In a workshop extolling the virtues of concise writing, Pat Zietlow Miller likened the practice to that of a bouillon cube: packing a lot of flavor into a small package.
Research shows that people actually read shorter documents and understand more of the message. We have all reached for the bulleted or one-page memo over the lengthy, technical report. We often act immediately on the explicit request while deferring the complex email until “later.” We remember the soundbites and analogies while forgetting the complex arguments. Yet, we too often ramble on as if quantity is an indicator of value.
The next time you write, provide only the flavor without the fluff.
