The first time I had the privilege of encountering the brilliant Brazilian philosopher Clóvis de Barros Filho was at the opening of one of the PMI São Paulo's International Project Management Seminars. He was one of the main speakers, and I was completely captivated by his presentation. His eloquence, intelligence, and refined sense of humor are impressive. Since then, I have been following his teachings.
A few days ago, Clóvis took the initiative to create a community group on WhatsApp to share daily morning reflections (I recommend joining!). They last no more than 5 minutes and bring philosophy in an accessible, uncomplicated, and practical way to life.
Yesterday, his reflection was on the quote from the renowned French philosopher Voltaire: "I am writing a long letter because I did not have the time to write a short one."
I had encountered this quote before, but hearing it again was particularly timely and made me think more about it.
More than ever, the power of synthesis and conciseness is absolutely essential. It increases the chances of successful and effective communication, in times when we are exposed to an extremely high volume of information.
Writing concisely demands much more effort than drafting a complex text. It requires revisiting and re-editing the content numerous times, eliminating redundant or unnecessary words and sections, rethinking, and detaching from the work already done.
It is known that for a Project Manager, in particular, about 90% of the time is dedicated to communication. Therefore, developing the ability to synthesize is crucial. This also applies to the use of powerful technologies that assist in the production and review of texts, like ChatGPT. In one of the courses I participated in, we discussed how this tool sometimes generates overly embellished text versions. Hence, often in my interactions, I request: "Please, make the content more concise." And I go over everything again.
In conclusion, assertive, clear, and brief communication is a skill that must be exercised and can greatly increase our effectiveness as communicators. May Clóvis and Voltaire continue to inspire us.
Published originally in portuguese on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/posts/priscilazvmezzena_habilidadescomunicacao-concisao-filosofia-activity-7113542555564163072-FH16?utm_source=share&utm_medium=member_desktop
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