Do you share too much detail when you speak?
Last week I was working with a client who is struggling with her concise communication when in meetings and presentations. She would try to express an idea, but often ended up rambling, over-explaining and ultimately losing the attention of her audience.
As a result, she was losing credibility and weakening her authority in her male-dominated firm.
Firstly, we explored WHY she thought she needed to share so much detail.
“I tend to over-prepare and share all the details because I want my colleagues to see me as knowledgeable,” she said.
“And I hate getting asked questions because I am afraid they will ask something I don’t know (and then think I don’t know my stuff). If I share EVERYTHING, then they won’t need to ask any questions, right?!”
Is this something you’ve experienced before?
My client’s reasoning seems logical, but sharing all the details is actually detrimental to your overall impact, because:
- We are not physically capable of remembering loads of detail. According to a 2008 study, published in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, the human working memory can only store, on average, 3-4 pieces of information at a time. So why bother sharing loads of information if your audience is going to forget it anyway? This is why I recommend only choosing 3 main points to share in a presentation.
- More detail does NOT equal “more knowledge”. Your audience is not sitting there thinking “Wow, look how much information she knows!” They are thinking “How is this information relevant to ME?” If you’re concerned about looking credible, then focus instead on communicating your content in a meaningful, engaging way. This could be through sharing a story, a metaphor, or research. ( I did a whole episode on this, check it out here )
- More detail = trickier questions. Trying to avoid questions is futile. In most cases, someone somewhere WILL ask a question, so why not guide them towards a question you can easily answer? To do this, deliberately leave out an obvious detail. Then, you can be confident you’ll be asked about it. If you share EVERYTHING, your audience will look for something really specific and detailed to ask about.
It may seem counterintuitive when it comes to concise communication, but in the words of the architecture great Mies van der Rohe, “Less is More”.
Listen to the episode to learn how to master the art of concise communication. You’ll discover WHY we tend to overshare detail, how to choose your key points, and when it’s actually appropriate to share details. The result? You’ll be more productive, improve your influence, and make a great impression on those who matter!
Related episode: Why You Are Afraid Of The ‘Awkward’ Silence [Episode 235]