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Salute to those who like to fuck up someone else's account, here's an article about how your speech kills trust in you.
1. Jargon
When familiar words are pronounced with a new meaning, so that the speech sounds more "businesslike". For example: "With the help of evangelists, we turn to brand advocates to find leverage in the dialogue...".
At the same time, fans of business slang rarely think about whether others understand them, and some also roll their eyes accusingly when someone asks what they are talking about.
How to fix it: use words in their dictionary meaning.
So you will look like a professional, and not a hero of a satirical cartoon.
For example: "We communicate with customers to identify...".
2. Cliches
These are metaphors that are used so often that all the juice is sucked out of them.
For example, in English there is the expression "out-of-the-box thinking".
Literally, "think outside the box."
In Russia, they say "unconventional thinking".
Or the English idiom "hitting one out of the ballpark".
In Russian, there is a similar meaning to "hit the bull's-eye". Cliches don't just sound corny, but also show your disrespect for the listener.
Otherwise, you would avoid these mothballs.
How to fix it: give up metaphors completely or use something fresh.
If you can't do without metaphors at all, make them less "cliche-like".
For example, replace the word "squeezed" with "sucked", as in the paragraph above.
A worse way is to add a pinch of irony to the metaphor by inserting a new word.
For example, "hit the proverbial bullseye".
3. Verbosity
When you use bulky and pompous-sounding words instead of short and common ones, it gives the listener the impression that you are a pompous person.
For example, "identifying strategic opportunities and tactical approaches".
Simply put, "planning".
Or "implement the information and communication infrastructure".
Simply put, "set up a wireless network".
High-sounding words add volume to your speech, but make it less clear.
How to fix it:
The main problem is that a person overestimates the importance and impressiveness of the business or their work.
The solution is to be more modest.
You don't build rockets or perform brain surgeries.
Business is a place where direct conversation on business is valued.
4. Sounds-weeds
When you, uh, insert a word or sound into a sentence to, well ... think about what exactly, uh... you want to say.
Jeffrey James once heard a guy say " hmm " 100 times in a five-minute presentation.
The audience was almost tearing their hair out in annoyance.
How to fix it:
Pretty simple.
Instead of waiting, pause.
When you take a break for silence, rather than trying to fill your thinking time with parasitic sounds, your speech sounds wise.
The other person understands that you choose your words carefully.
Record and listen to your speech.
This will help you get rid of a bad habit.
5. Intonation spikes
Such outbursts turn a statement into a question.
This happens when you raise your voice at the end of a sentence, or even worse, build sentences like this: "[statement], you know? " or "[statement], right?".
People get the impression that you don't believe that you can express your thoughts clearly, so you have to ask them again.
How to fix it:
If you doubt whether the other person is following the thread of the conversation, it is better to ask directly:
"Do you understand me?" or "Do you still understand what I mean?"
In other words, either ask or tell.
Don't mix them.
6. Trick words
When you deceive your listeners by masking unpleasant facts with abstract phrases.
For example, say "opportunities for development", meaning" work on wear and tear", or "staff optimization", meaning "layoffs".
So do cowards who are afraid to take unpopular measures, because of which they can be branded.
How to fix it: show some courage.
You will earn more trust and respect in the long run if you directly tell the bitter truth rather than the sweet lie.
Because people will find out the truth sooner or later.
7. Insincere apologies
When you apologize because social rules require it, not your conscience.
For example, "I'm sorry if someone took offense."
Such "apologies" only increase the offense.
How to fix it: A real apology goes like this: "I will forgive you for what I did.
I was only vaguely aware of the consequences, so it won't happen again."
It's more like words from the heart.
If you can't apologize sincerely, then forget about the words of forgiveness altogether, because you don't really feel sorry.
8. Machine gun fire
When you throw out a stream of facts and observations without bothering to check whether the listener is interested. 95% of presentations can be classified in this category, but if this happens in a normal conversation, then the person makes himself a quarrelsome chatterbox.
How to fix it: always build communication in the spirit of "dialogue", not "commercial offer". Ask questions and respond to comments.
Find out what the other person wants to know, and only then use relevant facts and observations.
1. Jargon
When familiar words are pronounced with a new meaning, so that the speech sounds more "businesslike". For example: "With the help of evangelists, we turn to brand advocates to find leverage in the dialogue...".
At the same time, fans of business slang rarely think about whether others understand them, and some also roll their eyes accusingly when someone asks what they are talking about.
How to fix it: use words in their dictionary meaning.
So you will look like a professional, and not a hero of a satirical cartoon.
For example: "We communicate with customers to identify...".
2. Cliches
These are metaphors that are used so often that all the juice is sucked out of them.
For example, in English there is the expression "out-of-the-box thinking".
Literally, "think outside the box."
In Russia, they say "unconventional thinking".
Or the English idiom "hitting one out of the ballpark".
In Russian, there is a similar meaning to "hit the bull's-eye". Cliches don't just sound corny, but also show your disrespect for the listener.
Otherwise, you would avoid these mothballs.
How to fix it: give up metaphors completely or use something fresh.
If you can't do without metaphors at all, make them less "cliche-like".
For example, replace the word "squeezed" with "sucked", as in the paragraph above.
A worse way is to add a pinch of irony to the metaphor by inserting a new word.
For example, "hit the proverbial bullseye".
3. Verbosity
When you use bulky and pompous-sounding words instead of short and common ones, it gives the listener the impression that you are a pompous person.
For example, "identifying strategic opportunities and tactical approaches".
Simply put, "planning".
Or "implement the information and communication infrastructure".
Simply put, "set up a wireless network".
High-sounding words add volume to your speech, but make it less clear.
How to fix it:
The main problem is that a person overestimates the importance and impressiveness of the business or their work.
The solution is to be more modest.
You don't build rockets or perform brain surgeries.
Business is a place where direct conversation on business is valued.
4. Sounds-weeds
When you, uh, insert a word or sound into a sentence to, well ... think about what exactly, uh... you want to say.
Jeffrey James once heard a guy say " hmm " 100 times in a five-minute presentation.
The audience was almost tearing their hair out in annoyance.
How to fix it:
Pretty simple.
Instead of waiting, pause.
When you take a break for silence, rather than trying to fill your thinking time with parasitic sounds, your speech sounds wise.
The other person understands that you choose your words carefully.
Record and listen to your speech.
This will help you get rid of a bad habit.
5. Intonation spikes
Such outbursts turn a statement into a question.
This happens when you raise your voice at the end of a sentence, or even worse, build sentences like this: "[statement], you know? " or "[statement], right?".
People get the impression that you don't believe that you can express your thoughts clearly, so you have to ask them again.
How to fix it:
If you doubt whether the other person is following the thread of the conversation, it is better to ask directly:
"Do you understand me?" or "Do you still understand what I mean?"
In other words, either ask or tell.
Don't mix them.
6. Trick words
When you deceive your listeners by masking unpleasant facts with abstract phrases.
For example, say "opportunities for development", meaning" work on wear and tear", or "staff optimization", meaning "layoffs".
So do cowards who are afraid to take unpopular measures, because of which they can be branded.
How to fix it: show some courage.
You will earn more trust and respect in the long run if you directly tell the bitter truth rather than the sweet lie.
Because people will find out the truth sooner or later.
7. Insincere apologies
When you apologize because social rules require it, not your conscience.
For example, "I'm sorry if someone took offense."
Such "apologies" only increase the offense.
How to fix it: A real apology goes like this: "I will forgive you for what I did.
I was only vaguely aware of the consequences, so it won't happen again."
It's more like words from the heart.
If you can't apologize sincerely, then forget about the words of forgiveness altogether, because you don't really feel sorry.
8. Machine gun fire
When you throw out a stream of facts and observations without bothering to check whether the listener is interested. 95% of presentations can be classified in this category, but if this happens in a normal conversation, then the person makes himself a quarrelsome chatterbox.
How to fix it: always build communication in the spirit of "dialogue", not "commercial offer". Ask questions and respond to comments.
Find out what the other person wants to know, and only then use relevant facts and observations.