How to Force Uncertainty to Respond (and Improve Communication)
Communicating strategic decisions is a long game. And the long game consists of complexity (many interrelated parts) and uncertainty (not...
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JD Solomon
Oct 10, 20222 min read
A Classic Example of Public Speaking, Noise Reduction, and The Three-Act Structure
I was pleasantly surprised to find a great example of the three-act structure at a recent Young Professional forum where I was speaking....
CWF
Oct 7, 20221 min read
Communicate with FINESSE by Speaking to Everyone in the Same Way
Many frequently cited quotes are attributed to Albert Einstien, including, "Make everything as simple as possible, but not simpler."...
JD Solomon
Oct 6, 20223 min read
Possibly the Worst PowerPoint Slide I Have Ever Seen
Well, maybe not the absolute worst because I have seen some bad ones. But this one is in the Top 10. Good Intentions This slide was part...
JD Solomon
Oct 5, 20222 min read
How One State Communicates Climate Variability (without saying climate change)
The term climate change conjures pollical passions that make it nearly impossible to discuss or mitigate the issues that the public cares...
JD Solomon
Oct 3, 20221 min read
Seven Simple Questions That Empower Communicating with FINESSE
Avoid initial statements and ask questions instead. Keep your questions simple because there is power in a well-placed question. And...
CWF
Oct 1, 20221 min read
Simple And To The Point Is Always Best
If anyone knows something about technical communications, it is Guy Kawasaki. Kawasaki did two tours of duty at Apple, the first to help...
JD Solomon
Sep 30, 20222 min read
Replace “You” with “We” in Your Presentations
Listen closely the next time a technical specialist or a self-proclaimed expert delivers a presentation. The chances are good that they...
JD Solomon
Sep 28, 20223 min read
Improve Your Communication of Rare Events After They Happen
Low-likelihood, high-consequence (“rare”) events present special challenges for effective communication. Pre-event plans are often well...
JD Solomon
Sep 27, 20222 min read
Improve Your Communication of Rare Events Before They Happen
Low-likelihood, high-consequence (“rare”) events present special challenges for effective communication. Pre-event plans are often well...
JD Solomon
Sep 26, 20222 min read
Three Indicators of a Rare Event to Help Your Communication Strategy
The high-consequence, low-likelihood nature of rare events makes them unexpectedly and disproportionately impactful. Rare events can...
JD Solomon
Sep 23, 20221 min read
Ask a Question (avoid making a statement)
There is nothing more powerful than a good question. It provokes deeper thought by the receiver. It demonstrates your empathy for what...
JD Solomon
Sep 18, 20222 min read
Five Reasons Being An Effective Communicator Helps Your Technical Career
We are all called upon weekly (or daily) to explain or defend our work. As technical professionals, video conferences, interfacing with...
JD Solomon
Sep 12, 20224 min read
Risk Matrices Fail Because You Fail to Communicate Effectively
The consequence/likelihood matrix (also referred to as a risk matrix or heat map) is a way to display risks according to their...
JD Solomon
Sep 10, 20221 min read
The Top 5 Sites For Evaluating (and Communicating) Hurricane Risks
Understanding your risks relative to an uncertain future usually involves some type of model. When it comes to uncertainty, forecasts,...
John Parker
Sep 7, 20222 min read
Your Career Will Rise or Fall on These 3 Tips for Communicating with Senior Executives
Having a conversation or presenting to senior-level executives and acquiring their time to do so can be very difficult. I would like to...
JD Solomon
Sep 6, 20224 min read
Communicating Inflation and Escalation Will Make or Break Your Career
Current project managers and decision makers have not grown up in an era of rising construction escalation and economic inflation. The...
JD Solomon
Sep 2, 20223 min read
Communicate Your Results at the Beginning of Your Business Presentation
Start with the conclusion. No build-up. No grand reveal. No details. Simply and concisely state the conclusion. This is the message that...
JD Solomon
Aug 30, 20221 min read
Guest Articles on Communicating with FINESSE in August
Check out the great insights on communicating technical information to decision makers from the Communicating with FINESSE community. ...
JD Solomon
Aug 27, 20222 min read
Media Manipulation: How The Broken Vertical Axis Ruins Your Credibility
The video graphic in a local news story raced by so quickly that I nearly missed the manipulation—the bar in the graphic animated...
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