One Small Word

August 23, 2009|Mary Jane Copps

man speaking on phone

When I started my first company, at the tender and overly self-confident age of 28, one small word got in the way of my increasing revenue consistently. That word was “just”.

I used it in my telephone conversations, like most people do, to be polite, to imply I would take only a minute of someone’s time. For example: “Hi Jane Smith, it’s Mary Jane Copps calling from The Phone Lady and I’m just calling to … .”

But politeness is not what’s heard on the other end. What’s heard is: “Hi Jane Smith, it’s Mary Jane Copps calling from The Phone Lady and I’m calling you to tell you something completely unimportant.”

Using the word ‘just’ destroys the opportunity for dialogue and sets you up as an unwelcome intrusion in someone’s busy day. Eliminate it from your vocabulary.

#InspireConversation

Real-time conversation skills directly impact leadership effectiveness, customer experience, collaboration, and business growth.

As communication becomes increasingly digital, many professionals spend less time practicing and using the skills required for clear, confident and effective real-time conversations. Explore new options for improvement.

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To celebrate 20 years of The Phone Lady, we're revisiting what truly makes communication meaningful. Every second week, we'll share a bit of wisdom to remind us that small shifts in how we speak, listen, and connect make a big difference. (You'll also receive access to our Exclusive Resources, including 4 ebooks.)

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