A Gem of a Message
Want your next message to get the diamond treatment? Then treat it like a diamond beforehand, by measuring it the way a jeweler might.
Diamonds are classified in four key areas – the “Four C’s”:
- Clarity
- Color
- Cut
- Carat
Measuring the Clarity of a message is fairly simple. Is it in plain language? Does it require technical knowledge? Are you sure of what it is really saying?
The Color of a message conveys the mood or the tone. Is it light-hearted? Is it appropriate? Is it memorable?
A message with the right Cut is just long enough to do the job, and no longer.
Carat is a measurement of weight. Are you going to all of the trouble of polishing your gem only to find it wasn’t necessary? Is this “lightweight” message going to dilute the power and impact of future communications?
[tags]Ike Pigott, Occam’s RazR, communications, messages, writing[/tags]
About the Author
Ike Pigott is a veteran communicator who got out of television news and back into life. Now working for Alabama Power, he specializes in corporate communications, but has interests that are all over the place. This site is as much for him as anyone -- to explain things that ought to be explained, explore ideas that keep him up at night, and connect concepts that are just begging to be joined.
A personal site, opinions here are his and those of his commenters.
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Clever analogy Ike. It’s always good to get a reminder on the components of effective writing—or any communication for that matter.
Very concise. For the caret part of the analogy, why not say that one should pause and consider where each message weighs in the overall communication? Or, is that what you are saying?
I’ve been using 3C’s Ike. Is a message Clear (Clarity), Concise (Cut) and Comprehensive (has all the information the reader needs – and no more).
Another way to cleave the diamond, Jed. There are many analogies and metaphors we can bring to bear — the more you’re exposed to, the more likely you’ll find one that sings to you.
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