Communications: Tailor Your Talk

By this, I mean that is a powerful technique to consider your audience when communicating.

My most practical personal example is how I communicate with key executive types who wield significant influence in my workplace. First I determine their style of writing and speaking. I have encountered two major, but different styles, much like there are cat people and dog people.

One style is laser direct, straight to the point, data focused and very brief.

The other style is very wordy, with long thought threads that weave through many subjects in the course of discussing the primary point.

I don't have to say "duh" here. I address and respond to the first type with short, data points and brief conclusions or recommendations. To the second type, I wax loquacious and unleash my verbal skills in packaging my ideas and offer multiple recommendations from which to choose.

Absolutely nothing about this is meant to be "phony." In fact, the idea is to make you more effective in reaching your listener and achieving the end goals you want. That is about as real as it gets.

Lance