Adapting How You Communicate
How to give a status update your boss actually reads
Lead with the one thing they’re listening for, then the detail only if they ask.
How to do it
Four people are listening for four different things. A Driver wants the point, an Analyst the proof, an Expresser the vision, a Connector the impact on people. Lead with the wrong one and they check out in the first sentence.
Driver
Bottom line first.
Analyst
Proof first.
Expresser
Vision first.
Connector
People impact first.
What it sounds like
Driver VP
“I've got five minutes. Where are we?”
You
“On track, ninety percent to target. One vendor risk. Want the fix or the detail?”
Practise it
Val Ortiz, your vp
“Give me the headline on Q3. Are we hitting it or not?”
Answer your Driver VP. Bottom line first, then offer the detail. Cut the runway.
A strong answer: “We'll land at ninety percent of target, just under the line. One vendor is the risk. Want the recovery plan, or the full breakdown?”
Free in your browser. Speak for 60 seconds and get feedback.
The short version
Four styles, four openings. The substance never changes.
Practise it every day
This is one lesson from the Adapting How You Communicate course in the Insight7 app, with a roleplay to rehearse the real conversation.