This is an IHeart podcast.

Welcome to Before Breakfast, a production of IHeart Radio.

Good morning. This is Laura.

Welcome to the Before Breakfast podcast.

Today's tip is to say less.

There is almost never a case where talking more will make your original point more clear.

Say what you are going to say, and then just stop.

Today's tip was inspired by a bit of advice in Bill McGowan's new book, Speak Memorably.

McGoan is a communications coach and has worked with many people to help them present better.

McGowan is often trying to get people to edit their remarks.

In his book, he mentions that we might rationally know that a concise talk or answer is best,

but somewhere rummaging around in the backs of our brains is this fallacy that the longer I talk,

the more convincing I'm going to be, he writes.

Perhaps you have seen this. You are at a lovely non-profit fundraiser that is outside on a summer

night. The president of the group gets up to welcome people. He says how excited he is that

everyone is there. He thanks everyone for coming.

Then he mentions again, how excited he is, that everyone is there. And did he thank everyone for

everything yet? What a lovely evening. He is so excited, and so on it goes. Eventually everyone

is desperately hoping to get back to the food and their conversations.

So please, don't do that.

If there is any chance you will be called upon to say a few words, and I do mean a few words,

then think ahead of time about what you will say.

...