#25 Is shorter written communication a sign of higher perceived power and authority?
Shorter messages are often perceived as more direct, concise, and authoritative. So, should you write shorter pieces?
Photo by Kenny Eliason on Unsplash
In 2012, I took courses from Dario Maestripieri, a behavioral scientist affiliated with the University of Chicago.Β
One key takeaway from his lectures on bonobos still resonates with me today. He highlighted a fundamental principle of communication: those with stronger authority in the community tend to communicate less frequently and with shorter responses.
Initially, we were discussing primates. But after years of working in tech, I believe this principle also applies to humans.
In the tech space, individuals who write shorter pieces and less frequently may position themselves as consistent and focused.
A recent study from Columbia University explored the perception of situational power in written interactions, focusing on emails and message threads. While the study acknowledged that factors like tone, language, and purpose can influence how power is perceived, it found that shorter pieces convey more confidence.
My thoughts on this? Editing your pieces to get to the point faster can indeed help. Being mindful of when to communicate (not at every opportunity but when there's a real need or demand for your perspective) can also bring more value to your work.
What are your thoughts? DM me, Iβm curious.
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