“It’s not what you say but how you say it,” according to William Carlos Williams.
Listen to how people speak to get a true picture of what is going on. For example:
“Where do you work?” Answer: “I work at Acme at the moment.”
“Where do you live?” Answer: “I live in Kaitira at the moment.”
This person is mentally unsettled. “… at the moment” means “… as soon as something better/different comes up, I’ll be off.”
“You’re in banking, what do you think of the foreign exchange rate?” Answer: “Well, it’s – ahhh – quite a sort of – well – complex, like it needs to be … ahhh … sorted, eh.”
This person doesn’t understand the business they’re in and finds it difficult to express an opinion. They’re out of their depth and not enjoying the experience.
At the shop: “Thanks for explaining that. But what about the warranty?” Answer: “Well, to be honest, you won’t need a warranty.”
Suddenly this person has decided to be honest. That means everything they told you up to this point must have been dishonest.
Unknown telephone caller: “Mr Morris, how are you today?”
He wants to sell me something.
John is explaining something. “It’s as big as, well, you know.”
No, John. I don’t know. Describe it to me.
“Sweet as, bro.” Sweet as WHAT?
This person is too lazy to think of a suitable synonym.
The words we use, or the words we give our characters to say, speak volumes when we read between the lines.
Learn how to earn an income working from home
Train for a new job at home, and in your own time. The Institute has been giving adults a second opportunity at a new career since 1991, by teaching people the skills to grow personally and become financially self-reliant. Discover your options. Make choices.
