How to choose WORDS & SYNTAX for a POWERFUL Message

The words you speak, matter. How you sequence words – the syntax – matters.

Changing words, can change the impact you have on your audience.

For example, in my executive communication coaching, I’ll often share two sentences that only vary in one word. But that one word changes the effect on the audience. Here are the two sentences:

‘I have to exercise’.

‘I get to exercise’.

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TIP for ‘NEW to Australia’, NON-English EXECUTIVES

I often work with executives of non-English speaking background, who have recently immigrated to Australia.

Several of these executives want to know how to better assimilate into, and understand, Australia and its business culture.

If you are an immigrant, and of non-English speaking background my recommendation would be to learn more about the various aspects of Australian life: its cultural life, sport, arts, politics etc.

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People can SEE your COMB-OVER

The following might be tough to read for some men readers.

Let me explain.

When I ask senior leaders what behaviour or attitude has paid off for them in their careers, many say ‘Transparency, Candour, Frankness’ and similar words.

The top performers I work with don’t hide who they are. They realise that whenever someone sees them or hears them it forms an impression and a potential for loss or for gain.

With transparency and the thought that you’re always leaving an impression in mind, let me suggest this (and excuse my temerity):

That, if you have a ‘comb-over’, you consider changing your hair style so there is no comb-over. This may mean shaving a part of your head that has thinned or shaving your entire head.

I’m not suggesting this is an easy thing to do.

However, in my view, ‘hiding’/covering over the skin of your head, is not consistent with a transparent presentation of yourself to the world.

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Own the Conversation

Consider doing this
  1. Get trusted person(s) feedback on your hairstyle.
  2. If you decide to change your hairstyle, discuss styling options with your hair cutter – that convey a transparent presentation of yourself.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ p.s. here is a post with 10 questions to answer before giving up on a dream

GENERAL C. Powell’s BEST under-PRESSURE techniques

Colin Powell, former United States four star general and Secretary of State, lists 15 lessons on handling the media on pages 132-133 of his book, It worked for me. He shared these Lessons with a person named Cal, whom he was mentoring.

Many of the techniques can be applied to other-under pressure situations.

Media handling techniques:

  1. They get to pick the questions. You get to the pick the answers.
  2. You don’t have to answer any question you don’t want to.
  3. Never lie or dissemble, of course; but beware of being too candid or open.
  4. Never answer hypothetical questions about the future.
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North Korean DEFECTOR Y. Park’s SPEAKING LESSON

This 6:53 minute, harrowing speech – by Yeonmi Park – may make you shed a tear. (please see link below). And the reason you may shed a tear, is because Park is deeply grieved. Here is the LINK   Here is the TRANSCRIPT of the speech.

Own the Conversation

A lesson from Park’s speech is this. A good speech/presentation is good, because it makes you feel something, and/or remember something and/or do something. If you want your audiences to feel deeply about your spoken messages or have a deep memory of you and your message and/or act promptly on your messages – you first – must feel deeply about the importance of your message. Park’s speech has made me feel sorrow. It has left a searing memory with me, and it has made me investigate how I might help the plight of North Koreans. DO THIS: For the next seven days, before you deliver an important message, reflect on and feel – at a deeper level that you normally would – the importance of your message. Then, channel that feeling into your delivery of the message.
p.s. One of the first laws of movie making – is to KEEP ATTENTION. The same law applies to speaking. Many speakers lose the attention of the audience because they bore the ears of their listeners, through a monotonous voice speed, pitch, volume, cadence etc. – so their minds wander to the chicken and dry cleaning they need to pick-up on their way home from work. Here is a post with a simple, powerful ‘Unpredictable wind’ metaphor on how to use your voice to keep the attention of your audiences.

How NOT to be INTERRUPTED at LT & Board presentations

A number of my clients are frustrated when delivering important presentations to their Leadership Team or Board.

There frustrated because soon after they start presenting, a member of the Leadership team or Board interrupts them.

This interruption interferes with the speaking flow, and turns into a free flowing discussion between the leaders in the room, leaving the presenter stranded and often resulting in deferring the decision on the matter to a later time.

Innumerable hours of time are lost due to these interruptions.

and it can take months before a final decision is made.

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The world is a monarchy, money is the king . . .

‘The world is a monarchy – money is the king – and we all pay deference to it’. Ricardo Semler.

Recently I listened to a Tim Ferriss podcast, where Ferriss interviewed Ricardo Semler. In the podcast Semler shared the above quotation.

Semler’s insight coalesced in my mind with ideas from leadership luminary Jeffrey Pfeffer’s article, Why the assholes are winning: Money trumps all  and Pfeffer’s book, Leadership BS.

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