanted to help someone think how you think, or understand why something is/not good/bad.
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Sometimes you can dilute an idea, suggestion, or observation by explaining it. It makes your point less clear.
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Other times, the explanation is just too unfamiliar, and _you_ are the one with the expertise.
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Either way, the explanation of the thing you're trying to say probably isn't as interesting (or relevant) as the thing itself.
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Explanations can take up a lot of the air in a room. They take time to say, and energy to understand. That's time and energy that could be spent doing the thing you're saying.
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As you become more of an expert, people (rightfully or not) expect you to have made the explanation or assertion.
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