The age of radical clarity
We live in a time when attention is thin, and scepticism is thick. People do not want more messages; they want meaning they can trust. Radical clarity is the answer. It is not dumbing down; it is choosing words that meet people where they are and move them somewhere better.Clarity begins with intent. If you cannot say why a message matters in one sentence, you are not ready to send it. Cut the jargon, cut the small print, and say what is true and useful. Honesty is faster than trying to spin a story. When something goes wrong, acknowledge it, explain what is being done, and tell people when they can expect progress. The moment you respect your audience, they respect you back.
Clarity also means consistency. If internal messages say one thing and external campaigns say another, trust disappears. Align the story from the inside out. Employees are your first audience and your most persuasive ambassadors. Give them context, not just slogans, and they will carry the message with authenticity.
Format matters. Long paragraphs that hide the point will be skipped. Use strong openings, a clean structure, and human examples. Think in moments, not memos. A short video from a leader can sometimes do more than a five-page update.
Timing is a form of clarity, too. Share early, then keep people updated at a steady rhythm. Silence breeds speculation. A simple “here is what we know now” keeps anxiety down and goodwill up.
Radical clarity is courageous. It refuses to hide behind passive voice and safe phrases. It names the risk and still offers hope. It chooses tone carefully: warm, direct, and free of corporate stiffness. People can feel when a message has a human behind it. That is what turns communication into connection.
When you practise clarity, you save time: fewer follow-up questions, fewer missteps, fewer reputational repairs. In a noisy world, the clearest voice wins—not because it shouts, but because it tells the truth, simply and well.
*Hileni Amadhila is a Senior Public Relations, Stakeholder and Communications Consultant at Old Mutual Namibia.
