an old saying that everyone talks about the weather, but no one does anything about it. Well, analogously, everyone talks about the need for better communication, but no one does anything about that, either. That is, up ’til now. ’Cause I’m going to do something about it. I’m going to show you how to become a better communicator.

It’s really very easy. All you have to do is follow a relative handful of rules.

1. Make the decision and stick to it that you’re not going to try to impress anyone with your erudition or with the size of your vocabulary. Instead, decide that you’re going to do whatever it takes to convey to others what’s on your mind.

2. Avoid using long, abstract, and unfamiliar words. Choose instead to use short, concrete, and familiar words.

3. Avoid using vogue or buzz words. Use instead their standard, generic counterparts. So don’t say "cool" when you really mean "impressive." Or "ripoff" when you’re trying to get across the idea of a burglary. Or of an embezzlement.

4. Use "him" or "her" rather than "them," and "his" or "hers" rather than "their" when dealing with a singular, impersonal pronoun, such as "someone" or "anyone." It makes for far less confusion and for much greater clarity.

5. Always keep in mind that although you know what you mean by the words you use, you have no idea of what other people mean by those same words. So always keep an eye out for clues as to whether or not you and the other person are in sync. Or on the same page, as that excellent metaphor goes. You do that by checking his or her eyes, his or her facial expression, and so on. If the eyes are glassy, or if the facial expression is stone-like, it’s a good bet that he or she didn’t get what you said. Or that he or she is not listening, which brings us to the last rule.

6. Always make sure the other person is listening. If he or she appears to be preoccupied, or is looking in another direction, either pause until he or she looks back at you or just stop talking. Your words are being wasted anyway.

So there it is. Six simple rules for good communication. And they’ve cost you nothing. Such a deal!

Think about it.