Is your point getting across or getting lost?

Communicating with a plan helps you make quick decisions and focus on what’s important. As you move up in your career, you’ll often need to share information with busy executives who prefer messages that are clear and to the point.

Good communication depends on both what you say and how you say it. Before you send an email, think about whether it’s the best choice. For quick questions, a direct message might be better. If the topic is complicated or sensitive, a short call or face-to-face chat can help you avoid long, confusing conversations.

Picking the best way to communicate shows you respect people’s time and want to be clear. In meetings, begin with your main point instead of describing your process first. If others need more details, you can give them later. This makes your message clearer and helps coworkers understand you faster.

Put these approaches into practice.

Let’s look at practical ways to build the logical foundation you need to brief busy executives.