Less is More
In the world of public relations, concise and focused messaging is crucial, especially when communicating with both internal and external audiences. Whether addressing stakeholders, employees, or the media, overwriting—or including too much detail—can dilute the intended impact of your message and risk misinterpretation. Thoughtful, to-the-point messaging strengthens your ability to steer the conversation, ensuring that key points resonate with the audience without sparking unnecessary scrutiny or speculation.
For both internal and external audiences, oversharing or adding excessive detail can create several problems. Internally, employees and stakeholders need clear and actionable information. If a statement is bogged down with extraneous details, it may lead to confusion about what matters most. An overwritten message can give the impression that leadership lacks direction or is being evasive, which can erode trust within the organization. For instance, when announcing an organizational change, it’s essential to be transparent but also selective about what is communicated. Focusing on the most important aspects—why the change is happening and how it will impact employees—keeps the message direct and reassuring. Oversharing could unintentionally fuel internal gossip or anxiety if employees feel there’s too much “backstory” being shared.
Externally, the stakes are equally high. The more you say, the more you risk inviting scrutiny on aspects of your message that may detract from your core message. When a PR message is verbose or filled with unnecessary details, it can encourage the media and public to dig into the tangential points rather than the primary takeaway. Media professionals, for example, are trained to look for “the story within the story,” so any extra detail provided may shift the focus away from your intended message. If a company leader issues a long, elaborate statement about a recent crisis, detailing all the steps the company has taken, the media may latch onto elements they find controversial or contradictory, sometimes even speculating on the motivations behind the language used.
Furthermore, a concise message minimizes the risk of misinterpretation. The more elaborate and complex a statement is, the more likely it becomes that different audiences will interpret it in various ways. In crisis situations, particularly, straightforward language that addresses the immediate issues is vital. Audiences—whether internal or external—want to understand how the organization is handling a situation, what they can expect next, and what role they may have in the process. Trying to pack in too much detail often creates noise, diverting attention away from these core points.
Effective PR messaging hinges on clarity and simplicity. The goal is to deliver information that is factual, transparent, and reassures stakeholders, while also leaving limited room for interpretation. By focusing only on the most relevant information and refraining from oversharing, organizations can maintain control over their narratives, reassuring internal audiences and managing external perceptions. In short, knowing when less is more isn’t about withholding—it’s about delivering a clear, powerful message that fulfills the audience’s need for understanding without fueling unnecessary focus on irrelevant details.
