Say What You Need To Say

Have you ever had a conversation with someone and you leave more confused than when it started?  Or have you ever try to tell someone something, only to have them stare blankly back at you?  It is important when communicating to someone to understand what is at stake.    Here are a few tips to help in communicating clearly:

1. Think about what you are about to say before you say it.
   • Although you may be an expert, your listener may not be so it is important to think through the conversation before it happens.
2. When having a conversation, Listen.
   • If you are the only one talking, the conversation is probably not going well.  If your listener is not responding, it may be because they have no clue to what you are talking about, thus wasting both of your time.
3. Speak clearly.
   • Sometimes we can be too polite because of a difficult issue, or speak to fast because of time restrains or nerves, or we mumble because of insecurity about the topic, but whatever the cause it is pointless to expect our listener to understand us if we do not speak clearly.
4. Lastly, If you don’t know, then don’ pretend like you do.
   • The phrase “If you can’t dazzle them with brilliance, baffle them with bulls**t” may be hilarious, but it is not very good advice if you want to be taken seriously.  I run when I see the person who is constantly trumping everyone else’s conversation just to hear themselves talk.  Don’t be that person.

Communication is a vital resource.  The best ideas will never happen if they are not communicated correctly.