“A Change Would Do You Good”

Reprinted from Mover Mike:

I'm a freelance writer and many books on writing advise listening to conversations around you. I had occasion to do just that last night.

A woman and a man were talking about their most recent meeting with teammates. The man was unhappy with the output of his team. He was struggling to motivate one or two to up their game. At first I thought the two were a couple, but from the conversation it quickly became apparent she was either his boss or superior to him in the company. The difference in the way she spoke was very different from him. She was decisive. There was no air in her conversation, meaning her speech was not filled with the usual words designed to keep the floor; the uhs, ers, you know, I mean. Her language was positive and she was upbeat and she offered suggestions based on her more considerable experience.

His language was whiny, complaining, filled with "you knows" and "like" and "I mean" and his sentences jittered. Jittered to me is speech that bounces from one topic to another, and there's an interior processing about events that the listener feels but doesn't hear. He clearly was having trouble with his teammates and when she offered suggestions, he didn't really listen, but stepped on her words and jittered on. From her I heard, "I totally get it." From him hardly any acknowledgement of her suggestions, only self-absorption in his problem.

I have been in sales my whole working career. When selling you need to be concise, know how quickly your prospect loses interest, be outer focused and be knowledgeable about the product. A leader is very much selling himself by all of his words and actions.

Recall Mel Gibson’s William Wallace in " Braveheart" how he succinctly defines the difference between the nobles and those who are willing to fight.

<blockquote>William Wallace to the nobles: There’s a difference between us. You think the people of this country exist to provide you with position. I think your position exists to provide those people with freedom. And I go to make sure that they have it.</blockquote>

Imagine, if instead Wallace had said, "Guys, I mean, there's a, um, a difference between, um, us. You think the people, um, what's the word, live no exist, um, to, you know, provide you with, um, position. I mean, I think your, ah, position exists to, ah, provide these people with freedom. And, ah, why don't we, um, make sure they, you know, have it?

While Wallace wooed to the cause and he'd be talking to their backsides half way through the speech. There would have been no "Braveheart"

If she'd asked my advice, about this man I would have asked if he's valuable to the team. Does he have talents the team needs. If not fire him. If he is valuable, get him enrolled in a course on conversational speaking and selling.

A Change Would Do You Good
Songwriters
CROW, SHERYL / MACLEOD, BRIAN / TROTT, JEFF