Cut Through the Fog of Ambiguity with Razor-Sharp Communication.
If you're a professional, especially a young to mid career professional, and you’re feeling like you're spinning your wheels instead of moving forward, I want to offer a technique that will sharpen your clarity and improve your communication, ultimately helping you achieve the outcomes you envisioned. This tool is a metaphorical machete, and we're going to use it to cut through the fog of ambiguity.
Imagine this: you're in a meeting, and you're about to ask your colleagues to support your latest idea. You've spent a number of hours perfecting it, and you're excited to share your vision. You open your mouth, and out comes a meandering, half-formed question that leaves your colleagues scratching their heads, wondering what you're asking for. Sound familiar?
The tool I’m going to introduce you to is designed to remedy a common problem— we open our mouths before we’ve taken the time to get clear with ourselves what we actually want.
Clear Intent, Clear Request
I call this clarity-producing tool, "Clear Intent, Clear Request". It’s a simple, two-step process designed to help you communicate with precision and purpose. Here's how it works:
- Clarify Your Intent Before you start any communication, take a moment to ask yourself, "What is my intent?" This simple question helps you focus on the outcome you want to achieve, whether it's gaining support for a project, negotiating a salary increase, or simply sharing information. By defining your intent, you set the stage for a targeted, purpose-driven conversation. For example, if your intent is to gain support for your latest idea, keep that goal front and center as you prepare your communication.
- Make a Clear Request With your intent firmly in mind, craft a clear, concise request that communicates your intent to your audience. Use specific language and avoid jargon, as it can muddy the waters of understanding. Most importantly, be direct in your ask. Your colleagues aren't mind-readers (well, at least not the ones I've met).
So, in our example, instead of saying, "Hey, I've got this idea I've been working on and, uh, I think it could be really cool, so, uh, do you want to take a look?" you might say, "I've developed a proposal that I believe will increase our team's efficiency by 20%. Would you be willing to review it and provide feedback by next Wednesday?"
See the difference? The second request is clear, specific, and demonstrates your intent.
Take Action
Now that you're equipped with the "Clear Intent, Clear Request" technique, let's dive into some action steps to help you put it into practice:
- Practice mindfulness: Before any communication, take a moment to pause and reflect on your intent. Breathe deeply and visualize the outcome you desire.
- Write it down: When crafting your request, try writing it down first. This helps to solidify your thoughts and allows you to edit and refine your message before sharing it with others.
- Seek feedback: Don't be afraid to ask for feedback on your communication from trusted colleagues or mentors. They may be able to offer valuable insights on how to make your requests even clearer.
- Keep it simple: Remember that less is often more when it comes to effective communication. Resist the urge to over-explain or use jargon, and focus on expressing your intent and request as simply and directly as possible.
- Practice, practice, practice: Like any skill, clear communication takes time and practice to master. Challenge yourself to use the "Clear Intent, Clear Request" technique in both your professional and personal life. You might be surprised at the positive impact it has on your relationships and results.
Remember, communication is the lifeblood of any successful endeavor, so don't let ambiguity and confusion hold you back. By implementing the "Clear Intent, Clear Request" technique, you can more successfully navigate your way through the fog of uncertainty, as you move toward the shoreline of success.
