Speak clearly, if you speak at all; carve every word before you let it fall. ﹣Oliver Wendell Holmes Sr.
Speak clearly!
Motto of the day*
Communicating with clarity
A message gets stronger when it is infused with clarity and conviction. How can we achieve this?
Thoughts about the motto of the day
What comes to my mind when thinking about this motto of the day?
When we’re motivated to get a point across to someone else, we often think long and hard about what we want to say. That is a good starting point, but that is only a part of what is necessary. Instead of focusing solely on what you want to say to get your point across, you better focus on communicating what you want the other person to hear.
The receiver’s task is to interpret the sender’s message, both verbal and nonverbal. The process of interpreting the message is known as decoding. Because words and nonverbal signals have different meanings to different people, countless problems can occur at this point in the communication process
While the message you send is important, the message the receiver hears is even more important. If you know your audience, you usually have an idea of how they will interpret or filter what you say. Tailor your message to your audience to improve their comprehension.
If you can offer sharp, clear, intelligent, and easy-to-understand messages, it becomes much easier for people to see the value in it.
How?
How do you ensure that important messages are clearly expressed? As a good starting point Have the following aspects in mind:
1. Know what you want to say.
2. Know who you’re talking to.
3. Use the language of your audience.
4. Use a clear structure for your message.
5. Short sentences are better to understand.
6. Shorter words are better than long words.
7. Be consistent.
On this foundation can be built. Speak up – speak clearly!
*Note
I select the motto of the day mostly because something about it appeals to me. Something attracts me or irritates me. It feels as if it could contain something and I want to get to the root of it. So I dedicate a motto to each day and let myself be surprised what it has to offer me.
Sometimes the reason for the choice clarifies itself only after a while. That's why the thoughts about the motto of the day are often not articles, but associations. They are thoughts transformed into words. They are spontaneous and I also publish them frequently while I am traveling. They, therefore, tend to appear in fragments. Feel invited to add your associations in the comments. Enrich the thoughts with your perspectives – to complete the picture.
How do you benefit best from the motto of the day?
Ask yourself constructive questions like the following and you will personally benefit from each motto of the day:
- What triggers the topic in you?
- Under what circumstances do you agree with the statement and when not?
- What is the significance of the statement for you?
- How can the motto of the day enrich your life?
- In what context could the statement be useful?
- Where and when do you want to remember it and how?
And what can I do if I disagree with a motto? There is often something personal to learn from quotations with which we disagree. Helpful questions in such a case are:
- What do you specifically disagree with?
- Do you think the statement is generally not helpful or only not suitable for you personally?
- Which aspect is worth taking a closer look at?
Just ask me personally
Please post any questions that may be of interest to other readers in the comments. Looking for professional help?
If you are interested in coaching, training or consulting, if you have organizational questions, or if you want to make an appointment, you can reach me best via this contact form (you can choose if you want to enter your personal data) or via e-mail (mail@karstennoack.com). You can also reach me by phone at +49(0)30 864 213 68 or by cell phone at +49(0)1577 704 53 56 from Monday to Thursday from 9:00 to 18:00. Most of the time I am in sessions, so please leave a message with your phone number in Germany. Please remember to be very specific about the reason for your call. I will get back to you as soon as possible. The privacy policy can be found here.
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This article is a short excerpt from the more comprehensive course materials my clients receive in a group or individual training or coaching.
Published: December 9, 2019
Author: Karsten Noack
Revision: December 11, 2019
Translation: December 11, 2019
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