You tip the scale

Tip the scale

I was sharing classroom strategies with an instructor. He stopped me when I got to my announcements. “Tell me about that,” he said.

THE BACKSTORY: I had just finished reading the book Smart Brevity. I Smart Brevitize my announcements as the book suggested (and like this post).

  • I explained an idea from the book. We have 26 seconds of attention.
  • The authors argue this formatting helps with that.
  • It makes sense to me, so I tried it.

THE REACTION: “I vehemently disagree with that,” he said in a derisive tone. “But let’s say I concede that point,” he went on, “it’s a ridiculous notion that we change the way we deliver our lessons.”

OKAY, MAYBE: It’s an interesting debate. And he might be right. It might be ridiculous.

  • But my goal is for the student, client, coworker, or boss to walk away with ONE thing.

Ultimately. You tip the scale.