← 9 Downturn Lessons Toyota Can Teach A Consultant

My Favorite Flickr Images For Blogging →

Consultant Speaks Language Everyone Understands

By alik levin

March 18th, 2009 | Consulting


“Taxonomy of re-baselining and mainstreaming of holistic governance  for contestability by predictors is direct result of beaconicity synergies”


WTF?!

 Carnegie LIONS by jelleprins 

Fortunately LGA urges the public sector to ditch jargon to help people during the recession. Public sector should subscribe to the tip of the week at www.dalecarnegie.com. Latest one offers LIONS formula to help getting the message across:

  • Language easily understood
  • Illustrations
  • Organize thoughts
  • Narrow subject to key points
  • Summarize

It is very practical for me. As a consultant I am required to communicate my messages to different audiences. I usually stick with similar principles. When I am not following the principals  this is what happens.


Language Easily Understood

When I speak the language that is not easily understood then:

  • My manager gets mad and he is having hard times to solve problems I bring on his table.
  • My customers lose trust in me.
  • My colleagues get me out of their network.

Illustrations

When I am not using the illustrations my persuasion efforts are worthless.

Organize Thoughts

When my thoughts are not organized I make more harm than goodness when sharing it withe the world.

Narrow Subject To Key Points

When I bring too many points on the table the focus is lost. No focus, no results. Time wasted. Pain. Again.

Summarize

When I am not summarizing I am actually investing the effort worthlessly. Time wasted. Pain. Again.

Practice This - Get Results

  • Think of the outcome - formulate the message accordingly. 
  • One message at a time.
  • Speak language people understand - your manager’s language is different from your customer’s language.

What’s your secret of getting your message across?

My Related Posts


9 comments ↓

#1 J.D. Meier on 03.19.09 at 12:32 am

I like the way you started with an example, gave an approach, then tested against the approach.

Nicely done and good frame.

#2 Liara Covert on 03.19.09 at 12:57 am

The advice of keeping things simply is an encuraging way for individuals to be more alert and proactive. You inspire new lines of thinking and degrees of awakening.

#3 Gennaro on 03.19.09 at 3:59 pm

Communication is one of the pillars of management and language is the main way we communicate. Being clear makes the difference in being successful in many cases. Anything worse than walking out of a meeting and still wondering what is expected of you?

#4 Giovanna Garcia on 03.20.09 at 4:54 am

Hi Alik

Anyone in business needs to learn to communicate well. Being able to communicate to everyone and have your message easily understood is the key to a great business relationship. You are a smart man.
Thank you,
Giovanna Garcia
Imperfect Action is better than No Action

#5 Sheila Atwood on 03.20.09 at 2:35 pm

It is a matter of duplication. I f you are not duplicated then there is no understanding.

If I say to you, “go design a fancy crenate edge for these cards.” You would most likely not know what to do.

crenate: adj. having the margin or surface cut into rounded scallops.

You have covered the three basic rules I like to follow
1. Present or do things on a gradient.
2. Make sure there are no misunderstood words
3. Give enough mass (illustrations or examples). Using pictures, maps etc.

From your post I am adding one more rule. To summarize. Thanks Alik.

Sheila

#6 alik levin on 03.20.09 at 7:35 pm

JD,
Thanks for the support and the feedback!

Liara,
Being alert and proactive is good tactics for me to follow in interpersonal communications.

Gennaro,
Here is something worse than that - walking into a meeting w/o clear agenda ;)

Giovanna,
Thank you for good words. You’ll be amazed but sometimes folks get mad at me accusing me I want everything to be clear. Imagine that! ;)

Sheila,
Smart guy once said that - “tell them what you are going to tell them, tell them, tell them what you have just told them”, or something like that ;)

#7 What Aristotle Could Teach You About Consulting — Practice This on 04.03.09 at 11:25 am

[...] Consultant Speaks Language Everyone Understands [...]

#8 Want To Win? - Argue, Do Not Fight! — Practice This on 04.08.09 at 9:39 pm

[...] Consultant Speaks Language Everyone Understands [...]

#9 Powerful Consulting - #2 — Practice This on 06.21.09 at 8:16 pm

[...] Consultant Speaks Language Everyone Understands [...]

Leave a Comment