Page 23 - Effective communication Skills by Dale King

study found that if you know that your audience is more likely to disagree,

you should speak fast. If they are more likely to agree, then you should speak
slower.

The reason for this is that when your audience is already inclined to disagree
with you, speaking faster will mean that they have less time to come up with
their own counter-arguments, which gives you an increased chance of
persuading them.

If they are already inclined to agree with you, then speaking slowly will give
them a chance to evaluate your arguments and factor in some of their own

thoughts. With this combo of their own bias and your reasoning, then they are
going to be more likely to be persuaded.

If your audience is apathetic or neutral, then you should speak quickly so that
you are less likely to lose their attention.

4. Don’t be afraid of being slightly unprofessional.

Let’s talk about swearing. Cussing just to cussing is bad. But if your team

really needs to get their shit together, throwing in the occasional, and
heartfelt, cuss word can help you to create a sense of urgency because it
shows them that you care.

Basically, you want to be yourself. Authenticity tends to be way more
persuasive. If you feel so strongly about something that you would naturally
use strong language, then do so.

5. Think about how your listener would prefer to process new

information.

You have to know your audience to some extent. Some people can be pushed
to give an immediate response and there are others who need a couple of days
to think about things.

You never want to push somebody who doesn’t like being pushed. The same
goes for people who like to make quick decisions; don’t ask them to think
about it.

6. Share the positive and negative.

Daniel O’Keefe, a professor at the University of Illinois, said that if you share