Turbo-Charged Communication

by Jean Houston Shore, CSP, CPA, MBA
Copyright 2007

It was just a chance conversation between two friends, one of those casual, quickly forgotten exchanges that usually happens and then vanishes from memory. But something this healthcare educator said to me clicked, causing me to replay her words over and over in my head. It was a piece of advice about my health, about how I could change something simple and improve my health and well-being. Her words were words I had heard before, from parents, casual acquaintances, even from my husband. But not until this fortuitous dialogue did the words cause me to examine my actions and consider a change in my life-style. She explained (from a healthcare professional's perspective) what I was doing to my body everyday as I overindulged in caffeine. How I was making my heart work harder, my blood pump faster, my systems work in overdrive, and all because I liked the taste of Diet Coke®. For the first time in my life, I listened. To the amazement of my family and friends, I switched to Caffeine Free Diet Coke®. It may seem like a small thing to you but this change has made a big difference in my life. I feel better; I sleep better. Hey, I've even started exercising regularly!

My client and friend practiced what I call turbo-charged communication with me that day. She didn't simply explain that caffeine was bad for me, she helped me to understand WHY caffeine was bad for me. She spoke logically, confidently and with genuine concern for my well-being. I responded.

Now, I try to turbo-charge my communications with others using the same methods she used on me. You can rev up your communication power, too. First, approach every communication encounter with a keen understanding of the other person's concerns. Remember that people respond best to your message when they understand the famous WII-FM ingredient (What's in it for me?"). Second, use logical and practical information to back up your claims. Salespeople call that "providing compelling evidence." Third, project a confident and honest personal style; this helps make your claims believable to your communications partner. Finally, learn to extend a genuine sense of caring to the other party. The great speaker Cavett Robert said, "People won't care how much you know, until they know how much you care."

All of us can use a boost to our communications effectiveness from time to time. By practicing these tips for turbo-charged communication, we can get that extra jolt - without using caffeine!