Host Isabel Berwick speaks to Ros Atkins, BBC News analysis editor and author of 'The Art of Explanation,' about the importance of clear communication in the workplace. They discuss the negative impact of jargon, the power of preparation, and the significance of concise and well-written emails.
Preparing for communication moments can lead to surprising success and brilliance.
Clear communication is essential in business settings to avoid wasting time, making people feel left out, and improve understanding.
Deep dives
The Importance of Preparation
Ros Atkins emphasizes the importance of preparing for communication moments to settle oneself, communicate effectively, and achieve desired outcomes. He suggests that preparing for these moments can lead to surprising success and brilliance.
The Problems with Jargon
Polita Clark discusses her dislike for unclear communication and jargon. She explains that jargon slows down understanding, wastes time, and makes people feel left out. Additionally, she highlights research showing that people tend to use jargon to bond or to boost their own ego, but clear communication is essential in business settings.
Clear Communication Tips
Ros Atkins shares tips on how to communicate clearly and concisely. He recommends prioritizing essential information over interesting but irrelevant details, organizing information in a way that best serves the purpose of communication, and being conscious of the audience. He also applies these tips to email writing, advising starting from a position of pessimism, delivering information efficiently, and considering email as a medium that can save time and foster effective communication.
Clear communication can be the difference between getting what you want at work, and missing out. But some of us are better at it than others. Host Isabel Berwick speaks to BBC News analysis editor Ros Atkins, best known for his viral explainer videos, about how we can learn to get to the point. Atkins has made his career conveying information effectively. His recent book, ‘The Art of Explanation,’ distils lessons from more than 20years at the BBC.
Presented by Isabel Berwick, produced by Mischa Frankl-Duval, mixed by Simon Panayi. The executive producer is Manuela Saragosa. Cheryl Brumley is the FT’s head of audio.