Week 15: Be Brief and Clear!

Last week, I faced a real challenge: I had to limit my written feedback to just five to seven sentences. Five to seven!
It sounded simple…until I actually sat down to write.

Here’s the big question I wrestled with:
When there’s so much I could say, how do I zoom in on what matters most?

The truth is, I’m learning how to do this every single day—and it’s making me a better leader.

Why Brevity Matters

Our brains are wired to look for the easiest, fastest way to process information. (It’s science!) That’s why long emails, lengthy feedback, and wordy explanations usually get skimmed—or misunderstood altogether. In leadership, this matters. A lot. When a staff member sends you a three-paragraph email (especially if it feels more like a vent session), your job isn’t to match their length or energy.

Your job is to keep it simple.

• Thank them for reaching out.

• Acknowledge what they’re feeling.

• Invite them to a real conversation.

That conversation is where the real work happens. (Tip: Use an Advocacy vs. Inquiry framework to keep things productive!)

Feedback: Short, Sweet, and Clear

Dr. Lorraine Monroe said it best:
"Writing clarifies your message and holds staff accountable."

But here’s the catch: if your feedback is short but unclear, it opens the door for misinterpretation—or even conflict. Therefore, the goal becomes Clear, specific feedback grounded in what you observed. No extras. No confusion. No opportunity for climbing the Ladder of Inference.

Listen, I’m a writer at heart. I love journaling. I love getting my thoughts on paper. And in my personal life, it’s a gift. But in leadership? Brevity wins. Especially when my words could directly impact someone’s practice, performance, or morale. Spoken conversations allow for back-and-forth, clarifying questions, and nuance. Written communication doesn’t. That’s why clarity matters even more.

Lesson #15

Be Brief. Be Clear. "Clear is kind. Unclear is unkind." — Brené Brown, Dare to Lead. This week, challenge yourself to master the power of fewer words: be concise, stay focused, and communicate with clarity and purpose. Your words have impact—make them count.

As I schedule post-observation debriefs and clean up my notes, I remind myself of the same challenge.

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Texts cited: 

• Dare to Lead: Brave Work. Tough Conversations by Brene Brown 

• The Monroe Doctrine: An ABC Guide to What Great Bosses Do by Dr. Lorraine Monroe 

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Do you have any questions or would like to join the conversation? Reach out anytime! And while you're here, don’t miss out on Antiguan in America: A Racial Autobiography. Dive deeper into the journey of building your racial awareness and disrupting systemic inequities—Purchase your copy now. See you in the next post!