Is Your Communication Style Persuasive—Or Just Off-Putting?
After speaking this week to the International Conference and Exposition of ASTD (American Society of Training and Development), several attendees dropped by our tradeshow booth to talk to staff there. One staff member commented on his reaction to two particular conversations that followed one right after the other:
The first attendee, identifying himself as a college professor, offered this piece of advice for the staff to pass on to me: “Tell her the speech was great—except for the last point about showing concern in communication. Tell her never to use a dramatic piece at the end because people will walk out on a ‘down’ note.”
Another attendee walked up immediately afterward and offered this comment: “Tell her the speech was exceptional—especially the point about concern in communication. I think it really made an impact on the crowd and they loved it.”
Two different people—two different opinions. But those opinions were stated very differently. The first opinion was stated as an irrefutable fact. The second, as opinion. If you’re in sales, be persuasive. But if you need to gain emotional buy-in, break down barriers, or win hearts to achieve bigger goals, consider a less arrogant tone in favor of a more appealing communication style.
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