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Nine Quick Communication Tips that Always Apply— Pandemic or Not This issue’s Sponsor Showcase is brought to you by Graham-Pelton. By Nicole Antil
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ou don’t need to wait for a pandemic to hit to sharpen your messaging. That said, difficult moments often reveal the cracks in the foundation of organizations, and it is up to you to stop these cracks from growing. These evergreen tips will not only help you today, but they’ll remain relevant long after things are back to “normal.” Make Your Messages Easy to Say and Recall Use common language and avoid jargon. If it’s easy to say, it’s easier to remember. (Jargon is not memorable.) If it’s easy to remember, it’s easier to repeat. And repetition is good. You’ll see this repeated below.
Be Clear and Concise Headlines (and Twitter) are popular because they demand brevity and directness. Can you make your point with fewer words? Try harder.
Stick to the Facts Your messages should be supported by facts, but facts alone do not make a strong message. Don’t try to convey loads of complicated information––save that for a white paper or research report. Boring (or worse, confusing) people to tears with data is not what great messages do. Pick out one key captivating fact AHP Healthcare Philanthropy Journal|Winter 2021| 36
