Our focus this month is powerful words and successful communication.
So, *|FNAME|*, why the salad pictured above?
And why the title “The Most Unhealthy Salad of All”?
Any guesses before the big reveal?
Have you ever heard of the concept “word salad” or a “word salad communicator”? If you have, you probably know where I’m headed, if not, get your appetite ready.
A “word salad communicator” is someone who speaks or writes in a manner that is confusing, disorganized, and hard to follow – similar to how a salad mixes various ingredients randomly. Communication tends to:
- Jump between unrelated topics without clear transitions
- Use excessive jargon or complex words inappropriately
- Make connections that don’t logically flow
- String together words that may be individually meaningful but collectively make very little coherent sense
If you’ve left conversations scratching your head and asking yourself, “What in the world did we just discuss, agree to, or solve?” yet you’re completely exhausted by the interaction, chances are you’ve just feasted on a word salad, and it’s left you unsatisfied, a little sick to your stomach and hungry for more substance.
If you’re still unsure about what these exchanges sound and feel like, I’ll give you a real-life example from one of the organizations for whom I have the privilege of working – great organization, my contact there is wonderful, and they happen to be a Word Salad Executive Chef. Check this email segment out…
“Per our discussion timeline metrics driving key performance indicators will leverage synergistic opportunities to pivot bandwidth capacity into strategic deliverables moving forward with stakeholder engagement through robust solutions.”
Do you know what that means? I admit that I did (and still do) not know what that means. And that’s a problem, a big problem because I was being tasked to create a 90-minute virtual leadership workshop on a topic that appeared to be quite nebulous to address even more obscure objectives. A recipe for failure.
Unfortunately, word salad communicators exist and typically, most aren’t self-aware enough to realize that too many ingredients create chaos in the kitchen. Therefore chances of changing a communication style that doesn’t appear to be problematic to the communicator is a bit of a waste of time. However, there are a few strategies you can apply when working with these folks.
Here are a few tactics I’ve recently tried:
- Ask for specific clarification: Instead of getting overwhelmed by their entire message, focus on one point and ask: “Could you explain what you mean by ‘leveraging synergistic opportunities’?” This forces them to break down their vague language into concrete terms.
- Summarize and verify: After they speak, try reflecting back what you think they’re saying: “If I understand correctly, you’re suggesting that…” This gives them a chance to confirm or correct your understanding.
- Request examples: When faced with abstract or confusing statements, ask for real-world examples: “Could you give me a specific example of how that would work?” This helps ground their ideas in reality.
- Use the STAR method to guide the conversation: Direct the conversation using the following guide. (I write these on my notes prior to so I’m able to fill these categories in during the discussion. If I realize that one or two are missing, I zero in on those before the meeting concludes.)
- Situation: What’s the specific context?
- Task: What needs to be done?
- Action: What specific steps should be taken?
- Result: What’s the desired outcome?
- Document important conversations: After meetings or important discussions, send follow-up emails confirming what was discussed and decided. This creates a clear record and helps prevent misunderstandings. A bullet point format works great in these situations.
Communicating with a Word Salad Executive Chef is unappetizing, but the key is to remain patient while consistently steering them toward clearer communication. Try these tips for healthier communication going forward!
