When to show your homework

Last week I wrote about the power of saying it in three sentences, but of course as with anything there can be danger in taking that to extremes.

Sometimes, the detail is the message. Think of a regulatory breach, a safety incident, or a high-stakes deal: the nuance matters. Cut it down too far and you risk oversimplifying, or worse, eroding trust.

The real leadership skill isn’t always brevity. Rather, it’s judgment. Knowing when to zoom in or out – when three sentences will land, and when three pages are essential.

Strong communicators don’t default to short *or* long. They read the room, weigh the risk, and pitch the level of detail to what the situation actually demands.

So here’s the question: how do you decide when to keep it brief, and when the detail matters? Because sometimes three sentences inspire confidence… and sometimes three sentences get you sued.

How do you manage this? Let me know?

Until next week,

Madeleine

PS If you’d like me to work with you as you navigate senior leadership, let me know and please share with anyone you think may benefit.

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