Hi,
Thanks for joining me this week.
As a reminder:
I’ll send you a useful tip each week to help you improve your communication skills.
TIP OF THE WEEK
[How To Slow Down Your Conversations]
In sensitive conversations, the key is to slow everything down.
Speaking more slowly and using silence effectively gives people the space they need to think and feel without pressure.
Let them take their time responding, even if they ramble, and resist the urge to interrupt or fill in their answers.
Just like in hostage negotiations, staying calm and controlled keeps everyone safer, even if part of you wants to rush to a solution.
Before diving in, explain your role and help the other person feel in control.
This is especially important in workplace conversations, where people might feel pressure to just say what their boss wants to hear.
Create an environment where they feel safe enough to be honest.
Start by setting some simple ground rules.
Let them know the purpose of the conversation, that they can ask for clarification or breaks, and be clear about time limits and confidentiality.
This structure helps everyone feel more secure.
Building rapport isn't a one-time thing - it needs to happen throughout the conversation.
Stay aware of how everyone's feeling, including yourself.
When you need to share important information, be direct but kind.
Don't sugar-coat or sandwich bad news between compliments; people can sense when you're dancing around the point.
When gathering information, let people tell their story freely.
Simple prompts like "Tell me about..." or "Describe..." work better than detailed questions.
The goal isn't just to get information - it's to have a conversation where people feel truly heard and respected.
This takes patience, but the results are worth it.
2 QUOTES THAT STOOD OUT TO ME THIS WEEK
"Communication is not about speaking what we think. Communication is about ensuring others hear what we mean."
- Simon Sinek
"The single biggest problem in communication is the illusion that it has taken place."
- George Bernard Shaw
1 QUESTION FOR YOU
How might your conversations transform if you paused to genuinely listen?
Until next week,
Scott
Sunday Times bestselling author of ‘Order Out of Chaos’
US Edition 🇺🇸
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