Jan 12
29
Six Common Talking Mistakes
As much as we are taught to network in the business world, I find that people often make crucial errors when learning how to “work a room.”
Here are six of the most common ones:
1. Blabbermouthing. Talking too much. Going on and on without giving another person a turn. If you’re the one who hogs the talking platform you will soon frustrate others and they tune out the blabbermouth. If you are a blabbermouth who is wringing out the patience of other’s you will be labeled as such. Don’ t be fooled.
Just because your job requires you to speak for a living that everyone wants to hear your opinion on every subject. Professors, clergy, professional speakers who are all paid for a living pay special attention.
2. Grab the talking stick and go. A talker begins a topic and the listener grabs it away and opens a me-centered monologue. You say, “I saw a great movie last weekend . . .” and the listener-soon-to-be talker says, “Oh? I saw one, too . . .” and begins to describe their experience. The person who brought up the topic is unable to complete their thought because it’s been high-jacked. This is a very childlike and frustrating behavior, and eventually drives people away.
3. Unsolicited advice. You know ‘em. We all have them in our lives. Some people are quick to give advice as soon as the other person mentions a problem. “Have you thought of . . .? “Why don’t you . . .?” erupt quickly from their overflowing volcanoes of counsel. Men seem especially prone to this tendency, although women are not immune from it.
4. Interrupting. Butting in before your partner has completed the thought. Usually this is done because the interrupters are impatient and are afraid of not getting their thoughts expressed. Many of these interruptions occur when Legal Nurse Consultants are trying to meet all the people in the room and kind of talk and dash. The guests butt in, over-talk, and then walk away after leaving you with their “very important thoughts.”
5. The Word BUT. One of the ultimate conversation-blockers. Simply said, in conversation means I don’t believe anything you said before the word but. It sounds like a simple concept, yet you would be surprised at the number of times clients will say, “Yes, but….” There are alternative ways that you can disagree with a point in the conversation, yet still remain professional.
6. Stingy and gruff. Listens, receives, and takes, but doesn’t give. This type of conversationalist is difficult to deal with because it often leads to mistrust of the stingy person. If you are the only one giving information, eventually you stop giving it.
Conversation is skill that is learned, much like learning to draw blood. You may have to practice a while on each other, but eventually a rolling vein ain’t no big thing! For more help building a remarkable Legal Nurse Consulting practice or Life Care Planning practice, subscribe to the RSS Feed for the Blog and our Email Newsletter. Follow us on Twitter, join our LNC/LCP Group on LinkedIn, or friend us on Facebook. We also offer one on one practice coaching as well as amazing LNC/LCP marketing materials, website design and social media page designs. Email us or call (317) 426-1170.
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