Before
“Due to anticipated inclement weather conditions and in consideration of operational constraints, all activities scheduled after 6 p.m. will be canceled.”
Simplicity Speaks
Communication without the clutter.
Clear communication is more than good writing. It is how leaders build trust, organizations create understanding and communities stay connected.
“Simple communication isn’t about saying less. It’s about helping people understand more.”Get the free writing checklist + worksheet
Why it exists
The real challenge is understanding.
We live in a world overflowing with information. Emails compete with text messages. Meetings compete with notifications. Social media competes with everything.
The challenge is no longer getting information to people. It is helping people understand what matters.
When communication becomes simpler, understanding becomes easier. When understanding becomes easier, trust begins to grow.
Core belief
Make meaning easier.
Communication is not about saying everything. It is about helping people understand the right things.
- What matters?
- Why does it matter?
- What should happen next?
Four principles
The Simplicity Speaks Framework
Clear
- Know your purpose
- Write plainly
- Remove unnecessary words
- Make the next step obvious
Consistent
- Build familiarity
- Reinforce key messages
- Create communication people recognize and trust
Relevant
- Start with your audience
- Explain why it matters before the details
- Connect information to action
Accessible
- Make communication easy to read and navigate
- Use plain language
- Design for inclusion
Use it in five minutes
Start before you write.
Answer these five questions before drafting an email, announcement, presentation or update. A few focused minutes here can save your audience much more time later.
Who needs to understand this?
Name the audience as specifically as you can. Their needs—not your process—shape the message.
What is the one thing they need to know?
If they remember only one point, decide what it should be before you begin writing.
Why does it matter to them?
Connect the information to their experience, responsibilities or decisions.
What should they do next?
Make the action, deadline or expected response unmistakable.
What can be linked instead of included?
Keep essential context in the message and give supporting detail a clear place to live.
Before + after
See what simplicity changes.
The goal is not to remove meaning. It is to make the meaning easier to find and act on.
What changed
- The reason comes first.
- The decision is stated plainly.
- The time people need is specific.
- Words that do not change the meaning are gone.
The outcome
Understanding builds trust.
- When communication is clear, people understand.
- When people understand, they feel informed.
- When people feel informed, they feel included.
- When people feel included, they are more likely to trust.