On this episode, I cover the ABCs of professional communication, just as I teach them to my MBA students.
One of the simplest ways to elevate your professional communication—whether you’re writing an email, pitching a strategy, or presenting to senior leaders—is to filter your message through three words: Active, Brief, and Clear.
They sound basic, almost obvious. But in practice, they create a powerful discipline that separates high-quality communicators from everyone else.
Active: Own the Message
Active communication is energetic, direct, and accountable. It starts with the choice to use active voice—“We analyzed the data” instead of “The data was analyzed”—but it goes beyond grammar.
Being active signals leadership. It tells your audience who is responsible, what action is being taken, and why it matters.
It brings confidence to your tone, clarity to your reasoning, and momentum to your message.
Brief: Respect Attention
Being brief isn’t about cutting until your message feels hollow. It’s about stripping away anything that dilutes the point.
In a world full of competing priorities and overloaded inboxes, brevity is a form of respect. Shorter sentences, concrete words, clear slide titles, and focused agendas make your message easier to absorb—and easier to act on.
Brevity doesn’t mean simplicity of thought; it means simplicity of delivery. You’re curating the signal, not broadcasting the whole noise.
Clear: Make Understanding Effortless
Clarity is the culmination of the first two principles. When your message is active and brief, clarity emerges naturally—but it still needs intention.
Clear communication uses plain language, not jargon. It uses structure—beginning, middle, end—to guide your audience. It uses formatting and visual hierarchy to make information scannable. Above all, it ensures that your audience never wonders: What does this mean, and what should I do with it?
Clarity is not optional. It’s the price of admission for influencing decisions.
Why ABC Matters
When communication is active, brief, and clear, it’s easier to trust—and harder to misunderstand.
Your audience feels more confident in you. They’re more likely to remember your message. And they’re far more likely to act.
Whether you’re writing a memo, drafting a slide deck, or speaking in a meeting, the ABCs give you a repeatable way to refine your thinking and elevate your delivery.
Active shows ownership.
Brief shows respect.
Clear shows mastery.
Together, they define the core of effective business communication.