In the previous post, I wrote about the power of economy in communication. The greater the understanding of context, the more it is possible to convey big ideas and have high impact with very few words.

One of the visitors to the blog – Isla (thanks for coming by) – followed up with a very reasonable question: “How do you come up with those killer sentences that are so full of meaning?”

Having mulled it over, the best ‘solution’ I can suggest is a mix of two ingredients: time and form.

The Philosopher and The Politicians

Brevity takes time; polishing, honing, rearranging, editing. Oftentimes it’s just easier to throw the kitchen sink at Word or PowerPoint and hope for the best.

As French philosopher and mathematician Blaise Pascal wrote:

“I have made this letter longer than usual, because I lack the time to make it short.”

When you’re up to your eyes in email, texts and IM, making time to ‘blue pencil’ your work is easier said than done. However, what greater courtesy can you show your audience than spending an hour of your time to save thirty minutes of theirs?

The second suggestion is to select a prescribed form, and to stay within its restrictions.

Winston Churchill and Dwight Eisenhower conducted WW2 insisting on single page memos. Imagine how their staffs had to cut and cut and cut to get to the kernel of the issue.

In a similar vein, I once saw Charles Handy give a 45 minute presentation using a single overhead slide (which dates me, him and the event).

Neither example is appropriate for all circumstances. Choose wisely.

Whether the restriction is spatial (a page or a slide), temporal (30 seconds, 5 minutes) or linguistic (25 lines, 200 words), setting a limit focuses the mind and forces economy.

‘Physician, Heal Thyself’

By this stage, you’re probably wondering if I will heed my own advice? So here goes:

As mentioned in the earlier posting, ‘haiku’ is a Japanese poetry form noted for  brevity and impact.

Although purists will say that it’s a flexible form, Western translation has settled on a particular three-line structure: 5 syllables in the first line, 7 in the second, 5 in the third.

17 syllables with which to conjure entire worlds.

The other important feature of haiku is that within the form it presents two aspects of a scene or a moment that play off one another – that create a tension of ideas – from which comes a third, more powerful insight.

Powerful, because it’s personal to the reader.

It strikes me as an apt metaphor of a coaching relationship – in which the Coach offers the Coachee enough material for personal discovery, but not so much as to leave no room for exploration.

So here’s the first in an occasional series of coaching haikus – a suggestion for practical self-reflection in 17 syllables:

Next step? The business biography.

You interview some ‘co-writers’, select one you like, set to work and within a few months your draft is off to the printers. The promotional tour is arranged, the Richard & Judy session diarised, the launch party on your yacht is in hand. Then the publisher calls:

“What are we going to put on the front cover?”

Well obviously, it’s going to be a picture of you; after all, you are your brand. But you doing what? Sitting behind your desk; shaking on a deal; walking the golf course?

No; it’s going to be a portrait, direct into the camera. You’re going to connect with the reader. You’re a straight talking exec, so you’re going to look them straight in the eye.

All well and good. But the big question is still unanswered: what are you going to do with your hands?

Can’t decide? Then here’s the Business Biog Arms  Guide. Body language speaks volumes: chose carefully.

The Defensive Cross is the most popular option (see above, and many others in the genre), even though it makes you look like you may have something to hide – which, given the frank advice you’re offering, is somewhat counter-productive. Facial expression is important here. Too smiley, and it’ll look like you’re giving yourself a hug because you’re so wonderful. Too serious, and you’ll  look like a nightclub bouncer (but hey – you ‘mean business’). .

The Lean Iococca is only a safe choice at the end of your tenure. Hands linked at the back of your head, body angled back in your seat, shirt under-arms displayed for the world to see – this is a great pose if you’re running a dry cleaning business, but otherwise you’ll seem incredibly smug. Especially if the business that you personally saved is now dependent on multi-billion dollar government bail outs.

The Engaging Clasp. Don’t lean back, lean forward. Rest your forearms on your knees, and interlock your fingers. The readers will be interested in you because you are be interested in them. You are the warmer, softer, more human side of business. It doesn’t all have to be swearing and fighting. This is not a polemic; it’s the beginning of a dialogue.

The Cool Cut really only works if you’re in the fashion business. Look like you’ve spent too much time worrying about your appearance and you’ll look like you’ve spent too much time, well, worrying about your appearance. But that’s OK if you have fashion in your portfolio. Careful about that one-hand-in-the-pocket, though: for every person who sees you as nonchalant and debonair, there’ll be someone else thinking that you’re counting your change.

Shoulder the Blame. Only to be undertaken when all the skeletons are already out of the cupboard and it’s time to clean house. More a confessional than a self-celebration, it only works for those who can handle a little humility and are willing to be stand-up, admit mistakes, learn and move on. A paradox, this one. The least appealing look, but you probably have the most to teach.

The Supporting Hand(y). Not to be attempted if you do not have the time to listen to Thought for the Day, never mind to write one. Probably not suited to those still in the thick of things, or with anything left to prove. Can make you look like you’re listening to a conch shell, but that’s okay because it implies deep seated, at-one-with-the-world, wisdom. For the eminence gris only.

The Trump. Don’t even think about it.