Tom Leu "seeing things" … perspectives on music, marketing, & motivation

foot-in-mouth

I’ve heard it said “it’s not what you say; it’s how you say it.”

I disagree. Focusing only on the “how” you say things leaves out other very important components to successful communication.

I believe it’s WHAT you say, and HOW you say it, and WHEN/WHERE you say it, and IF you say it (at all).

To be most effective, good communicators consider ALL of the following elements:

WHAT = the content. the real, specific message. the heart of the matter.

HOW = the delivery. the word choice. the verbal and non-verbal nuances.

WHEN/WHERE = the timing & the location. often interdependent. 

IF = the big picture value of saying something or not. the consideration of the consequences.

Keeping the what, how, when/where, and if you communicate ever-present in your mind, especially when you’re in emotionally-charged situations, you will avoid the dreaded “foot-in-mouth syndrome” more often than not.

©2009 Tom Leu