Embracing direct communication

It took me years to embrace the idea that there's nothing wrong with being direct in your message.

As someone who tends to be all over the place, I've always struggled to conform to societal expectations when it comes to communication. From school essays with strict word limits to professional environments where the quality of my writing reflected not just on me but on the services I offered, I found myself at odds with the conventional approach. While others adorned their writing with superfluous adjectives, I preferred clarity above all else, often to my detriment.

The pressure only intensified in the workplace, where selling ideas and documents meant every word counted. Yet, despite the emphasis on verbosity, I couldn't shake the feeling that storytelling wasn't my forte. To me, it seemed like a distraction from the real message—a waste of time for both the listener and the storyteller.

But if storytelling isn't the essence of communication, then what is? I came to realize that true value lies not in the quantity of words but in the sharing of ideas. And while storytelling may be an effective means of conveying ideas, it's not the only way. We communicate to share insights, and sometimes, the most powerful ideas are expressed concisely.

I'm no master storyteller, and I've come to accept that. What matters most is getting your message across, regardless of the medium. As Albert Einstein famously said, 'If you can't explain it to a six-year-old, you don't understand it yourself.'

So, don't be discouraged if storytelling isn't your strength. There are countless ways to share your ideas, and there will always be an audience eager to listen—even if your approach is unconventional.

Reflecting on missed opportunities due to self-doubt, I urge you not to let your inner critic hold you back. Speak your truth, in whatever form it takes.