The More You Say, The Less People Remember

You’re asked a simple question.
You start answering.
You add a bit of context.
Then another point.
A statistic.
Some background.

A minute later, you’re still speaking, and your main message is harder to find than when you started.

This is one of the most common challenges in media interviews.
It’s also one of the easiest to fix.

More information does not make you more effective.
In fact, it often does the opposite.

When you overload an answer, your message starts to blur. The audience has to work harder to follow what you’re saying, and most won’t. They’ll take away a fragment, or nothing at all.

One strong point will land more effectively than several competing ones.
One clear statistic is more memorable than a list of minor details.

This isn’t about oversimplifying complex issues. It’s about prioritizing what matters most in that moment.

Before an interview, it can help to ask yourself:
• What is the one thing people need to understand from this answer?
• What supports that point—and what doesn’t?

If something doesn’t strengthen your message, it likely doesn’t need to be included.

Your role isn’t to say everything. It’s to make sure the right things are understood—and remembered.