On World Poetry Day, I share with you the power of using the haiku poetry format to improve your communications.  It’s an amazing hack you can start using today—and we need powerful, clear, succinct communications now more than ever. 

The haiku poetry format has three lines.  The number of syllables in each line is 5, 7, 5 syllables for lines 1, 2, 3 respectively. 

The haiku format (5) forces you to be quite clear (7) on your intention (5)

The haiku format (5) simplifies and clarifies (7) communications (5)

Distill your key message to its essence by using the haiku format as your forcing mechanism.  You don't have to militantly follow 5-7-5 syllables for your final output, of course, but the haiku discipline upfront is a valuable exercise. 

The haiku exercise helps you:

• be clear on your intention (why are you needing to communicate this point at this time) 

• de-clutter your thoughts (think about the audience and their perspective as your recipient)

• nail down the key point (what are you really trying to say)

• use only the words that matter (it's harder to write a haiku than a rambling paragraph)

Adding the haiku hack to your toolkit will make your communications more impactful--verbally or in writing.  In person, on video, on the phone. But, wait, there’s more! If you’re clear on your intention and the message you’re trying to convey in words to your audience, then the body language and the tone often take care of themselves—making you a more natural, effective communicator from head to toe.

In The Me-Suite, we call the haiku "the Myku."  When you're prepping for an important interaction or message--and you want to make an impact--stop and work on your Myku.  And let us know what you think.