Sam Altman says this communication skill will help you level up in life

OpenAI CEO Sam Altman says the ability to speak concisely is key to getting ahead in life. He calls it a "learnable skill" that takes some practice.

• OpenAI CEO Sam Altman shared some advice on how to get ahead in life: be a concise communicator.
• The CEO calls the ability to condense five minutes of speech into 30 seconds a "big unlock." 
• Asking a friend to concisely rephrase your thoughts a "few dozen times" can help hone the skill. 

OpenAI CEO Sam Altman shared some words of wisdom on how to get ahead in life: be a concise communicator.

"Learning how to say something in 30 seconds that takes most people 5 minutes is a big unlock," Altman recently wrote on X.

Speaking with brevity, according to the face of ChatGPT, is a "surprisingly learnable skill" that the CEO says can be developed with a simple exercise you can do with a friend who excels at talking.

"If you struggle with this, consider asking a friend who is good at it to listen to you say something and then rephrase it back to you as concisely as they can a few dozen times," Altman said, adding that he's seen this technique work "really well."

Learning how to articulate one's thoughts is one way workers can advance their communication skills, which some corporate leaders say is crucial to thriving in business. Alongside active listening and summarizing key conversation points, some execs say that knowing how to speak clearly can help professionals get ahead in their careers.

One tech executive at a job search engine previously told Business Insider that strong communication can be linked to job security, a higher chance of moving into a management role, and a knack for building relationships.

Flexing your communication chops can even help you land your next job. It's why billionaire investor Warren Buffett advised college graduates to develop their communication skills during a commencement address. That advice seems to have checked out for some professionals. One JPMorgan employee credited her succinct answers during the interview process for helping her secure her role at the investment bank.

But for one former OpenAI employee, learning to be articulate can lead to more than just a successful career: it can protect your job from AI replacement.

"Focusing on the skills necessary to effectively communicate with humans will future-proof you for a world with AGI," he said.

Sam Altman didn't immediately respond to BI's request for comment when reached through OpenAI.