{"sourceUrl":"https://www.gsb.stanford.edu/insights/one-communication-tool-you-should-add-your-toolkit","sourceType":"url","contentType":"Explainer","apex":{"id":"n1","type":"APEX","label":"The What? So what? Now what? Structure","text":"The \"What? So what? Now what?\" structure is a communication tool recommended to improve feedback, introductions, and small talk.","children":[{"id":"n2","type":"CONC","label":"Communication Challenges","text":"People engage in multiple communication actions within short timeframes, requiring nimbleness and posing challenges.","parentId":"n1","children":[{"id":"n3","type":"STAT","label":"Communication Actions in 15 Minutes","text":"An informal poll found people engage in up to five different communication actions in a typical 15-minute stretch.","parentId":"n2","children":[]},{"id":"n4","type":"DETL","label":"Types of Communication Actions","text":"Communication actions include answering questions, initiating small talk, introducing people, and providing feedback.","parentId":"n2","children":[]},{"id":"n5","type":"INSG","label":"Nimbleness Demands","text":"Managing different communication types with social expectations of appropriateness and efficiency can be daunting.","parentId":"n2","children":[]}]},{"id":"n6","type":"CONC","label":"Leveraging Communication Structures","text":"Leveraging communication structures is key to managing diverse communication types.","parentId":"n1","children":[{"id":"n7","type":"JUST","label":"Scaffolding for Messages","text":"Communication structures serve as scaffolding for messages, providing easy starting points, transitions, and clear endings.","parentId":"n6","children":[]},{"id":"n8","type":"JUST","label":"Conciseness and Relevance","text":"Communication structures help speakers to be concise and relevant in their messages.","parentId":"n6","children":[]},{"id":"n9","type":"JUST","label":"Audience Processing","text":"Research evidence indicates that structured information is more easily processed and remembered by audiences.","parentId":"n6","children":[]}]},{"id":"n10","type":"CONC","label":"The What? So what? Now what? Structure","text":"The \"What? So what? Now what?\" structure is a logical and clear communication tool, supreme in applicability and simplicity.","parentId":"n1","children":[{"id":"n11","type":"SUBC","label":"What? Component","text":"The \"What?\" component requires defining or describing key ideas or arguments in a clear, concise manner.","parentId":"n10","children":[{"id":"n12","type":"DETL","label":"Clarity and Conciseness","text":"Define key ideas devoid of jargon and flourishes to maximize fidelity.","parentId":"n11","children":[]}]},{"id":"n13","type":"SUBC","label":"So what? Component","text":"The \"So what?\" component focuses on the relevance of ideas or arguments to the audience's perspective.","parentId":"n10","children":[{"id":"n14","type":"INSG","label":"Audience-Centric Communication","text":"Maximizing fidelity and remembering is more about what the audience needs to hear than what the speaker wants to say.","parentId":"n13","children":[]},{"id":"n15","type":"DETL","label":"Bottom Line for Audience","text":"Speakers should consider \"The bottom line for you (my audience) is...\" when crafting this section.","parentId":"n13","children":[]}]},{"id":"n16","type":"SUBC","label":"Now what? Component","text":"The \"Now what?\" component highlights the desired thoughts, feelings, and actions for the audience.","parentId":"n10","children":[{"id":"n17","type":"DETL","label":"Clarity and Directness","text":"Phrase the desired outcomes clearly and directly to reduce ambiguity.","parentId":"n16","children":[]},{"id":"n18","type":"INSG","label":"Impact of Tone","text":"Tone directly impacts the audience's perception of both the speaker and the message.","parentId":"n16","children":[]}]},{"id":"n19","type":"JUST","label":"Cognitive Bandwidth Benefit","text":"The structure affords cognitive bandwidth by providing a method for conveying messages, allowing focus on specific content.","parentId":"n10","children":[]}]},{"id":"n20","type":"EXMP","label":"Q&A Application","text":"The structure can be applied to answer questions, such as in a job interview.","parentId":"n1","children":[{"id":"n21","type":"DETL","label":"Q&A: What?","text":"For \"Why are you qualified?\", state 12 years of customer-facing experience addressing system migrations and new processes.","parentId":"n20","children":[]},{"id":"n22","type":"DETL","label":"Q&A: So what?","text":"Explain these experiences provide high-quality results for customers and streamline deployment processes.","parentId":"n20","children":[]},{"id":"n23","type":"DETL","label":"Q&A: Now what?","text":"Offer to have qualifications discussed with former clients.","parentId":"n20","children":[]}]},{"id":"n24","type":"EXMP","label":"Feedback Application","text":"This structure is useful for providing constructive feedback, such as to a colleague who missed a deadline.","parentId":"n1","children":[{"id":"n25","type":"DETL","label":"Feedback: What?","text":"State the colleague's report was not submitted within the agreed-upon timeframe.","parentId":"n24","children":[]},{"id":"n26","type":"DETL","label":"Feedback: So what?","text":"Explain this puts them at a disadvantage for practice and might jeopardize the client meeting.","parentId":"n24","children":[]},{"id":"n27","type":"DETL","label":"Feedback: Now what?","text":"Request completion of the report by tomorrow morning, offering assistance.","parentId":"n24","children":[]}]},{"id":"n28","type":"EXMP","label":"Introducing Something or Someone","text":"The structure helps make introductions clear and set expectations.","parentId":"n1","children":[{"id":"n29","type":"SUBC","label":"Introducing a Product","text":"The structure can be used to introduce a new product version effectively.","parentId":"n28","children":[{"id":"n30","type":"DETL","label":"Product Intro: What?","text":"Introduce the latest product version with usability enhancements and improved speed.","parentId":"n29","children":[]},{"id":"n31","type":"DETL","label":"Product Intro: So what?","text":"Explain clients can now more easily complete tasks and save time and money.","parentId":"n29","children":[]},{"id":"n32","type":"DETL","label":"Product Intro: Now what?","text":"Instruct attendees to install the product today after the conference session.","parentId":"n29","children":[]}]},{"id":"n33","type":"SUBC","label":"Introducing a Person","text":"The structure can be applied to introduce a speaker or individual.","parentId":"n28","children":[{"id":"n34","type":"DETL","label":"Person Intro: What?","text":"Introduce Dr. Jonas Smith, discussing her insights into game theory.","parentId":"n33","children":[]},{"id":"n35","type":"DETL","label":"Person Intro: So what?","text":"Her work has changed how people make daily decisions, ensuring the audience will think differently.","parentId":"n33","children":[]},{"id":"n36","type":"DETL","label":"Person Intro: Now what?","text":"Invite the audience to join in welcoming Dr. Smith.","parentId":"n33","children":[]}]}]},{"id":"n37","type":"EXMP","label":"Small Talk Application","text":"The structure aids in engaging and sustaining initial small talk conversations.","parentId":"n1","children":[{"id":"n38","type":"DETL","label":"Small Talk: What?","text":"Ask what the target knows about the latest attempt to reduce energy consumption.","parentId":"n37","children":[]},{"id":"n39","type":"DETL","label":"Small Talk: So what?","text":"Ask why the target thinks it is so important to reduce energy.","parentId":"n37","children":[]},{"id":"n40","type":"DETL","label":"Small Talk: Now what?","text":"Ask what the speaker can do to help reduce personal energy use.","parentId":"n37","children":[]}]}]},"slug":"analysis-88a21c","sharedAt":{"_seconds":1781054652,"_nanoseconds":510000000},"title":"One Communication Tool You Should Add to Your Toolkit"}