How do you answer the phone?

Communication is at the core of every personal moment, experience, transaction and interaction.  Whether you are engaged in self-talk or presenting to a large audience, your word choices will have a significant impact on the results you achieve; and help you create a culture of confidence.

A simple example of creating a culture of confidence is in the way you answer the phone in business.

Last week I needed to confirm an important meeting with a client.  The young lady that answered the phone was speaking so quickly, I was unable to catch her name.  This happens far too many times in business. 

Taking your time to communicate will help to create that culture of confidence in you for your potential client.

So, when answering the phone, pause, smile, and answer in an enunciating way.  Imagine you are on the other end of the line, and the connection may be poor, and you only have one shot of getting your message across.  Take your time and enunciate.

Something to think about.  Your comments are welcome.

See if you can decipher this one...

In a recent conversation with one of my BNI colleagues, we were discussing some of the comments from one of the presenters at a Visitor Day.

My colleague shared the comment:

"I can't remember a time when I didn't feel comfortable or couldn't trust a fellow BNI member."

Yikes!!

I think he wanted to say:

"I remember several times feeling comfortable and trusting of my fellow BNI members."

Paying attention to word choice is an ongoing process.  I have been working on eradicating the "(K)notty words" for almost 20 years.

Keep your focus on raising your awareness, and create empowering alternatives.

Thoughts on the Masters

This weekend, an iconic event will grace the landscape in beautiful Augusta, Georgia.

The Masters

Enjoy this video I did about the 2010 event eventually won by Phil Mickelson.

 

The message is:  Focus on your Self Talk.

You hold the key to your successes.

There is nothing I would do for you.....

Millions of people read hundreds of comic strips in newspapers around the world.  The Born Loser created by Art and Chip Sansom had a classic example of a “(K)notty Word” in Action.

Here is the dialog from that strip:

"Chief, I want you to know there is nothing I wouldn't do for you!

"Say no more, Thornapple--I already know....after all, that's exactly what you been doing for me for years!


What a great demonstration of the articulatory confusion that occurs with a not attached to a host word like “would”.


I know it is just a cartoon script, yet you hear word usage like this in conversations you hear daily.

Raise your awareness and listen for examples.  AND  Think how you would re-frame the message.

Have an empowering word choice day.

Bob

Sixty minutes of television

Have fun with this exercise.

This is one of my favorite homework assignments for my coaching clients and my training courses.

Interesting take by Paris Hilton

Paris Hilton Insists She Isn’t Jealous of Kim Kardashian

"I am the original, so there is nothing like me.... I feel very blessed that I have been very successful on every area. So it's very exciting. There is nothing else to do." —Paris Hilton, on ex-BFF Kim Kardashian becoming more famous than she is, to the Associated Press.

AP Interview: Hilton says she's the 'original'

– Tue Mar 29, 7:52 pm ET

MEXICO CITY – Paris Hilton says she has met all of her professional goals.

The woman who perfected the art of being famous for being famous says she doesn't fear being overshadowed by Kim Kardashian or any other reality show rival.

Hilton said in an interview Tuesday with The Associated Press that there are many people who try to imitate what she does. But she said, in her words, "I am the original so there is nothing like me."

She added that she has "done everything that I wanted to do and I feel very blessed that I have been very successful on every area. So it's very exciting. There is nothing else to do".

Hilton was in Mexico to promote her new shoe line.

So here is my take on Ms. Hilton's articulation. Just remove the "(K)notty Words".  Here is the message:

Paris Hilton insists she is jealous of Kim Kardashian.

The woman who perfected the art of being famous for being famous says she does fear being overshadowed by Kim Kardashian or any other reality show rival.

Interesting to note her last comment:  There is nothing else to do.

What is her purpose then?   Why bother promoting her new shoe line?

There is a good bit of articulatory chaos going on here.  I enjoy the musings of celebrities.  

Your comments are welcome.

Remember to Keep Your Message Clear and Active

During a recent BNI meeting, Mary, the chapter president was reminding the group of the upcoming Visitor Day.  Unfortunately some of the phrases she used to remind the group included:

• Make sure you don't forget to invite visitors.
• Don't forget the upcoming membership drive.
• We can't fail if we keep inviting.

Taking a look at Mary's requests, I noticed the confusion that others sensed as well:

"Make sure you don't forget to invite visitors."
Registers as:
"Make sure you forget to invite visitors."

"Don't forget the upcoming membership drive."
Registers as:
"Do forget the upcoming membership drive."

"We can't fail if we keep inviting."
Registers as:
"We can fail if we keep inviting."

Her intention is to have visitors who will become new members.  Unfortunately using words like don't and can't weaken your message when it is just as easy, and so much more powerful, to make your point clearly.

When you eradicate the "(K)notty Words" - "not, don't, can't, won't, wouldn't, couldn't, shouldn't, try, but, should"--your message will be stronger, more precise, and help you attract more of what you want. Re-Frame your thoughts and retrain your brain to use empowering words like can, do, will, would and could.

The results will astound you.

At the next meeting Mary rephrased her requests to strong reminders:

• Remember to invite visitors to every meeting
• Remember the membership drive extravaganza
• When we bring in six new members during the contest we will qualify for the grand prize drawing!

Now these once passive expressions have become imperative calls to action.