“I want to make sure I hit every detail, you know, so they know that I know what I’m talking about.”
“I like to know all the details, so I want them to know all the details.”
“But what if I miss something?”
Sound familiar?
Is this you?
Yes? OK, let’s chat for a moment.
If you relate to statements above, you prefer indirect speaking.
(read more about indirect vs. direct speaking here)
While I appreciate your intentions, it’s not the most effective way of communicating a powerful message.
Here’s the problem.
Your details lead to other details, which lead to other details and then before you know it… you and your listeners are lost.
When people are lost, time gets wasted.
Time wasted equals dollars wasted.
Your details are wasting dollars.
Unless you’re the type of person, who has an endless supply, I bet you’d prefer to keep what you’ve got.
Let me help you.
If you want to speak directly, try these strategies;
- Lead with your main point.
If your point is “We need 4 million dollars in sales to meet our goal” start there. You can add details, slowly, as you move forward.
- Ask your listener(s) questions about what they want or need to know before you start talking.
e.g., “What information do you need right now to make a decision?” “What would bring you the most value from this conversation?” “What must you have to move forward with the project?”
- Stick to one point and one supporting fact when answering questions.
e.g., Executive Presence is a must have for professionals. It accounts for 25% of what moves us to the next level in our careers.
Try these out the next time you find yourself lost in details and see how powerful they are.
PS
Don’t forget to post your comments here.
Let us know how these strategies worked for you!