Frank Luntz, a Republican consultant, spearheaded the messaging change from “estate tax” to “death tax” in the 1990s. The term “death tax” had been used decades before, but it was used again at that time as Republicans sought support for its repeal. By shifting the frame from a tax on “estates,” (which sounds like it only affects very … Read more
Persuasion is a tool that almost anyone can learn to use. But just like all tools, what matters is the person using it, their intentions and ethics. I told someone recently that I help people to become more persuasive and effective at communicating. He responded flatly “I don’t like to be persuasive. I like to … Read more
Perfect Speaking Isn’t All It’s Cracked Up To Be One of the hallmarks of inauthentic communication is perfectionism. Perfectionism leads to overly complicated and mechanical communication techniques. These techniques feel inauthentic and fake, damaging trust and turning audiences off. It could be a trite sales line that we’ve heard a million time before. It could … Read more
I’ve been trying out this old technique for rapport building called “mirroring.” This is where you adjust your body language and movement to be similar to the other person’s in a conversation. If they cross their arms, you cross your arms. If they lean to one side, you do as well. You don’t do it right … Read more
Companies spend a lot of money on training. They often fail to get any lasting results from it. As someone who has been involved in coaching and skills training for years now (both as a student and a coach), I know what works and what doesn’t. There are two major things that are needed for any … Read more
When I was helping clients with dating and social skills, I came across this issue all the time. Both men and women say they want one thing in a partner or relationship, but their behavior indicates a completely different desire altogether. People who scream all they want is a nice, dependable partner, nevertheless get involved with bad boys … Read more
Reframing happens when you create a new context, or a new “frame” for a discussion. It’s one of the most powerful and effective ways of communicating. Reframing is especially critical when you are trying to compete for attention or acceptance. By reframing the entire conversation, or the way your counterpart thinks about the issue, you shift … Read more