It's Not What You Say

Every single one of us are given an opportunity to communicate. However, not everyone who communicates, communicates effectively. Have you ever heard the saying "It's not what you say, it's how you say it". Communication isn't about talking it is really about conveying a message. Getting that message across can be the challenge.

We will spend the next couple of days exploring how to overcome those communication roadblocks. Then we will spend some time looking at ways to improve what you say.You want your message to be clear and concise but you must first get rid of some problems before improving what you have. It is like selling a house, you have to fix some things to make it worthy of selling. If you want to convey a clear message you will need to clean house.

There are three stumbling blocks to becoming a great communicator.

• Removing filler words
• Using the right words
• Making your voice interesting

Have you ever listened to an interview and the person being interviewed is using ahs and ums every other word? If so they have a problem that almost everyone has. It is a problem that can be cured or at least reduced. Nothing hurts the ears more than listening to a lot of filler words. The audience looses interest fast and will become disinterested in what the person speaking has to say. One of the first steps to good communication is removing those filler words. The best way I have found to do that is to pay attention when others speak and make note of those filler words. Toastmasters has a role called Ah Counter. During each meeting someone is assigned this role. Their job is to count all the filler words they hear. Once you have done this a few times you start to notice them in yourself and you will make an effort to avoid them. Use a pause instead.

Tomorrow we will look at Using the right words.