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Name of author Rick Baker, P.Eng.

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"It usually takes more than three weeks to prepare a good impromptu speech." Mark Twain

by Rick Baker
On Apr 24, 2021

The Thinking Behind the Tweet

I am fascinated by skilled public speakers. What value for their audiences! And, Mark Twain, with that amazing wit of his…provides a very important message with this quote. Here is another you can apply to public speaking: Abraham Lincoln – "Give me six hours to chop down a tree and I will spend the first four sharpening the axe."

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Communication: Improving Communication | Thought Tweets

If you cannot be interested at least be interesting!

by Rick Baker
On Apr 15, 2021

The Thinking Behind The Tweet

Seek first to be interested and to understand. If you cannot handle that maybe you can compensate by being entertaining...or, at least, interesting.

Stephen Covey - Seek First To Understand.

Perhaps people will warm up to you and remember you if you seek first to understand them?

That's consistent with Dale Carnegie's teaching.

If you cannot bring yourself to be truly interested in understanding other people then your opportunities for influencing them drop significantly. You may be able to squeeze in some opportunities by:

  • being interesting...attention-getting, magnetic...those sorts of things
  • being entertaining...like a motivational speaker or a magician or a clown act

Tags:

Communication: Improving Communication | Thought Tweets

Some people are way too busy talking to learn...

by Rick Baker
On Apr 9, 2021

The Thinking Behind The Tweet

I bet you've noticed some people simply must express their views. If someone interrupts them, sooner or later, one way or another, these people will keep returning to what they were saying until they have finished saying it. And, if they don't think you are listening then they will repeat their message until they believe you have listened

And, these people are quick to interrupt others and squeeze others out of conversations so they can inject their views.

Listening isn't important to these people: they don't feel a need to listen because their minds are made up. 

These people are way too busy talking to learn.

 

It's okay to yell and scream at work...celebrations do not have to be subdued.

by Rick Baker
On Apr 4, 2021

The Thinking Behind The Tweet

Baby Boomers, an interesting 'generation': grew up under pressure...watched the first steps on the moon...survived disco music...and some of us still haven't figured out how to stop yelling and screaming at work.

 

If you want to win someone over then let him know that you know what he does when he is at work.

by Rick Baker
On Mar 20, 2021

The Thinking Behind The Tweet

Most people take at least some pride in their work...so they tell others about what they do when they are at work. 

Few people have the interest or take to time to truly listen to others, so they never really hear let alone remember what others tell them.

You can listen. You can remember. You can let others know you care about what they do at work.

You can inspire people!

 

 

Maybe it isn't more blessed to give than to receive - consider the Ben Franklin Effect.

by Rick Baker
On Mar 19, 2021

The Thinking Behind The Tweet

Ben Franklin found people, even people who clearly disliked him, responded positively when he asked them for a favour. As one example, back in the day - almost 300 years ago, books were very rare in New England. Benjamin Franklin asked a political opponent [who had publicly criticized Ben] to lend him one of his prized books. The person loaned the book to Franklin, who read it quickly and thoroughly then returned it. After this experience, the opponent softened his attitude toward Franklin.

These Ben Franklin experiences led to what is now known as the Ben Frankin Effect

Copyright © 2012. W.F.C (Rick) Baker. All Rights Reserved.