We are not constricted by our ideas, we are constricted by our ability to communicate the ideas.
A mediocre idea communicated well will outperform a fantastic idea communicated poorly.
And If your audience isn’t compelled to keep listening or reading, they won’t get to the salient points. This is self-evident whether you are speaking to an audience (simply leading a meeting) or writing a message where you are trying to get your way (simply sending a prospecting email).
Here are three different ways to magnetize your communication so they keep listening or keep reading:
Suspense: Elegant storytelling that creates an emotional investment.
Example: My iPad and my laptop were gone. My clothes, headphones, and my work equipment were gone. I walked inside to check into my hotel and walked back out to broken glass all over the parking lot. The glass on the ground was formerly my passenger door window that somebody smashed open. That was the day I got robbed by a career criminal, and this is the story of what happened next… (Note: This is a true story, by the way)
Contrarian: Prove the status quo wrong.
Example: If you replayed your health evolution from a young age to where you are today, you’d find an insane amount of food consumption was full of toxic or harmful chemicals. Many say this is unavoidable, but this is the research behind why most people are wrong and how to make sure you aren’t one of them.
Shocking: Wow, I had no idea it was like that.
Example: 53% of presentations are boring and another 44% don’t have any clear action items. In other words, 97% of presentations aren’t worth listening to (Wall Street Journal). At first I thought this data was embellished, but then I got to the bottom of it. Here’s how to make sure we find ourselves in the 3%.
Inspiration: “Take advantage of every opportunity to practice your communication skills – so that when important occasions arise, you will have the gift, the style, the sharpness, the clarity, and the emotions to affect other people.”
– Jim Rohn
Appreciation: If you are reading this, I am tremendously grateful for the time and attention you send in this direction.
Have a great weekend!