1. Set a time limit:

People’s consumption habits have evolved, but communication hasn’t.

This would be a stupid, waste-of-time book if we didn’t practice what we preach. We run our entire company on Smart Brevity.

concept essential? If so, is there a simpler way to convey it? ➍ Delete, delete, delete. What words, sentences or paragraphs can you eliminate before sending? Every word or sentence you can shave saves the other person time. Less is more—and a gift.

Always do this before you start communicating. If you try to speak to everyone, usually you reach no one. Singling out the person you want to reach clarifies things big-time.

The Slack approach seems smart: 25 minutes or 50 minutes. Then if you’re scheduled back-to-back, you’re not late for your next stop. Maybe you can even grab a coffee.

As your parting paragraph, just type “Go deeper,” then link to your source material or to a video, podcast, bio, map, excerpts

➋ Be image conscious.

Be respectful of your audience—abstraction, clutter, confusion are the enemy.