May 2022 - Michael Kelly

A simple way to handle a tedious conversation

You may at times be in an interaction with someone, who is authoritatively delivering a lengthy monologue about a trivial matter.

One field tested way to stop this monologue is to interject with:

And then question the person or make a statement to gain/regain control of the conversation.

Last year a client, in a Delivering memorable messages program, said he wanted to receive the various quotations I had shared in the program.

Here are some of the quotes** I share in my work with clients:

Reduce the speed at which you gesture to increase your level of authority.
The better you communicate the more intelligent you appear (James Clear).
The substance of one’s remarks becomes irrelevant if one cannot say them effortlessly.
There is a hidden battle for dominance waged in almost every conversation – and the way we modulate the lower frequencies of our voices shows who’s on top.
Seniority is signalled by response time.

In the third episode of my new YouTube channel Behind the Voice (2:36 clip) Accenture CEO on how to package a message with a structure, you’ll see an expert at work.

Recently I heard a great tip on how to kick-start a presentation.

Of course, this tip will be bolstered if you do the following:

Have deeply understood your audience.
Craft a simple key message(s) that you wanted the audience to retain and/or act upon.
Craft a hook to listen and craft a structure for the presentation.
Project energy and certainty through your facial expression, body language, gesture, voice and speaking cadence
For Q&A, nod engagingly as the question is being asked, take time to form a response and never losing your cool.

Here’s the tip.

Do it with joy Jim Nantz Tim Ferriss podcast