The result of ANY communication is in the response you get
That's right! ANY communication. You see, it doesn't matter how well and how clearly you think you've communicated something, if the audience doesn't understand it it's your responsibility to communicate it in a different way.
Have you ever been in a situation where you've been trying to explain something to someone and they just don't seem to understand it. It can be very frustrating and it can happen at work and at home. The reason could be that you're just talking the wrong language - I'm not talking about French or Spanish or any other national language; I'm talking about the language of the mind.
What do I mean? Well, we all process information about the world around us in different ways using the different sensory systems: primarily visual, auditory and kinsesthetic but sometimes taste and smell as well. Although we all use all of the systems, most of us have a natural preference towards one of the first three. A communication preference.
The majority of people form pictures in their mind of the world around them, but a significant number primarily use audio or kinaesthetic (feeling). You'll hear it in the words they use:
- Visual preference people will use words like: you see what I mean, let me show you, that seems like a good idea.
- Auditory preference people will use words like: does that ring a bell, that sounds good, I hear what you're saying.
- Kinaesthetic preference people will use words like: does that feel right, I get a sense of what you're saying.
Sales people can be particularly good at this, picking up your preference and then using it to describe the product or service to you in your language. A car for example: they could talk about the smooth lines and feel of the upholstery (kinaesthetic), or the purr or roar of the engine (auditory), or the stylish elegant looks (visual).
How could this be useful to you? in job interviews, when training staff, when talking to family members. I'm sure you'll think of other situations. If you're planning a presentation or team meeting, deliberately including words from each language preference, particularly at the beginning, will help you to engage with more of your audience.
So this month, notice the words people around you use, get a feel for their preferences, and see if any of this rings a bell. It could transform your outcomes.
Wishing you happiness and success.
Dave
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