Important conversations deserve clear language

In essential leadership conversations, being clear is not about being blunt or reducing everything to short sentences.

It is about choosing language that helps the other person understand what matters.

Working memory is limited and there’s only so much information someone can hold in their head at one time. When a message is layered, abstract, or loosely structured, the listener has to work harder just to follow it. we call this their cognitive load.

Once someone’s cognitive load rises, thinking becomes harder. People miss key points, fill gaps with assumptions, or fall back on familiar habits. None of this is a choice. It is just what happens when the brain is overloaded.

Clear language gives the other person enough mental space to make sense of what you’re saying. It helps them focus on the message rather than trying to decode it.

This makes the conversation more constructive, and it strengthens the sense that you are working with them, not around them.

Before your next important conversation, you might find it helpful to consider:

🔹 What is the one idea I need to express clearly?

🔹 Is my wording straightforward enough for someone to follow without strain?

🔹 What can I remove or simplify so they have more room to think?

If you’re exploring how to strengthen clear, sustainable communication across your leadership population, I’m always happy to discuss what this can look like in practice. Book a Discovery Call.