Are you a fan of Food Network’s Chopped?

It is one of my favorites.

If you haven’t seen the show, here is a brief rundown.

• Four chefs compete against each other for a $10,000 prize
• They must make a three-course meal – an appetizer, entree and dessert
• They have only 20-30 minutes for each course
• Certain ingredients, selected by the show, must be used in each course
• After each course, one of the chefs is eliminated – “chopped”

The ingredients are quite bizarre.

For example, a recent dessert challenge had the following required ingredients —

• Vodka
• Crescent rolls dough
• Sesame seeds
• Blueberry jelly beans

Yum – the chefs may use other ingredients, but they must incorporate the required ingredients.

Masterpiece or Disaster

No matter what form it takes, your business communication is your ticket to the show.

• Will it get you in the door?
• Will it leave your customers wanting more?
• Or will you be chopped?

Here are 6 ways business communication is like the TV show, Chopped.

1. First impressions are like an appetizer

Some of the best chefs on the show found themselves chopped in the appetizer round.

• Do your headlines whet your readers’ appetite?
• Does the opening provide a tantalizing taste?
• Does it leave your readers wanting more?

2.Presentation and creativity matter

In addition to the taste of each course, the judges on the show consider presentation and creativity.

• Is your message simple, clear & uniquely yours?
• Do you lose your message in the delivery?
• Does your business communication stay focused on your message?
• Do you present what’s unique about your business?

3. You need to blend the right ingredients

The combination of ingredients spells masterpiece or disaster.

• Do you balance communication channels?
• Do you have the right blend of delivery?
• Does your blend of communication enhance or distract?

4. Each course is a sum part of the whole.

Successful chefs create a three-course meal, tied together to produce a fine culinary experience.

• Do you have a consistent message?
• Does each business communication complement the other?
• Does each communication deliver your message in a cohesive way?

5. Things don’t always go as planned.

Accidents in the kitchen, missing ingredients and miscalculations doomed more than one chef.

• Do you have a contingency plan for your business communication?
• Do you “taste-test” your communication?
• Do you make adjustments if a campaign is not working?

6. You can redeem yourself.

Some chefs left out key ingredients. Others barely survived the appetizer round and still ended up winning.

• Do you benchmark results?
• Do you question what worked? What didn’t?
• Do you ask your customers for their opinion?
• Do you use the information in future communication?

Becoming a master chef of your business communication takes planning, testing and some trial and error.

Are you ready to create your masterpiece?

What are your key ingredients?

i-Stock Photo Credit

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Helping you Keep it simple, clear & uniquely yours – contact me for help with your business writing needs.

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