
Simplify Language
THE CHALLENGE
THE CHALLENGE
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Many people only read messages they quickly understand.
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People feel excluded when they don't understand. This includes English learners and native English speakers.
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Most organizations don’t simplify well. They haven't practiced.
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We are unaware when people don't understand us because they pretend to understand or ignore us.
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It is difficult to unlearn lifelong habits.
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Some people use exclusive language to protect power.
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Many people think it's other people's problem, not theirs!
THE DATA
​See a newsletter I wrote with examples of impact.
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Most people spend 5-10 seconds to read a newsletter or email.
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Over 20% of adults in the U.S. are non-native English speakers.
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Over 50% of adults in the U.S. have a literacy level at or below 6th grade.
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Of 106 senior executives at $500M+ companies surveyed in 2011 by Forbes…
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67% said miscommunications from language barriers led to inefficiency.
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42% said productivity was lower as a result of misunderstanding.
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24% said language barriers made attracting and retaining talent more difficult.
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