There’s a phrase, or a rule really, I learned a long long time ago in my high school journalism class. “Don’t bury the lead.” In other words, write the most important thing first; don’t start with a lot of details of lesser importance.

This same rule, worded differently, is also the first tip in  How to Talk So People Listen (from The Fast Track): “Start with the upshot.” And there’s three more keys for talking in a way that will increase the odds that you’re really heard. In a world where we’re buried in our devices, sometimes we struggle to be heard, and really listened to. Maybe you’re burying the lead, or making some of the other mistakes described in the article. So take a look. And start with the upshot.