We don’t think much about speaking until we have to connect with the audience to explain benefits, challenges and to set some expectations. Communication expert John Baldoni states that explanation is the key attribute to leadership communications. What does it mean and why are we doing it are crucial questions that each leader must answer with straightforward explanation that should not lack persuasion or excitement.

To become an effective explainer, Baldoni suggests that we define 3 aspects:
1.    Define what it is.
2.    Define what it is not.
3.    Define what you want people to do.

Nevertheless, great explaining is much more than listing benefits. Find a middle way between too much detail where audience will lose interest and too little, where audience just won’t be convinced. The explanation should be a reasonable, easy to apprehend rationale. And never forget to ask yourself the three basic questions.

Source: http://blogs.bnet.com/harvard/?p=2790

Lea Lipovšek, business design assistant at Vizuarna, strategic design consultancy