You know what I tell people all the time? SAY LESS.
Saying less is so much better than saying more. ALWAYS. Choose your words before you speak.
It’s human nature when someone asks a question to start talking BEFORE you consider your answer and how you’ll frame it. We think we must immediately respond to our boss, or the reporter, or the analyst, so we babble four sentences of word salad before our brains finally form a coherent answer. This is NOT a winning strategy.
Here’s a better approach: “That’s exactly the right question, Gretchen” . . . pause. . . formulate answer . . . speak “The data shows . . .”
The best communicators CHOOSE the words that come out of their mouths, even if they need to take a pause to choose them!
Pauses help you AND can even flatter the person who asked the question. Whether she is your boss, a reporter, or a cranky industry analyst, Gretchen will feel pleased with herself that she asked an incisive question that made you think.
When you pause, you can deliver something coherent and digestible, not a long answer Gretchen has to sift through to find value. Win win!!
Take the risk out of being in the spotlight! I can prepare you, your teams and your leaders to tell your company’s story with confidence, shape the industry and maybe even change the world.
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