The following article was published Cascade Business News, August 2003. Be Bold, Be Brief and Be GoneWhile each of us believes ourselves to be a top notch professional, we have also found ourselves in a sales presentation or leaving a phone message with our inner voice shouting out ‘why are you still talking?’ You have delivered your message yet the words keep coming. Are you trying to justify it? Explain it? Give more details or rationale? All of this only serves to dilute what you are trying to communicate. "Be Bold, Be Brief and Be Gone" This is a great mantra for those of us who are, shall we say ‘highly communicative?’ Though the stereotype is that of women being the mega talkers, many men also face the challenge of getting their point across so that it is immediately heard, valued and acted upon. More than a mantra, this is a technique that works. Let’s take a closer look. Be Bold! In our hectic lives it is often vital yet difficult to get the attention of a decision maker when we need it most. We need to demand it while not being too demanding. In order to get the decision maker to notice you devise a bold statement like, ‘this action will heighten our public approval rate by 30%’ or ‘unless we act now the company will lose $40,000.’ Look for either the benefits of immediate action or the consequences of inaction. If they need further explanation, they will ask for it. Be Brief! Once you have made your point, simply stop talking. This is a challenge for us ‘communicators’. We want to make sure that the decision maker has all of the details, every single one irrespective of their significance. This is not only unnecessary it diminishes your chances of being heard or valued. Silence will provide time to think. Silence is a good thing! Be Gone! Teach those with whom you communicate that when you’re done, you’re done. You’ll no longer take up their time. Nothing is worse in a fast paced work environment than to have people duck when you enter the room for fear that you’ll take up too much of their precious time! Communication is one of the most exquisite and controllable ingredients in attaining the success that you want in life. Focus daily on evaluating and strengthening your skills. This is mandatory to your success! Teach those around you that you can effectively Be Bold, Be Brief and Be Gone! Ann Golden Eglé, CPCC, PCC, owner of Golden Visions Success Coaching, LLC, coaches executives, entrepreneurs, professionals and creative spirits throughout North America. She can be reache at 541-385-8887 or www.goldenvisionscoaching.com. |
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