Why waste time say lot word when few word do trick? The art of tl;dr. (2024)

In an episode of the popular TV show “The Office,” character Kevin Malone famously said, “Why waste time say lot word when few word do trick?” This quote highlights the importance of brevity and simplicity in communication.

Kevin’s quote may be humorous, but it contains a valuable lesson for anyone looking to communicate effectively. When we use too many words or include unnecessary details, we risk losing our audience’s attention or confusing them with irrelevant information.

In today's fast-paced business world, communicating clearly and briefly is more important than ever. Whether you’re writing an email, giving a presentation, or participating in a meeting, the goal should always be to convey your message as clearly and succinctly as possible.

By focusing on what's important and getting rid of the rest, we can make messages that are more powerful, memorable, and actionable. And as Kevin Malone reminds us, sometimes a few well-chosen words are all it takes to get the job done.

The key to powerful communication? Keep it simple. As Pablo Picasso said, “Art is the elimination of the unnecessary.” This holds true not just for art, but for communication itself. Your message isn’t done until there’s nothing left to remove.

This is where Picasso’s drawings of bulls come in. If you look at his series of drawings, you’ll notice that they start out very detailed and complex, with many lines and shading. But as he continues to refine the image, he eliminates more and more of the unnecessary lines, until he ends up with a simple, iconic image of a bull that is instantly recognizable.

This same principle can be applied to communication. When you’re creating a message, start with everything you want to say, and then start cutting away the excess. Get rid of anything that doesn’t directly contribute to your message or that might distract from it. Use simple language and clear, concise visuals.

The famous quote, “I’m sorry for the long letter. If I had more time, this letter would have been shorter,” is a perfect example of the principle of simplicity in communication. The quote has been attributed to many people over the years, including Mark Twain and Blaise Pascal, but regardless of who said it, the message is clear: crafting a concise and effective message takes time and effort.

The phrase suggests that shorter, more concise communication is more effective. Lengthy, rambling messages are easy to write but hard to follow and forgettable. Short, focused communication distills your message and chooses only the most important points, making it more clear, memorable, and impactful. This applies to all communication. Whether selling a product, persuading others, or conveying information, keep your message simple and straightforward.

Abraham Lincoln’s famous quote, “If I am to speak ten minutes, I need a week for preparation; if fifteen minutes, three days; if half an hour, two days; if an hour, I am ready now,” still holds true today, even in modern communication strategies for executives.

To communicate effectively with busy executives, convey your message concisely and clearly. Focus on the key points and strip away unnecessary details. Tailor your message to executives’ priorities and goals. A succinct, targeted message is most likely to resonate.

Along with careful planning, modern communication strategies often use visual aids like graphs, charts, and infographics to make complex information easy to understand and communicate in a short amount of time. These visual aids can help you get the attention of busy executives and make your message more interesting and easy to remember.

Effective communication requires careful consideration of both the message and the medium used to convey it, as Marshal McLuhan famously said, “the medium is the message.” Whether you’re communicating through email, presentations, or in-person, each medium has its unique strengths and limitations, and understanding these characteristics is crucial in optimizing the message’s impact.

Also, modern ways of communicating often use visual aids like graphs, charts, and infographics to quickly and clearly explain complicated information. By considering both the message and medium, you can ensure that your communication is clear, concise, and impactful, regardless of the situation.

The idea that there is a statue hidden in every piece of granite, and that the art is taking away what’s not necessary, perfectly encapsulates the principle of simplicity in communication. Just as a sculptor must chip away at a block of granite to reveal the statue within, so too must we chip away at our messages to reveal their essence.

When we’re communicating with others, it’s easy to get bogged down in unnecessary details, jargon, or tangents. But just as a sculptor must be selective and intentional with every chisel stroke, so too must we be intentional with every word we use.

By focusing on what's important and cutting out what's not, we can make messages that are clear, concise, and powerful. Whether we’re writing an email, giving a speech, or crafting a marketing campaign, the goal should always be to reveal the statue within the granite.

The key to effective communication is brevity and simplicity. We can make our messages clear and easy to remember if we focus on the main point and leave out extraneous information. This applies across mediums, from emails and presentations to marketing campaigns. Carefully planning a short message and using visual aids when it makes sense help catch people's attention and make complex ideas easy to understand. Like a sculptor revealing a statue from a block of granite, effective communicators chip away at excess to reveal the core message.