" It's Not What You Say… It's How You Say It"
A meme (in the form of a question) on Facebook gave me flashbacks to life with the aunt who raised my brother and me after out parents died.
My Aunt Dorothy had a knack for giving advice. The best piece of advice she ever gave me was: “It’s not what you say. It’s how you say it.”
At the time, I didn’t fully appreciate the depth of that wisdom. But somewhere along the line, it must have sunk in, because years later, someone told me, “You could tell someone to go to [that hot place], and they’d look forward to the trip.”
That made me laugh out loud, but it also made me realize how true my aunt’s words were. Tone, timing, body language, and even facial expression all play a role in communication. I think that's why written words are often misunderstood. There are no facial expressions, body language, or tone involved. The choice of words becomes even more critical. A hard truth can be softened with the right words, delivered in a kind way.
Our success in business and personal relationships will depend on the way we communicate. We can either build bridges or burn them.
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