Business

How to alienate your audience every time

The American actress, Gwyneth Paltrow, infuriated many Americans when she spoke of her preference for living in Britain. She was quoted in a Spanish newspaper as saying that the British are smarter and more interesting than the Americans. He explained that Americans talk about what they do for a living and care about money. He found the most “civilized” British conversations. Did he mean to insult Americans? Never

to know. What we do know is that good intentions don’t always have the desired effect. The true meaning of a communication is the effect.

While you have a voice, your choice of words sounded more like a scorn than a preference. Think about what people have said during the acceptance awards: “I’d like to thank all the little people.” Politicians have lost their positions because of the way they expressed their point of view in public. So how can you express an opinion without insulting the audience? Ms. Paltrow could have expressed her joy in living in England and at the same time mentioned the cultural differences.

For example, “When adjusting to British culture, conversations tend to be different. Americans get down to business more quickly with an emphasis on their professions. In England, the conversation tends to be more personal and social.”

The above statement is more of an observation than a judgment. By using the words “more,” “less,” or “civilized,” you begin to make a judgment. When you compare intelligence, you are also walking on thin ice. Words are powerful. So keep your comments neutral. Express your observations, not your judgments.

Public speaking is as much WHAT you say as it is HOW you say it.

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