3 Tips for Clear Communication

Clear, concise communication exudes confidence and leadership.

Here are three tips to help ensure clarity and understanding in conversations, meetings, presentations, and emails.

• BLUF, or Bottom-Line Up Front. Simplify your main idea into one main sentence or headline. Prepare this before the meeting or conversation and begin with when you are speaking or in your email.

• The Power of Three. Support your main idea with no more than three points. In emails, use bullets for each point. In conversations and updates, say "first," "second," and "third" to make the transitions stand out.

• Use with others. Use the headline-and-three-point template when listening to others. Use this to listen to and diagram other people's messages. This will help you understand what they are saying and prove your clear thinking when you respond.