WHO IS YOUR AUDIENCE?
“I attract a crowd, not because I’m an extrovert or I’m over the top or I’m oozing with charisma. It’s because I care.” - Gary Vaynerchuk
Do you know how powerful your words are? Are you aware of the people you affecting with your direct and indirect communication skills?
There has been many times when I have over heard someone else’s conversation and other times when someone else over heard my conversation with someone. Regardless of whom we are talking to usually someone else is always listening. My oldest son once told me, “Words are like toothpaste.” Have you ever thought about words as toothpaste? I contemplated long and hard when he told me this because I never thought of words being like toothpaste. But it makes sense. As I listened intently he continued and said, “Mom once you squeeze toothpaste out of a tube you cannot put it back into the tube.”
Tremendous power lies in our words. Words can help or hurt, build up or tear down, and encourage or discourage. Once words are said, it is hard not to forget especially those words that are hurtful. We have to be careful whenever we speak because someone is always listening.
The best-selling author Yehuda Berg said, “Words are singularity the most powerful force available to humanity. We can choose to use this force constructively with words of encouragement, or destructively using words of despair. Words have energy and power with the ability to help, to heal, to hinder, to hurt, to harm, to humiliate and to humble.”
These days many people are recording, texting, and living on their cell phones. From emailing to tweeting to pinning to Facebooking people are recording and texting every word and movement of people these days. Our words must validate how we live. Whether it is a co-worker or family, we as leaders understand that we are always on center stage. Ears are always listening and eyes are always watching. The very time you allow any words to flow freely with no thought or care behind them, it can be a detriment to you and everyone around you.
Please remember how important it is for you to share kind words and actions of support with your spouse and children. This is actually the start of a great leader. If you are willing to give care and support, you will also receive care and support from these same individuals.
It’s not fair to anyone to speak with careless words and live with careless actions. Let’s be honest and take some time before we say or do anything think about who is our audience. Be aware of your words and actions at all times. Your audience is listening and watching waiting to learn from you. Once you figure out who you audience is, the next question is what will you teach your audience?
When you speak and act with care, your audience will support, advocate, back, and be enthusiasts for you and your cause for the rest of your life.
Who is your audience? Please leave a comment below, send me a tweet on Twitter, or leave a comment on Facebook.
Simply Jackie
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