Reduce Noise by Killing the Acronyms
Avoiding acronyms in executive communication is so fundamental that it shouldn’t rise to the level of a communication tip. Unfortunately, they are the gift that keeps giving. Acronyms are efficient for the people who use them every day. For everyone else, they are noise.
Acronyms Create Noise
Every field has its own shorthand, and engineers and regulators are among the worst offenders. That shorthand saves time within a technical team. In front of executives or the public, it creates distance.
The Practical Problem
The problem is that most senior leaders won’t stop a presentation to ask what an acronym means because nobody wants to appear uninformed in front of peers. Instead, they lose the message. One unfamiliar acronym may be tolerable, but no more than three.
Acronyms also travel poorly when your information is repeated by the inner circle. Acronyms either get garbled or cause frustration.
Steps to Reduce Acronyms
Start by highlighting every acronym and ask whether the audience truly needs it. Many can be replaced with a plain word or two.
For the acronyms that remain, spell them out on first use, both on the slide and out loud.
Do not assume that a definition on slide two will be remembered on slide twelve. Repeat the full term if the acronym has not been used for a while.
A useful rule of thumb is no more than three acronyms per presentation. Consider a short glossary in a handout if a topic truly requires more.
Listen to yourself during rehearsal. Spoken acronyms are easy to miss because they feel natural to the technical specialist.
Clear Words Beat Short Letters
Acronyms save the speaker time but cost the audience understanding. The tip is to spell out acronyms or limit them to no more than three.
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