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Do you hear what I’m saying?

by Rick Baker
On Mar 11, 2010
Words That Work: it's not what you say, it's what people hear
 
That's the title of a book by Dr. Frank Luntz
http://www.luntz.com/
 
The book title grabbed me.
 
The book is worth the read…or 'the hear' if you prefer audio books.
 
Dr. Luntz draws strong reactions. He strikes people's chords. In some cases he hits sour notes. In others he finds believers.
 
I am a life-long learner…at least that's what one assessment told me.
 
And, the topic of communication fascinates me.
 
While politics is not one of my areas of interest, the communication skill of politicians is.
 
Dr. Luntz's book is not restricted to political communication…it digs into marketing communication. Of more importance, it addresses communication with the hearer in mind.  
 
The book offers vivid examples of what works and what does not work.
 
One section of the book really struck my love-of-writing-and-books chord. Comparing one section of George Orwell's classic '1984' to the [same] scene in the movie '1984', Dr. Luntz illustrated how written messages can out-communicate visual messages. [I have never read such a clear argument of this point. I have read numerous arguments, arguing in favour of visual messaging.]
 
Here is a summary of Dr. Luntz's 10 Rules for Successful Communication
  1. Simplicity
  2. Brevity
  3. Credibility
  4. Consistency
  5. Novelty
  6. Sound and Texture Matters
  7. Speak Aspirationally* [humanize, personalize]
  8. Visualize
  9. Ask a Question
  10. Provide Context and Explain Relevance
Excellent advice.
 
Footnote: Aspirationally - that's the 'word' I heard when I listened to the audio book…I cannot find that word in the dictionary [yet].
 
More about communication in future blogs…

Tags:

Communication: Improving Communication

Comments (2) -

rick baker
4/20/2012 10:56:57 PM #

"Few people think very much about how they are going to express themselves. They use the first words that come to them. They do not think of forming a sentence so that it will have beauty, brevity, transparency, power."

Orison Swett Marden
‘Pushing to the Front’, (1911)

rick baker
4/28/2012 9:48:47 PM #

Action Guides for Effective Communication

1. Ask open-ended, indirect questions that draw out people's wants, needs, opinions, and feelings.
2. Listen without biases, distractions, or interruptions.
3. Understand. What people say and why they say it.
4. Paraphrase your understanding back to customers and make sure they feel understood.

Ron Willingham
‘The Inner Game Of Selling’, (2006)

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