94 PowerPhrases in Action
PowerPhrases to Say What You Think
Are Targeted
The perfect words to get your point across depend on your goal.
What do you want to happen?
- Is your goal to get them to buy into your idea?
- Do you simply want them to consider your idea?
- Are you trying to start a discussion based on your
idea?
Pick an approach that will get your desired results. If you
want people to buy-in, speak decisively. If you want them to
consider your idea, let them know this is your opinion. If you
want to start a discussion, tell them you are sharing your ideas
to start a discussion.
It is rare to be 100 percent sure of anything. Don’t wait
until you have absolute certainty to speak decisively.
Throughout this manuscript I have edited words such as “I
believe,” “I recommend,” and “It seems to me.” I want you to
take my words seriously, so I avoid qualifiers. For example, in
my previous chapter I started to say,
I believe small talk makes big things happen.
I edited it to say,
Small talk makes big things happen.
Doesn’t that sound more powerful? To state my knowledge
as belief limits the impact.