The Most Important Question

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The Most Important Question

There is a question that everyone should be prepared to ask.

It is, "When you say that, what do you MEAN, specifically?"

If you say, "I believe in a fair wage, for everyone", then the people should reply, "What do you mean by a "fair wage?"

If you write, "Sam, when you come to the meeting, please ensure you bring with you all the relevant papers".

Then Sam is bound to wonder, "When he says, relevant papers, what does he mean, specifically?"

Stand ready to answer the question, or better still, pre-empt the question, by supplying the additional detail that will remedy any confusion or ambiguity.

Go through your message and identify any words or phrases that have the potential to be misunderstood or mis-represented and then either, reword your message, or elaborate upon your exact meaning.

Failure to properly explain your exact meaning will lead to painful consequences.

If you fail to explain your ideas properly you run the risk of:

• Being misunderstood.
• Being misrepresented.
• Losing your credibility as a knowledgeable person.
• Losing your power to persuade people.

Be ready to ASK the same question.

"When you say that, what do you mean specifically".

When listening to others, don't guess at their meaning.

Don't assume they mean what you think they mean.

If you are not sure about the exact meaning, then ask them to elucidate!

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Further Reading in Communication - Clear Communication

• Communication: Negotiation Skills
  Every organisation has to trade successfully with others and being able to negotiate skillfully is vital to your success. Negotiation skills training will enable your team to agree the best possible outcome from any negotiation situation.
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• How Language Causes Confusion
  Ambiguity in business can be damaging both for your reputation and your finances. To avoid potential confusion when communicating with colleagues and customers, take a look at these five ways where ambiguous language should be avoided.
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• Feedback is the Breakfast of Champions
  Feedback information is vital to your brain. If you don't know whether your actions are taking you closer to your goals, you will not know which actions to practice, which not to practice, and which ones to steer clear of.
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• How to Communicate Positive Feedback
  People are very quick to give negative feedback, but it is even more important to communicate positive feedback. Correctly given, positive feedback can be much more effective in getting people to change their behaviour or attitude.
  Read Article >
• Notes on winning by Arnold Schwarzenegger
  It's about living. Not just existing! Wise words from one of the most successful people in the world.
  Read Article >

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