Words That Work

Words That Work outlines the importance of using the right words and the appropriate body language in a given situation to make yourself understood properly and get the most out of the dialogue, while also teaching you some tips-and-tricks on how to win arguments, tame conflicts, and get your point across using a wise selection of words.

Not all audiences are the same, and a good communicator knows it. To convey your message effectively, you’ll have to take in account who you’re addressing. Whether you’re in a circle of simple, day-to-day people, your friends and family, or a group of individuals specialized in a given topic, your language will definitely have to vary between them. However, it’s not just about the audience you’re addressing.

Similar words can prompt different reactions in people. A study shows that Americans were asked whether they think more funds should be allocated towards welfare or assistance to the poor. Three times more recipients responded positively to the latter. The two notions mean the same thing. But assistance to the poor calls for compassion and empathy. On the other hand, welfare has political connotations and is a way of spending government money. In a nutshell, that’s the power of words – and all influential figures know it!

Now, another thing you should keep in mind if you’re trying to communicate effectively is to keep your language as simple and concise as possible. Presidential candidates and other political figures worldwide have lost life-changing positions because they were using words too complicated for their audience. When you’re addressing a generally wide audience, it’s best to keep it as simple as possible. As a rule of thumb, short phrases and simple terms are best for conveying information to an audience.

We’ve learned about the importance of targeting your audience right and using simple, yet effective words to relate a message. It’s time to focus on the emotional part of communication. Aristotle himself talks about this in his writings. He advises orators to target not only the ration of people but also their pathos or emotional side. So, how do you add emotion to your words? In two ways! You can either find a language that applies to a situation that everyone is familiar with, also known as humanization. Or go into detail and relate to their personal experiences, which implies using the personalization technique. When going for larger audiences and trying to gather people under a common goal, and implicitly, create less division and leave little room for your audience to feel excluded, you’ll want to use the power of humanization and personalization. Movement leaders, political figures, and peace advocates worldwide use these techniques. One way to personalize is…