Hold Anyone's Attention: Breakthrough Communicators' Tip #6

Hello everyone,

Christopher Peck with Speak Into Action Communications.

Breakthrough Communicators build instant rapport with real decision makers, or the child in charge, by focusing intention and expectation through direct eye contact. And to master these skills, they practice every day.

But how do Breakthrough Communicators grab and hold the attention of these decision-makers?

Use.

Their.

Name.

There is no faster, and more positive way to immediately secure the attention of another.

Imagine walking through a crowded park event--pre-pandemic of course--and someone shouts "Chris!" No less than twelve people will instinctively turn around because there's always at least a dozen Chris's around and because we are conditioned to respond to our name.

We like our name.

We like how it sounds.

We like when other people say our name.

And Breakthrough Communicators use names to build deeper, more secure personal and professional relationships.

You see, when you ask someone's name, you indicate they are important enough to build a deeper relationship with.

When you say someone's name, you immediately draw them into your conversation.

When you remember someone's name, you demonstrate they are an important member of your personal or professional community.

And believe me, the child in charge wants to be a part of a community.

So use their name.

If you don't know it, ask.

If they have a name tag. Take advantage of it.

If you're engaged in conversation, use their name multiple times. It encourages your other to maintain attention and reinforces their name in your memory so you can quickly refer to it in a conversation in the future.

Personalize relationships by using names.

Lower defense mechanisms by using names.

And give those names an upward inflection!

Make the name something exciting to say. People want you to say their name. They want to hear it spoken positively and enthusiastically.

And if you can use their name while making eye contact, finding that iris...

Well, this is what breakthrough communicators do.

Thank you for reading everyone, share in the comments section your favorite way to memorize names. I like to use a name no less than three times in a conversation to help it stick. What works for you?

As always like, comment, and share with those who would benefit most from being a Breakthrough Communicator.

This is Christopher Peck with Speak Into Action Communications; helping businesses perform better by training better performers.

Enjoyed the read? Every blog is available on my Youtube channel in video format along with other great content. Subscribe today!

We Need a Communication Revolution

Hey everyone, Christopher Peck with Speak Into Action Communications.

There's a common phrase of unknown origin which has circulated in some form or another for hundreds--if not longer--of years,

"It is better to remain silent and have people think you're stupid than to open your mouth and remove all doubt."

Empathy, information, thoughtfulness, and active-listening are absolutely necessary skills before launching into our own opinions. And if this common saying was, "Practice empathy, information-gathering, thoughtfulness, and active-listening before launching into your own opinion," I would be talking about something else right now.

But that's not what this quote says. This statement implies we have two choices: remain silent, and because we never share any ideas, be perceived as stupid...

Or share our ideas which are stupid.

Regardless, we are stupid.

Sadly, most of us have been on the giving or receiving (or more likely both) ends of this statement.

So it's not hard to see why public speaking continues to be one of the biggest fears in this country; why people think it's a skill you're either born with or not; why some think communication skills are a luxury, not a necessity, for their personal and professional growth; and why others protect themselves by sharing their ideas behind pseudonyms.

Because you're stupid anyway, right?

And it's better to not communicate your ideas and just be perceived as stupid then to share your stupid ideas and confirm the truth.

This is no way to live.

Friends, we need a communication revolution.

I'm proud to be connected with so many bright, talented professionals who have important, creative ideas to share.

And I'm here to tell you it's not better to keep those incredible ideas to yourself.

It's not better to cultivate environments where ideas are thought of as stupid.

It's not better to lead through condescension, ridicule, and fear.

It is better to shout our freaking amazing ideas from the rooftops so others can benefit and maybe, just maybe, be influenced to share amazing ideas of their own.

So what are your big ideas?

Are you sharing them boldly? Unapologetically?

Or do you think they're too stupid to share?

Your ideas aren't stupid.

You're not stupid.

Just keep creating.

Thanks for reading, if you're already sharing your big ideas on YouTube, LinkedIn, Facebook or anywhere else, post the link in the comments section. Your ideas are inspiring and I want to see more.

This is Christopher Peck with Speak Into Action Communications--helping businesses perform better by training better performers.

Enjoyed the read?

Every blog is available on my Youtube channel in video format along with other great content. Subscribe today!