214. From Crisis to Clarity: Simplicity, Feedback, and the Art of Being Heard

How to communicate clearly in any context, from newsrooms to the world stage.

All good communication, whether spoken or written, is built on the same foundation. In everything from police reporting for a newspaper to serving as spokesman for the Pope, Greg Burke has found the key: "Keep it as simple as possible."

Burke has worked as a journalist for Time Magazine and Fox News, as Director of Communications at IESE Business School in Barcelona and Madrid, and even as a communications advisor and spokesman for the Vatican. Across his varied experiences, he’s found that the biggest communication challenges often require the simplest solutions. From expressing “curiosity and real interest” in those we’re speaking with to ensuring our messages are “clear, consistent, and timely,” he advocates for core principles that apply in all types of communication.

In this episode of Think Fast, Talk Smart, Burke and host Matt Abrahams discuss communication strategies that work whether you’re presenting to a team of five or millions of parishioners worldwide. As Burke shares, it’s all very simple: “Know your audience, practice, and have fun.”

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Episode Reference Links:

Greg BurkeEp.22 Under Pressure: How to Communicate Clearly and Timely During a Crisis •

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Chapters:

• (00:00) - Introduction

• (02:27) - Asking Good Questions

• (03:27) - Writing Clearly and Concretely

• (05:06) - Editing and AI’s Role in Writing

• (06:22) - Three Keys to Great Communication

• (08:11) - The Importance of Feedback

• (09:51) - Communication at the Vatican

• (12:35) - Crisis Communication: Lessons from the Vatican

• (15:37) - The Final Three Questions

• (22:18) - Conclusion

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