We have all heard about the concept known as the Minimally Viable Product, or “MVP.” Such a product is one which is not feature-rich and has the very least functionality necessary to achieve its purpose or fulfill its purported need. So-called “MVP”s can be useful for a number of reasons. Here, rather than discussing product development, I’d like for us to consider, for a moment, the concept of the Minimally Viable Communication.
Before we get to this, and to set up the conversation, I’d like to review just a few of the lessons I have learned very recently, with a fresh set of eyes, from learning to speak in public in a language (in this case, Japanese) other than my native tongue (English). For many of us, speaking in front of a large group of folks can be quite a challenge. Believe it or not, it is likely still a challenge for many courageous executives who manage to do so in spite of their lack of fear of doing so. Now, public speaking in another language is challenging at a different level, and comes with a distinct number of risks (and hidden benefits).
I decided to face this self-imposed challenge in order to push myself beyond my existing boundaries. Having to consider how others will perceive the content of a prepared speech in English is one thing, and to have the presence of mind to do so in another language adds a new dimension. Ironically, I found that I had more presence of mind to be concerned with the logical organization and flow of the speech, as well as the complexity of the content, than I would have otherwise, had the speech been in English. My chief focus was to model other successful speakers (in the foreign language) and make use of the same organization and set of terms that smoothly segue from one point to the other, while maintaining very simple sentences and vocabulary. These were among the keys that I am still refining as part of my efforts to speak fluently in another language.
One of the benefits I gained from this experience is that I was better able to formulate and structure my communications in English. I also learned that speeches prepared for public consumption are composed of very simple and compact elements that are straight to the point, whether in English or other languages. Also, the layout of the communication must be very well organized, and in some cases may benefit from ranking the concepts being conveyed in a ranking of sorts, for example, from most important to least relevant, for maximal effect. Finally, I learned that there is such a thing as a minimally viable communication, and it is a very simple tool we can all make use of as part of our professional, as well as personal, interactions. While the length of this so-called “MVC” can vary from a simple sentence to a long paragraph, the aim is the same, to provide a succinct and direct message to the audience, without any unintended confusion, or unnecessary verbiage.
How can this concept of the minimally viable communication be applied to our working life?
Most successful executives that I know keep their communications to very simple terms. They don’t feel the need to “show off” or be bombastic in their messages. The need to show off may be counterproductive and in some cases may lead to very expensive mistakes. Simply stick to very basic, yet specific, terms which drive the message across loud and clear. The same holds true when communicating with others in a foreign language. One cannot simply keep track of the variety of double entendres available in other languages, let alone one’s native language, such as English. Consequently, one can minimize unfortunate misinterpretations by others when one keeps their choice of words to very simple terms. This is likewise also the case in one’s native language, not only for terminology but also even for punctuation! We have recently read through the headlines how the misuse of the Oxford comma led to a very expensive lesson for some folks.
When sharing information via email, most top executives (that I have known) only have the bandwidth to read three key sentences, and the rest is simply ignored. Having this in mind, it helps to conserve both your time as well as your colleagues’ time by keeping your messages brief and to the point; without fancy verbiage or unnecessary embellishment. Three brief bullet points are generally enough to relay the most critical information with your colleagues; if your bullet points are ranked by order of decreasing relevance, even better. If additional explanations are necessary, then you can reach for the phone and make the call.
To summarize, many of us may not have the luxury or the determination to invest in learning a new language, though we are all capable of finding the time to do so. And the time to do so is now. I encourage each and everyone reading this to pick and choose a language that will likely be the least comfortable to learn, since that will be the language that will help you learn the most about yourself. Granted, the point is not to learn about the language, but to learn as much of the language to get you to a certain level of fluency. However, the added benefit is that you will be able to measure your capacity for memorization, open-mindedness, and several other key features necessary for success, including those described throughout this article. The lessons you learn about yourself and finding out to what extent you are willing to challenge yourself will be worth their weight in gold.