How to Reduce Noise Using the FINESSE Fishbone Diagram

A concise, balanced, and well-structured communication reduces noise.

Noise is anything that interferes with the receiver’s understanding. The FINESSE Fishbone Diagram® includes Noise with Frame, Illustrate, Empathy, Structure, Synergy, and Ethics because if you don’t reduce noise, nothing else works.

A Real-World Example

The agency director looked at me across the conference table and asked what I thought about the latest five‑year management assessment. It was a loaded question. If the executive team had been aligned with the report, the COO would not have asked me to review it before it went to the board.

“I had some issues with the report,” I said. “They lost me with that multicolored, busy graph that had unnecessary information. They’ll lose your board, too.”

He nodded. The graph had a dozen colors, stacked bars, trend lines, and two vertical axes. The information was not necessary for the decision at hand. It was a perfect example of what the N in FINESSE (Noise reduction) warns us about. When complexity and uncertainty are already high, noise is the last thing decision makers need.

Three Practical Ways to Reduce Noise

Below are three practical ways to use the FINESSE Fishbone Diagram® to reduce noise and communicate more effectively.

1. Balance the Three Forms of Communication

One of the most overlooked sources of noise is the imbalance between perceptual, interpretive‑verbal, and interpretive‑symbolic communication.

• Perceptual & sensory: what people see, hear, or feel.

• Interpretive & verbal: narrative, explanation, story

• Interpretive & symbolic: numbers, charts, formulas

Technical professionals often overemphasize symbolic communication—tables, charts, and calculations—because that is where we are most comfortable. But too much of any one form creates noise for the others.

Project Managers Reducing Noise

The FINESSE Fishbone Diagram® reminds us that concise, balanced, and well-structured communication reduces noise. A simple narrative paired with a clean visual often outperforms a dense graphic or a long explanation. When in doubt, ask yourself: Does this help the receiver understand, or does it help me feel like I’ve explained enough?

Those are not the same thing.

2. Match the Message to the Forum

Noise is not only about content. It is also about context.

There are five common communication forums:

• Senior management (decision makers)

• Internal work teams

• Public speaking

• Media

• Elected officials

Align Data with Meeting Types

Each forum has its own noise profile. Internal teams expect data; senior management expects clarity. Public audiences expect entertainment; elected officials expect stories and sound bites.

The FINESSE Fishbone Diagram® helps you align your message with the forum. For senior management, “less is more” is not a slogan—it is a survival strategy. For internal teams, noise reduction may mean structuring the data rather than reducing it. For public speaking, noise reduction may mean simplifying visuals and focusing on a single memorable takeaway.

Noise is not universal. It is situational.

A Classic Public Speaking Example

3. Let the Data Speak—But Don’t Let It Shout

In the story from Facilitating with FINESSE, the original report claimed problems in seven of ten areas. The data supported maybe three. The rest was noise—overinterpretation, overcoloring, and overconfidence.

Noise reduction does not mean hiding data. It means presenting data and information in a balanced, ethical manner and resisting the urge to oversell complexity. A concise conclusion at the beginning, followed by only the layers of detail the receiver asks for, is often the most respectful and effective approach.

Knowing Your Message Is Clear

The FINESSE Fishbone Diagram® reinforces this discipline. It reminds us that the burden of communication is on the sender, not the receiver. When we reduce noise, we increase understanding. When we increase understanding, we increase trust.

Reducing Noise with FINESSE

Noise is present wherever information is shared. The FINESSE Fishbone Diagram® provides technical professionals with a structured way to reduce it. Whether preparing a board briefing, facilitating a workshop, or crafting a public presentation, the N in FINESSE reminds you to keep the message clear and concise.

Complexity and uncertainty will always introduce noise. Our job is to make sure we don’t add more. Are you Communicating with FINESSE?

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JD Solomon Inc. provides solutions for program development, asset management, and facilitation at the nexus of facilities, infrastructure, and the environment.

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JD Solomon writes and consults on decision-making, reliability, risk, and communication for leaders and technical professionals. His work connects technical disciplines with human understanding to help people make better decisions and build stronger systems. Learn more at www.jdsolomonsolutions.com and www.communicatingwithfinesse.com