How to speak so people would listen

Day 25 / 365

Ever felt like people aren’t taking you seriously when you are talking? In this Ted talk, Julian Treasure suggests some changes in habits we can incorporate to make our speech more impactful.

The Dont’s

Julian lists 7 things, which he terms as 7 Deadly Sins that we must avoid.

• Gossiping — Don’t say ill of people behind their backs.
• Passing Judgement — People would find it hard to listen to you if they feel like they are being judged.
• Negativity — We are surrounded by enough negativity in our lives anyway, so if you speak negatively people would try to avoid listening.
• Complain — Something which I have been guilty of in the past. Again people have enough of their own troubles, talking about yours will only repel them.
• Blaming others — Don’t keep passing blame to others, take responsibility for your mistakes.
• Exaggerate — Speak things as they are. Exaggeration tends to become lying, and no one enjoys being lied to.

The Do’s

Julian also lists habits that we should adopt, which he reckons are the 4 cornerstones of powerful speaking

• Honesty — Just like people don’t like being lied to, they appreciate being told the truth.
• Authenticity — Just be yourself, don’t try to put on a persona.
• Integrity — Believe what you say, practice what you preach.
• Love — Wish people well and have empathy.

These are simple and easy to remember points, and I think everyone would relate with some of the ‘dont’s’ that they are guilty of. If you do so, make sure you make an attempt to fix that.

This story is part of my 365 Day Project for 2019. Read about it here

Yesterday’s blog — The Paradox of Choice