Eradicate Obfuscation

How bad has it gotten for clear, understandable speech in our country today? Last year, Congress passed something called the Plain Writing Act. Helping to spearhead the support for that Act and this year's Plain Regulations Act is the non-profit Center for Plain Language. When we have to have a "Center" for plain speaking and we have to enact legislation to force people to communicate clearly, we've obviously reached a crisis situation.

The Plain Writing Act requires all federal agencies to write all new publications, forms and more, in a "clear, concise, well-organized manner". Employees are to be trained in plain writing. The Plain Regulations Act now before Congress would force agencies to use plain writing in their regulations. And it would force the Office of Management and Budget to return for revision any regulations that aren't written in plain language.

Well, hallelujah.While it's sad that plain writing (and speaking) has to be forced on people, it's good that someone is at least paying attention and addressing this problem. Now, you need to make sure you're part of the solution and not part of the problem.

Plain speaking and writing involve several things that you learn in your "Break Through the Clutter" Communication Seminar. It is stressed over and over in your seminar that you should use only words that you know will mean something to the other person. Avoid lingo and jargon, specialized language unique to a certain area of interest or expertise. Also, avoid trying to sound "hip" or "cool". In fact anytime you use a  word or phrase that your audience isn't familiar with, instead of being impressed with how much you know, they tend to feel alienated and even insulted. Plus, any time they spend trying to figure out what the heck you're talking about, is time they're not listening to what comes next.

Call or E-mail today to schedule your own "Break Through the Clutter" Communication Seminar for your business or group, 913-631-2985, bkthrucomm@aol.com. Everyone will learn, together, how to write and speak clearly, concisely and effectively. And you'll be a hero for making that happen.