My dad likes turkey stuffing – a lot of turkey stuffing – and he likes it cooked inside the turkey. Usually, we make enough stuffing to cook some inside the turkey and a smaller batch to cook separately.
One year, my dad managed to stuff all of the stuffing into the turkey. He was quite proud of himself…until the turkey exploded.
Yup, exploded. Blew one whole side off the turkey. You should have seen the look on my mom’s face when she opened the oven. The turkey tasted the same but it did seem odd to carve and serve a turkey that was no longer “turkey-shape.”
BLOG READER: That’s very funny but I thought your blog was about writing and communicating and stuff like that there. So what’s with the cooking lesson?
ME: Hang on. I’m getting to it.
The point is when you’re writing a message or communicating important information it is tempting…oh so tempting…to ram, cram, and pack as much information as possible into a single communication piece. You must resist.
Think of your audience as that poor turkey my dad mangled. You don’t want to ram information down their throats until their eyes bulge. So how do you combat information overload? Here are a few tips:
- Just the facts. What information does your audience absolutely need to know right now? Decide what information is most critical, lead with it, and then stick to it.
- Limit your key points. I personally will try to keep messages to no more than three to five key talking points. Anything more than five and it becomes harder for your audience to remember what you said.
- Multiple messages. If your topic is extremely detailed or complex, consider breaking it into multiple messages or use different communication vehicles. This will also help to keep your messages short. Your audience likes short.
- Additional resources. Provide handouts or Web sites for your audience to review on their own time. Your main message should provide an overview. Let your audience dive into the details later.
By following these tips, you will be able to make your information easier to remember and you will avoid glazed expressions and/or exploding heads.
Happy Thanksgiving!
