University of Minnesota - UMN Executive Leadership Insights
The Art of Explanation
Book

The Art of Explanation

How to Communicate with Clarity and Confidence

Ros Atkins
Headline Publishing, 2023
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Editorial Rating

8

Qualities

  • Applicable
  • Engaging
  • Inspiring

Recommendation

The ability to explain yourself well is a vital skill – not only in public speaking scenarios but in all your daily interactions, says BBC News analysis editor Ros Atkins. Yet many people cannot explain themselves clearly and concisely. Master the art of explanation to enhance every interaction in your life, help yourself achieve your goals, and make better use of your and others’ time and energy. Whether you’re preparing for a job interview, crafting an email, addressing a rapt audience or trying to teach your children, the ability to explain is a critical, learnable skill.

Summary

The ability to explain yourself well is an essential skill that many people lack.

Have you ever felt that your communications don’t hit their intended target or generate their desired results? Say, for example, that you regularly send out emails but receive few replies, and the responses you do receive focus on the wrong issues or fail to address the questions you asked.

Learning to explain yourself well improves how you communicate, powerfully transforming every interaction in your life and helping you achieve your goals. For instance, entrepreneurs are more likely to attract investors if they can explain their business models clearly; teachers enhance students’ enjoyment and understanding when they explain complex information simply; a patient is likelier to stick to a diet plan if a doctor explains its benefits clearly; government agencies see greater interest in their services when they explain how to access them; and so on. Whatever your goal, learning to explain yourself clearly increases the likelihood of achieving your desired results.

To craft a quality explanation...

About the Author

Ros Atkins is the analysis editor at the BBC. He presents Outside Source, Ros Atkins on the Week and Ros Atkins on... for BBC World News and the BBC News Channel. 

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